JETSTAR will start thrice-weekly Darwin-Singapore-Osaka flights from November 1, adding a new international link to its domestic network in Japan.

Building upon the existing Darwin-Singapore service, this sector will be flown on Airbus A321 aircraft, while the longhaul Singapore-Osaka leg will be operated on A330 planes with economy- and business-class seats. Osaka is the fourth longhaul destination from the airline’s Singapore hub.

According to Jetstar Group CEO, Jayne Hrdlicka, the new service will capitalise on the group’s growing presence in the Japanese market, following Jetstar Japan’s launch  earlier this month (TTG Asia e-Daily, April 9, 2012).

Hrdlicka said: “This new service means Darwin will be connected to Osaka as well as Tokyo, and by extension, to three other major Japanese cities via Jetstar Japan’s domestic network.

“For Australian and Singaporean tourists, this new connection will make it easier to explore everything Japan has to offer. We expect this new link to encourage more outbound tourism from Japan, particularly combined with a domestic network that makes it more affordable to reach international flights to Darwin and Singapore.”

Jetstar Airways also operates a A330 service from Melbourne to Singapore, which can be connected to the Osaka flight.

Tickets for the new Darwin-Singapore-Osaka route are now available from A$359 (US$370), while a promotional fare of A$259 will be offered for a limited period.

With this new service, the Jetstar Group will operate up to 31 international services per week to Osaka, including Jetstar Airways’ longhaul services from Cairns and the Gold Coast in Australia, and Jetstar Asia’s shorthaul international services from Singapore via Taipei and Manila.