Jetstar has announced further expansion in to China with a new Singapore Shantou Guangdong China Service. This new three times a week service will start operations from 2 February 2010, and will be only the second Jetstar service to fly into mainland China after the Singapore Haikou service starts operations from 16 December 2009.

The full media release from Jetstar can be found below:

Low fares leader Jetstar will launch first time services direct from Singapore to Shantou* – situated in the Guangdong Province - commencing from 2 February 2010*.

Jetstar will initially operate the new route as a three times weekly A320 return service between Shantou Waisha Airport* and Singapore Changi Airport with plans to grow the service.

Jetstar Asia will be the first foreign carrier to operate international flights into Shantou Waisha Airport*.

The new services, representing the 2^nd mainland Chinese market to be served by Jetstar, will provide an unprecedented direct flight link for Teochew descendents now based or living in Singapore and the Guangdong Province as well as leisure and business travelers.

Shantou, a city of 5 million residents, is one of five special economic zones in China, and its commercial activities include it being the communication hub of southeast China.

To celebrate the launch of Singapore-Shantou* services, Jetstar is offering special all-inclusive one-way JetSaver Light fares at Jetstar.com from SGD168.

The sale will commence midnight 13 December 2009 (00.00 14 December 2009) until midnight 14 December 2009 (23.59 14 December 2009) unless seats sell out prior.  Fares not available on all flights, all days and are subject to availability.

Sale fares valid for travel between 24 February-10 March 2010* and 29 July-25 August 2010*. Conditions and travel periods apply. Visit Jetstar.com.

Jetstar Asia / Valuair Chief Executive Officer Ms Chong Phit Lian said the addition of Shantou* to the airline’s Singapore hub would provide first time direct flight access between Guangdong Province and Singapore.

“Shantou* is an exciting and strategic addition to our expanding network which will now grow to 20 international markets directly connected to Singapore,” Ms Chong said.

“This is a ground breaking new flight route that will allow us to offer both direct access and low fares to Shantou* and better connect Singapore’s Teochew community which today represents over 600,000 people.

“Jetstar plans to increase our existing capacity from our Singapore hub by 46 percent through the arrival of three additional A320 aircraft and these are directly supporting such expansion into new markets including to mainland China.”

Shantou* will become Jetstar’s second mainland China service from Singapore with the impending commencement of 4 times weekly Singapore-Haikou flights within Hainan Province from 16 December 2009.

Ms Chong said Jetstar’s future Singapore-Shantou* service of just three and half hours flight time would more than halve the current travel time for flyers and eliminate any time consuming stopover.

“China will remain a major focus for future growth considerations by Jetstar and has immense potential for our low fares offering and broader Jetstar Group network connections,” Ms Chong said.

President of the Teochew Association of Singapore, Mr Goh Nan Xiang, welcomed the services and said the Teochew community in Singapore would be real beneficiaries of these new direct flights.

“Direct flights to Shantou will not only encourage more travel to the city but enable Singaporeans with greater ease of access to Jieyang, Chaoyang and Chao’an in the greater Guangdong Province,” Mr Nan Xiang said.

“Shantou* is a growing and thriving Chinese harbour city and has strong and growing links with the Teochew community in Singapore.

“The destinations of Batam, Bintan and Johor will also deliver a positive response to these newly proposed direct low fare flights.”

Jetstar also operates daily services from Singapore to Hong Kong, Taipei and Macau with all its services conducted from Terminal One at Changi International Airport.

Jetstar’s Singapore-Shantou* schedule (Departure times shown)

Departs Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday                                     1 Feb – 11 March 2010

Departs Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday                              13 March 2010 onwards

(Additional service on Monday 15 Feb 2010 only)

2 February – 11 March 2010

Singapore-Shantou*                                                       Shantou-Singapore*

3K 823   0600–1000                                                            3K 824 1040–1440

*Flights subject to regulatory approval # Conditions apply.