AUSTRALIA'S newest airline Jetstar has taken to the skies as Qantas Airways launched its own no frills brand to challenge the success of Virgin Blue. The wholly-owned operation is aimed at shoring the Qantas market share among "no frills" travellers, with the airline keen to draw a "line in the sand" to ensure it holds at least 65% of the domestic market. The pushy Virgin Blue operation was created four years ago and quickly saw off Ansett which went into oblivion. It now has about 30% of the domestic market and is a real success story. Jetstar will operate initially with Boeing 717 equipment which will be joined by Airbus A320s from July of this year. The airline is based at Melbourne and initially serves 13 eastern seaboard cities. In another move ”down under” Virgin Blue is to introduce Sydney ” Hobart services from 2 September.
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