Mr GUNNER - 2008-09-16
Earlier this month, Jetstar commenced direct flights from Darwin to Ho Chi Minh City, an important milestone in the development of their hub in Darwin. What other destinations are likely to be under consideration and what economic benefits will flow from an aviation hub in Darwin?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is a great question. The arrival of Jetstar in Darwin to establish an international hub is great news for the Territory, and it is great news for Territorians. It is also great news for Australia because it affords the opportunity to thousands of people to fly out of Australia to a destination in Asia and, at the same time, brings thousands of tourists from other destinations to Australia ...
Mr Elferink: Any hotel boom?
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes. Of course, people can make commercial decisions to build hotels since they know there is a tourist boom in the Territory and we will certainly need more accommodation.
Jetstar now flies to Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, and recently announced another flight to Denpasar starting in December. The fact that Jetstar is using Airbus 320 aeroplanes with a flying range of about 5 hours 20 minutes, opens many South-East Asian cities as destinations, such as Kota Kinabalu, Phuket, and Kuching. Previously, you would have used two or even three planes to reach these destinations from Australia. This gives more choice to Territorians and more choice to Australia.
The information is that Jetstar is working collaboratively with European airlines, like Air France, and people can now book from Europe and fly from Europe to Singapore to Darwin without having to chase and reload luggage onto different flights.
The arrival of Jetstar in Darwin is not only giving opportunities for tourism, it gives opportunities for businesses in Darwin. By establishing the base in Darwin and because of the flight time between Darwin and the southern states, where most of the aeroplanes are maintained, Jetstar has made a decision that the aeroplanes will be maintained in Darwin. It is a unique opportunity for the airline industry in Darwin to partner with Jetstar to maintain the aeroplanes.
In addition to that, I have been advised that Jetstar will be advertising in the next few days to recruit in Darwin for cabin crews. We are talking about 280 people who will be based in Darwin. Jetstar …
Mr Chandler: What happens when they get the 787? They fly right over the top do they?
Mr VATSKALIS: The problem with the 787, member for Brennan, is that it is quite a long time away. It looks like it is going to get longer and longer because Boeing recently announced another delay in the arrival of the 787s. You have to remember that the 787 will be used on routes from Asia to Europe, rather than from Australia to Europe.
In the next five years, the hub is expected to bring $160m into our economy, create more than 570 jobs, and bring in an additional 250 000 tourists to Australia. This is great news.
Darwin is fortunate, because we are, as real estates agents would say, location, location, location, with regard to the southern capitals and also the South-East Asian capitals. So it is good news for Territorians; it is good news for Australia.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. It is a great question. The arrival of Jetstar in Darwin to establish an international hub is great news for the Territory, and it is great news for Territorians. It is also great news for Australia because it affords the opportunity to thousands of people to fly out of Australia to a destination in Asia and, at the same time, brings thousands of tourists from other destinations to Australia ...
Mr Elferink: Any hotel boom?
Mr VATSKALIS: Yes. Of course, people can make commercial decisions to build hotels since they know there is a tourist boom in the Territory and we will certainly need more accommodation.
Jetstar now flies to Singapore and Ho Chi Minh City, and recently announced another flight to Denpasar starting in December. The fact that Jetstar is using Airbus 320 aeroplanes with a flying range of about 5 hours 20 minutes, opens many South-East Asian cities as destinations, such as Kota Kinabalu, Phuket, and Kuching. Previously, you would have used two or even three planes to reach these destinations from Australia. This gives more choice to Territorians and more choice to Australia.
The information is that Jetstar is working collaboratively with European airlines, like Air France, and people can now book from Europe and fly from Europe to Singapore to Darwin without having to chase and reload luggage onto different flights.
The arrival of Jetstar in Darwin is not only giving opportunities for tourism, it gives opportunities for businesses in Darwin. By establishing the base in Darwin and because of the flight time between Darwin and the southern states, where most of the aeroplanes are maintained, Jetstar has made a decision that the aeroplanes will be maintained in Darwin. It is a unique opportunity for the airline industry in Darwin to partner with Jetstar to maintain the aeroplanes.
In addition to that, I have been advised that Jetstar will be advertising in the next few days to recruit in Darwin for cabin crews. We are talking about 280 people who will be based in Darwin. Jetstar …
Mr Chandler: What happens when they get the 787? They fly right over the top do they?
Mr VATSKALIS: The problem with the 787, member for Brennan, is that it is quite a long time away. It looks like it is going to get longer and longer because Boeing recently announced another delay in the arrival of the 787s. You have to remember that the 787 will be used on routes from Asia to Europe, rather than from Australia to Europe.
In the next five years, the hub is expected to bring $160m into our economy, create more than 570 jobs, and bring in an additional 250 000 tourists to Australia. This is great news.
Darwin is fortunate, because we are, as real estates agents would say, location, location, location, with regard to the southern capitals and also the South-East Asian capitals. So it is good news for Territorians; it is good news for Australia.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016