Jetstar has welcomed its seventh Airbus A321neo LR to its fleet, after the aircraft arrived in Melbourne after a 20-hour flight from the Airbus factory in Germany. The plane will be operating within a matter of weeks, after final preparations and checks by Jetstar engineers are completed.
The new aircraft is both quieter and more fuel efficient, as well as being 99.8 percent mechanically reliable, which is greater than the NEO’s world fleet average. Jetstar has ordered another 11 of the same aircraft, due to arrive before the end of 2024. The final total at the end of the order will be 18.
The planes also use 20 percent less fuel, and will operate domestic services, as well as regional flights between Australia and Bali. The new fleet is also in an effort to lower the cost of airfares.
Commencing on the 29th of June, the NEO fleet will also fly between Sydney and Rarotonga, marking the only direct service between Australia and the largest of the Cook Islands.
Jetstar has cited that investing in new aircraft is an important part of the ongoing commitment from the company to improve punctuality and reliability. Other measures include hiring more staff in the divisions of customer service, engineering, and operational positions. The airline is also currently upgrading systems and processes.
