Jetstar Airways will begin the plan with Qantas in mid March this year, and then clinch interline and ticket settlement deals with leading Asian and European international carriers providing seamless ticketing for both airline customers and the travel industry.

Under the agreements, the carrier will introduce seamless interlining offering the equivalent of a code share product as well as the option of fare combinations for participating airlines.

"Our established interline agreements will provide a seamless booking process for both our airline customers and agents wanting to expand their selling network within Australia and across the Asia Pacific whilst offering a normal settlement process," said Jetstar chief executive officer Bruce Buchanan.

"Interline ticketing will enable a much broader distribution for Jetstar fares, including access to brand new markets," Buchanan said. He furthered the interline ticketing would not impact on Jetstar's cost management, but would rather allow it access to new markets the carrier previously did not have a presence.

Buchanan gave an example that with interline ticketing the carrier would be able to offer German customers itineraries such as Frankfurt to Singapore and then Singapore onto HCMC with Jetstar Asia, or Singapore onto Australia's Darwin with Jetstar's Australian operated services.

Jetstar Asia now operates eight weekly flights between HCMC and Singapore while the Qantas' carrier flies between here and Australia's Sydney via Darwin five times a week.

The Jetstar flying businesses now operate to almost 50 destinations across the Asia Pacific region including 20 within Australia. Similar to interlining offered by full service carriers, Jetstar's interline ticketing will be available on Global Distribution Systems.

"We anticipate securing greater incremental levels of passenger traffic in the future previously not captured through Jetstar.com, which will still remain our primary distribution channel along with other modes of distribution within the travel industry," Buchanan said.

In response to lower oil and jet fuel prices, Jetstar Airways has adjusted pricing across its international network including the removal of fuel surcharges for international short and long haul A330'-200 services.

The carrier removed its AU$35 (less than US$26) surcharge on its short haul Asian services from point of sale Vietnam, including its five times weekly HCMC-Darwin-Sydney service.

The carrier's JetSaver Light fares start from US$108 for a single HCMC-Darwin flight exclusive of fees, surcharges and taxes.

Buchanan said the airline's all inclusive fares would continue to present the lowest price across all the markets it served domestically and internationally.

Source: VietNamNet/SGT