Jetstar will increase its number of services between Melbourne and Hobart to record levels this summer to encourage even more travellers to holiday on the Apple Isle.

From 22 December 2011 Jetstar will add a daily return Melbourne-Hobart service, totaling a record 42 weekly flights between the two capital cities. A one-way Starter fare starts from $79 one-way at Jetstar.com.

Jetstar will also expand its Melbourne-Launceston services, adding a further three services per week for the holiday period, bringing the total number of flights to up to five times daily (31 times per week).

Jetstar Group Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said the low fares leader hoped to spark a summer tourism boom for Tasmania.

 “Tasmania is already a popular destination to visit. With 3,600 more Jetstar seats per week on offer to and from Tasmania and our everyday low fares, this has the potential to generate even greater tourism visitation,” Mr Koczkar added.

Mr Koczkar said that according to the latest Tourism Tasmania statistics, domestic visitors spent on average $1703 per person when they holidayed on the island in the year ending June 2011.

“Based on the average tourist spend, these additional flights have the potential to deliver millions of dollars for the local economy.”

Hobart Airport Chief Executive Officer Rod Parry welcomed the additional Jetstar capacity, saying: “The additional Jetstar services into and out of Hobart are welcomed by Hobart Airport and the Tasmanian travelling public.

“Jetstar has responded to the needs of the market and provided additional flights between Hobart and Melbourne. We congratulate them on their response and look forward to further growth into the future,” Mr Parry said.

Jetstar now operates a total of up to 17 services per day to Hobart and Launceston from Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Jetstar’s new Melbourne-Hobart schedule from 22 December – 30 January 2011
Departure and arrival times shown

Melbourne-Hobart                                      Hobart-Melbourne
JQ701          0650 – 0805    Daily            JQ700         0835 – 0950    Daily
JQ703          0815 – 0930    Daily            JQ702        1000 – 1115    Daily
JQ705*        1000 – 1115     Daily            JQ704        1335 - 1450     Daily
JQ707          1150 – 1305    Daily            JQ706*      1145 – 1300     Daily
JQ709          1550 – 1705    Daily            JQ708        1735 – 1850     Daily
JQ715          1920 - 2035     Daily            JQ710         2105 - 2220    Daily    

Jetstar’s new Melbourne-Hobart schedule from 30 January 2011
Departure and arrival times shown

Melbourne-Hobart                                     Hobart-Melbourne
JQ701         0650 – 0805    Daily            JQ700        0835 – 0950    Daily
JQ703         0815 – 0930    Daily            JQ702        1000 – 1115    Daily
JQ707         1150 – 1305    Daily            JQ704        1335 - 1450     Daily
JQ709         1550 – 1705    Daily            JQ708        1735 – 1850     Daily
JQ711*        1700 – 1815    Daily            JQ712*      1845 – 2000     Daily   
JQ715         1920 - 2035     Daily            JQ710         2105 - 2220    Daily    

Jetstar’s new Melbourne-Launceston schedule from 22 December – 30 January 2011
Departure and arrival times shown

Melbourne-Launceston                                          Launceston-Melbourne
JQ735         0720 – 0825                                        JQ736        0855 - 1000
JQ737         1210 – 1315                                        JQ740        1435 - 1450
JQ733*       1350 – 1455     Mon, Thurs, Sat       JQ738*    1525 – 1630     Mon, Thurs, Sat
JQ739         1635 – 1740                                        JQ742        1810 - 1915
JQ743         2100 – 2205                                        JQ744        2235 – 2340

*Additional service