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From the Boeing 717 that took off as JQ371 from Newcastle bound for Melbourne 10 years ago, Jetstar’s distinctive bright orange star has become a fixture over Australian skies.
Jetstar celebrated its 10th anniversary on Sunday with a party at its maintenance hangar in Melbourne, where some of the crew on that first flight on May 25 2004 mingled with staff including the airline’s chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka and Qantas group chief executive Alan Joyce, who was Jetstar’s first CEO.
That initial route has now expanded to include operations not only around Australia but also New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan, with the proposed Jetstar Hong Kong awaiting regulatory approval.
The airline, headquartered in Melbourne, now flies to 65 destinations in 18 countries with a fleet of 116 aircraft – 99 Airbus A320s, six A321s, seven A330s and four Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary, Jetstar A320 VH-VGF has been repainted with a special bright orange livery that reverses Jetstar’s original design. It features a white star on the tail, while on the fuselage are the titles “Low fares forever” on the right side and “#jetstargeneration” on the left.
In 2004, Jetstar had about 700 staff and flew 315,000 people to 14 destinations around Australia.
As the airline group enters its second decade, its 7,000-strong workforce is on track to fly 27 million passengers this year, bringing the total passengers carried to more than 140 million.
“Of the 700 team members who started with us on the first day of operations, I am delighted that more than half are still with us, 10 years on,” Hrdlicka said on Sunday.
“Jetstar is a true Australian success story… It has been an amazing journey – and we believe the best is yet to come.”
Regularly disgruntled Virgin Australia passenger says
says:Seeing how fast airlines come and go, writing ‘Low fares forever’ is pretty arrogant of them.
Ben
says:That livery is so tacky. Surely they could have chosen something with a bit of style like an all black livery with a bright orange star…. But I suppose style isn’t Jetstars best attribute
Graham Smith
says:Stop knocking Jetstar, this livery was designed to stand out and it certainly does that. well done.
Damian
says:So does the 7000 workforce include all the staff in the minority-owned ‘franchises’?
Damian
says:PS this livery would have looked great on a 787!
John Harrison
says:Well Done to have got thru 10 years, sorry the new colours look a bit easyjet !! but I guess it will be nice change from the normal silver and orange star colours. I guess its onwards for the next 10 years no doubt at Qantas’s costs. !!
Glen
says:I do wonder why QANTAS don’t just sell off jetstar ? But I guess if they did then maybe it wouldn’t last very long without all the money they get from QANTAS. Also will they still be making a loss in 10 years time ?
Dee
says:10 years! The results over this period have been a great earner for parent group QANTAS, who pioneered the LCC partnering the full service QF. Expansion overseas has been slow, with a few hiccups, read JQ Hong Kong, but with positive growth in other areas of Asia/Pacific.
As a stand alone LCC, Jetstar has accomplished their original business plan in Australian skies, and with a more deliberate, and consolidated approach in the Asian area, can only improve its bottom line, and brand.
Graeme Hooper
says:Congratulations Jetstar on bringing jet services to Newcastle 10 years ago. How about expanding the direct flight networks to Darwin,( connecting to Singapore and Bali) MacKay, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland and maybe weekly flights to Queenstown in winter. Newcastle Airport does serve a population base nearly as large as Adelaide including the Hunter and Central Coast.
Ian
says:With Canberra’s population at approx 380K and the regions (Goulburn, Wagga, Sth Coast etc) at another 200K or so it would be nice to see Jetstar service the capital. From what I’ve read I don’t believe it is on the airline’s radar but I would have thought services (especially in winter) to the Gold Coast, Cairns etc as well as Bali, Fiji and other o/s holiday destinations would be a real opportunity.
Given the global uncertainty over the last few years the airline does need to be congratulated on its performance and continued growth. Well done.
bob
says:Isn’t it funny when they started jetstar they said that it will never replace and qantas destination and now qantas has lost so many to jetstar. When will the destruction of qantas stop ?
Philip
says:Have just had an email from OneStar advising that my flight from Singapore to Melbourne has been cancelled due to engineering requirements.
Funny they did not mention that the flight actually departed Singapore and was forced to turn back after 200 miles when they shut down engine no2 because of a leaking oil pipe.
Jack
says:Bob, maybe the destruction of Qantas will stop when Qantas is able to bring it’s costs down.
John
says:Well Jack re Qantas costs suggest they start at the top, QF CEO salary way ahead of other CEO s in the region,
ANA CEO on 500000, Singapore CEO about 1.25 mil, at one stage Dixon was on 5 millionPA, and even with the announced pay cut, Alan Joyce is still on around. 2.5, roughly double the SIA CEO!