Jetstar offers $164 fares to Japan in route boost

Low-cost carrier Jetstar has announced April Fools Day as the kick-off for more flights between Australia and Japan at cut-price rates.

The airline, which already flies daily between Cairns and Tokyo (Narita) , will add four flights a week from Cairns to Osaka (Kansai International Airport) from April 1 on its Airbus A330s.

It's part of 22 additional weekly services to and from Cairns, including additional flights between Cairns and other major Australian ports such as Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.

“Our 22 new return flights added from this week, including more international flights to Japan, will increase the number of Jetstar's seats to or from Cairns by more than 10,000 each week compared with April last year and represents major growth for Jetstar in Far North Queensland,” said Jetstar's chief executive Bruce Buchanan.

To boost patronage, Jetstar has launched a special 2-for-1 sale for travel between Cairns and Tokyo or Osaka, with one-way fares from $329 per couple, or $164.50 each.

“Jetstar's recently secured long-term agreement with Cairns International Airport and our partnership in growth with them was a catalyst for these additional low fare flights," Mr Buchanan said.

The announcement follows Tiger Airways boost in services between Brisbane and Melbourne up to three times daily between the two cities.

And, from June 18, Tiger will be reinstituting services on the Melbourne-Darwin route six times a week.

"Services to Brisbane bring Tiger's destinations when flying out of Melbourne to 13 — and come June, with the addition of Darwin services, 14 — showing the strength not only of the Melbourne market but the Victorian economy as a whole," said Melbourne Airport's chief executive Chris Woodruff.