SINGAPORE : Singapore-based budget carrier Jetstar Asia and the budget offshoot of Australia's Qantas began operating under the single brand "Jetstar" on Wednesday, the companies said.

The brand integration between Jetstar Asia and the Qantas offshoot, also known as "Jetstar", will give passengers more flexibility when booking flights on the expanded regional network, they said.

"Jetstar is... Australia's and Singapore's new low fares airline for Australia and the Asia Pacific," the new integrated website says.

"Our aim is to provide consistent low fares to Australian, New Zealand and Asian leisure travellers."

The wholly-owned Qantas subsidiary Jetstar serves destinations throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The re-branding coincides with plans to expand services to six international destinations including Japan, the airlines' joint news release said.

"We are excited by the opportunities presented at the brand integration. This will create a service difference to our customers and, equally important, it differentiates us from other low-cost carriers," said Chong Phit Lian, Jetstar Asia's chief executive officer.

Jetstar Asia is a majority Singapore-owned company but is 49 percent owned by Qantas. It merged with another Singapore low cost carrier, Valuair, last July, and the companies are now held by the main shareholder Orangestar Holdings Pte Ltd.

Both Jetstar carriers began flying in 2004.

Asia's budget airline sector is booming, with Singapore-based Tiger Airways, Malaysian-based AirAsia and others.

Tiger Airways, 49 percent owned by Singapore Airlines, said last week it was looking at potential partnerships with other airlines in a bid to spread its wings even wider in Asia.

26th July 2006
www.channelnewsasia.com