THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: The battle for the low-cost carrier market continues to gain momentum with Jetstar Asia, announcing a new double daily Singapore to Phuket service and an extra daily service to Bangkok.

The new flights will commence on December 15 and build on the airlines considerable regional network throughout Asia which currently includes 18 destinations with more than 300 flight sectors being flown each week.

Jetstar Asia chief executive Chong Phit Lian said, “based on the current market – and the [Asian] markets that we have been surveying – Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indochina will be opportunities for us in terms of growth”.

Headquartered in Singapore, Jetstar Asia is 49 percent owned by Australian national flag carrier Qantas and operates a fleet of nine Airbus A320-232 jet aircraft.

In April the airline, along with sister airline Valuair reported a 20 percent increase in revenue, a four percent rise in passenger load and an overall 20 per cent jump in passenger numbers for the year ending March 2008.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News for August 29, 2009