AUSTRALIAN airline Jetstar has announced new commercial agreements with three international carriers in a move it says will provide customers with more travel options. The agreements to commence interline and ticket settlement relationships with carriers Etihad, Air Tahiti Nui and Air Calin will be a significant step forward, the airline says.

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan said the new agreement will provide customers, in particular international visitors to Australia, with the benefit of directly accessing the airline’s growing pan Asian network. “These agreements will provide a fresh choice for Japanese and Australian customers and enhance their travel opportunities with us,” Mr Buchanan said.

Mr Buchanan said the agreements effectively allow more travel options for customers to build more complex itineraries as part of a single transaction. “These new agreements allow Jetstar to access more passengers globally particularly as we continue to expand our network within Asia and Asia Pacific region,” Mr Buchanan said.

Jetstar’s commercial relationship and commencement of interline fare sales with Etihad takes effect from Wednesday. Interline fare sales with the two South Pacific carriers will start next month. Etihad commenced Australian operations on 30 March this year on the Melbourne-Abu Dhabi route.

Air Tahiti Nui’s existing route network serves a number of Jetstar international markets including Sydney, Auckland and Tokyo. New Caledonian based Air Calin from Noumea operates a range of international services to Australia, New Zealand and Japan, giving Jetstar customers first time access to a South Pacific network. Similar to interlining offered by full service carriers, Jetstar’s interline ticketing will be available on Global Distribution Systems (GDS).

source: www.news.com.au