Jetstar flags its intention to fly direct from Avalon to Bali after revealing details of its next-generation aircraft

Jetstar has flagged its intention to fly direct from Avalon to Bali after revealing details of its next-generation aircraft.

JETSTAR has flagged its intention to fly direct from Avalon to Bali after revealing details of its next-generation aircraft.

Jetstar will be the first airline in Australia and the Pacific to operate the Airbus A321 LR which will be the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the Jetstar Group fleet.

The airline says its 18 A321 LRs, which will arrive in August next year, will be deployed on domestic routes and on some international routes like Sydney to Bali.

In exciting news for Avalon, Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said the aircraft can fly 1,200kms further than the current generation of A321s, enabling new city pairs such as Avalon to Bali, Melbourne to Nadi (Fiji) and Cairns to Auckland.

Jetstar has flagged its intention to fly direct from Avalon to Bali after revealing details of its next-generation aircraft.

“We’ll deploy the NEOs on domestic routes and by utilising that extended range we can fly the aircraft to a number of international destinations,” he said.

“There’s lots of interesting opportunities here, particularly to Bali.

“We’re exploring all of these network options and we will make the final decisions, particularly around international services, a little closer to the introduction of the aircraft.”

Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings said the arrival of the A321 would be a game-changer for the airline industry,

“Bali is the number one sought destination for sure, and then China, so Bali would be good (for Avalon),” he said.

“Having narrow bodied aircraft being able to reach into Asia will open up not just the opportunity for Bali but other destinations as well including New Zealand, Fiji and even other parts of Asia.

“We’ve got six bays that can take A321s, and when you have wide bodies, we’ve only got one bay.

“So having narrow bodies coming in is a really good thing for the airport so we’re ready to go.”

The A321 feature extra large overhead lockers.

Jetstar carries approximately 800,000 passengers through Avalon Airport annually.

It operates 90 weekly flights or more than 5,000 flights per year in and out of Avalon Airport to the Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Sydney.

Jetstar first commenced services from Avalon in June 2004 and employs close to 50 staff in a range of customer service, ground operations and engineering roles.

The longer range, more fuel efficient, quieter Jetstar A321 LR will seat 232 passengers in a single class cabin.

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Originally published as Jetstar flags its intention to fly direct from Avalon to Bali after revealing details of its next-generation aircraft