Jetstar to expand network in India

BANGALORE: Singapore-based low-cost airline Jetstar Asia today said it was in the process of planning an expansion of its network in India.

"We are in the process of working out the network expansion," Jetstar Asia CEO Chong Phit Liang said.

The airline currently operates five flights a week from Bangalore.

She also announced the "Special Launch Fares" for four flights operating via Singapore -- Bangalore-Singapore-Bangkok (Rs 6,000), Bangalore-Singapore-Hong Kong (Rs 7,500), Bangalore-Singapore-Jakarta (Rs 6,000) and Bangalore-Singapore-Taipei (Rs 9,000).

The fares were special one sector offers from June one to 15 for travel between June one and July 31, 2006, she said.

"We now have a critical mass of routes, which allows us to provide seamless transfers for a passenger from one point in our network to another, while also providing a great value deal on the fare," Chong said.

Asked if the airline planned to increase the number of flights to Bangalore, she said, "No. Not at the moment."

Chong announced Jetstar Asia had been named the winner of the Skytrax Airline of the year and Best Low-cost Airlines Award for 2006 for both the Asia and Southeast Asia categories.

The Airline of the Year survey was an independent study by Skytrax based on a worldwide survey that involved interviews totalling 13.6 million people of over 93 nationalities, she said.