Jetstar takes delivery of new aircraft to boost reliability, savings for passengers

Jetstar is working “to boost punctuality” and savings for passengers with a series of changes, including new planes offering more comfort. See what it means for you.

Jetstar engineers celebrate the arrival of its newest Airbus A321neo LR in Melbourne, the seventh in a fleet of 18 that will help boost reliability and savings for customers.

Jetstar is promising cheaper flights and fewer delays, as it ushers in a new fleet of aircraft “to boost punctuality and reliability”.

Next week, the low-cost airline’s check-in process will be overhauled, with travellers expected to get to the airport earlier and board flights sooner.

More airport staff, cabin crew and engineering team members are being recruited to streamline the process, which will bring Jetstar “in line with other low-cost carriers around the world”.

And for their commitment to helping the airline become more punctual, passengers would be rewarded with even cheaper flight deals — some of them already as low as a quarter of the regular retail price.

Jetstar will take delivery of its seventh of 18 Airbus321neo LRs this week, which burns up to 20 per cent less fuel.

In March, the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics found Jetstar had the highest cancellation rate of all domestic airlines at 7.1 per cent.

On the busiest route, between Melbourne and Sydney, Jetstar cancelled 15.7 per cent of flights.

And last year, thousands of Jetstar travellers scrambled to find emergency accommodation in Indonesia after Jetstar canned flights from Denpasar.

“We know our performance hasn’t been up to scratch and we are working hard to boost punctuality and reliability,” Jetstar chief operating officer Matt Franzi said.

The airline’s new Airbus A321neo LR is the seventh in a new fleet of 18 to be delivered by the end of 2024, which uses up to 20 per cent less fuel and has had 99.8 per cent mechanical reliability.

They are 50 per cent quieter than similar size Airbus A320/A321s, can fly further, have wider seats with USB power and extra-overhead storage.

Jetstar’s new fleet features wider seats with USB power and cup holders.

“Our Airbus A321neo LRs are some of the newest aircraft in the world and our current fleet of six has delivered world beating mechanical reliability for its aircraft type. We are excited to be adding the seventh NEO to our fleet,” Mr Franzi said.

From Tuesday, May 23, check-in and bag drop will close 40 minutes before departure for Australian and New Zealand domestic flights — 10 minutes earlier than usual.

For international flights, the cut off will be 60 minutes prior to departure.

The boarding gates will close 20 minutes before departure for both domestic and international flights.

Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas said Jetstar’s changes were moving in the “right direction”.

“I think it will be a big help – the system does need a little bit of padding,” he said.

“Prior to Covid, the airline industry was a well-oiled machine. Covid has disrupted that dramatically. Additional time for boarding and processing bags will build time back into the system until everything smooths out.

“These steps are a great start but more disruptions will occur – we’re another 12 months away before it’s perfect.”

Wategos Beach at Byron Bay could be on the cards for more Sydneysiders with Jetstar offering cheap airfares.

Travellers wanting to enjoy the airline’s latest sale will find flights from Byron Bay to Sydney from $45, Gold Coast to Wellington from $193 or Cairns to Osaka from $339.

There were flights as cheap as $77 from Sydney to Melbourne (Avalon) last month — and the return leg was free, making it less than $40 each way.

That flight route typically costs up to $200 one-way, depending on what dates you travel.