Qantas has announced a major aircraft order as it seeks to build in tandem with Jetstar in Australia and Asia.
The airline makes no bones about using the 188-strong order ”to defend a minimum 65% Group share of the Australian domestic market” and to expand low-cost services to South East Asia.
Specifically, the Group will acquire 68 A320/A321 aircraft plus 40 optioned, as well as 31 Boeing 737-800 machines with 49 optioned.
Jetstar will also open new regional aviation bases in Darwin and Perth during the next two years.
”The first aircraft to arrive in February next year will be an A321 and we expect to take at least 17 of those to expand Jetstar”s opportunities in its fastest growing markets,” said Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon.
”This decision, together with the existing A380 and Boeing 787 fleet commitments, secures an order stream for next generation aircraft that will allow the Group to meet long-term demand and replace older aircraft during the next decade.”
News of the deal comes ahead of Qantas taking deli9cvery of its first A380 in August next year, while Jetstar will use the 787 to expand its low-cost international services.