Jetstar, Australia’s low-cost carrier and a subsidiary of the Qantas Group, has announced the discontinuation of its direct service between Sydney and Honolulu by the end of October.
This decision comes on the heels of the suspension of Jetstar’s Melbourne to Honolulu route, which has been paused since April 30.
The Sydney to Honolulu route, which has been operational since 2006, represents Jetstar’s sole service to the United States.
Previously, it operated multiple times a week using the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
The final flight to Hawaii is scheduled for October 24, just after the peak travel season of the Northern Hemisphere summer.
While the absence of Jetstar’s service will be felt, travelers will still have options as Hawaiian Airlines and Qantas continue to operate flights from Australia to Hawaii.
Additionally, Air New Zealand offers multiple weekly services to Hawaii via Auckland International Airport (AKL).
Founded in 2003, Jetstar emerged as a low-cost alternative in response to Virgin Australia, quickly gaining a significant market presence.
The airline has developed a strong domestic and international network, utilizing a fleet consisting primarily of Airbus A320 and Boeing 787 aircraft.
The Jetstar Group has expanded further, with subsidiaries such as Jetstar Asia Airways and Jetstar Japan.
Looking ahead, Jetstar has exciting plans in store, with several new routes set to launch in both domestic and international markets before the year concludes.
New flights from Sydney, the Gold Coast, and Dunedin to Hamilton are among the scheduled additions.
Recently, two routes from Cairns to Christchurch and the Sunshine Coast to Auckland also commenced operations.
Notably, this marks the first time any airline has offered direct service on the Cairns to Christchurch route.
Qantas has also been actively expanding its operations.
The airline recently announced two new year-round routes set to begin prior to year’s end, with direct flights between Perth International Airport (PER) and Auckland International Airport (AKL) resuming.
These flights, scheduled three times a week using Airbus A330 aircraft, will seamlessly connect to a new route to South Africa, which includes three weekly flights to Johannesburg.
In addition, this new Johannesburg route complements the existing Sydney to Johannesburg service, benefiting travelers from Australia’s West Coast and providing New Zealanders with a compelling stopover option.
With the discontinuation of the Honolulu route, Jetstar plans to redeploy its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to enhance its Asian route offerings.
Consequently, Qantas is set to increase its services between Sydney and Honolulu from five times a week to six.
In light of recent developments, Jetstar is anticipating the delivery of new Airbus A321neo aircraft, which will facilitate the launch of new routes to the Philippines.
Scheduled to commence in November, these direct flights will connect Perth to Manila and Brisbane to Cebu for the very first time.
The Manila route will be effective from November 27, becoming Jetstar’s fourth service to the Philippine capital.
This expansion complements existing Jetstar Asia services to Osaka Kansai and Singapore as well as Jetstar Japan services from Tokyo Narita.
Conversely, the Brisbane to Cebu route, also starting on November 27, will be the only Jetstar connection to Mactan–Cebu International Airport (CEB).
Overall, Jetstar’s strategic moves reflect a shift in focus towards expanding its presence in Asia while adapting to changes in travel demand.
As the airline navigates this transition, passengers can look forward to new travel experiences as well as continued service to popular destinations.
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