Qantas has called time on its two-decade experiment to operate a major Asian budget carrier, closing its Jetstar Asia business and redeploying the planes to battle its arch enemy Virgin Australia in the domestic market.

Jetstar Asia launched in late 2004 and flies to Bangkok, Bali, Jakarta, Manila, Osaka and Kuala Lumpur from its base in Singapore. It is only half-owned by Qantas, with the remainder controlled by Singaporean investors.