Happy Birthday Jetstar

Jetstar is an Australian low-cost airline wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas. In 2001 Qantas bought out Newcastle based Impulse Airlines and began operating its fleet of Boeing 717-200 aircraft under the QantasLink banner. On 1st December 2003 Qantas announced the decision to launch a low-cost carrier called "Jetstar" to take on the rapidly expanding Virgin Blue and decided to use the Impulse AOC to speed up the launch. At the official launch of the new carrier Qantas announced they have placed an order for 23 Airbus A320s. With headquarters at Avalon airport Jetstar began services on 25th May 2004 using Boeing 717-200 from the Impulse fleet. Sixteen years ago today a Boeing 717-231 VH-VQI (CN 55095) touched down in Melbourne from Newcastle as JQ371. Airbus A320 services were launched later that year. On the 1st December 2005, Jetstar commenced operations from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast to Christchurch in New Zealand. In June 2015, Jetstar announced that it would commence regional services in New Zealand, beginning in December that same year. The new services would be flown by five turboprop Bombardier Dash 8s operated by Eastern Australia Airlines, another one of Qantas' subsidiary regional airlines, under the Jetstar brand. At least four new destinations would be served initially, with Hamilton, Rotorua, New Plymouth, Napier, Palmerston North, Nelson and Invercargill named as the cities under consideration. With a fleet of 71 aircraft Jetstar flies to 21 domestic destinations and 17 international destinations in 9 countries across Asia, North America and Oceania. 

JETSTAR DASH 8 Q300 VH-TQD (CN 598)

JETSTAR DASH 8 Q300 VH-TQK (CN 600)

Jetstar has had different aircraft and many different liveries; below are some of the images I have taken over the years.

JETSTAR B717-231 VH-VQJ (CN 55096) BUDGET LIVERY

JETSTAR B717-231 VH-YQH (CN 55096) DOMINOS PIZZA LIVERY

THIS AIRCRAFT WAS PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED AS VH-VQJ 

AS SEEN ABOVE; IT IS NOW CURRENTLY REGISTERED AS VH-NXN

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-JQX (CN 2197)

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VGP (CN 4343)

CELEBRATING "POWDERFINDERS" AUSTRALIAN TOUR

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VGZ (CN 3917) QUICKSILVER LIVERY

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VQH (CN 55094) 

CELEBRATING OUR AUSTRALIAN RUGBY LEAGUE TEAM

THE KANGAROOS

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VQQ (CN 2573) SEA WORLD LIVERY

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VQP (CN 2573) GOLD COAST "TITANS"

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VFL (CN 5489)

"HELPING LITTLE ATHS REACH FOR THE STARS"

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VGF (CN 4497)

BRIGHT ORANGE TO CELEBRATE THIER 10th BIRTHDAY

JETSTAR A320-232 VH-VQK (CN 2651)

SPORTING THE LAUNCESTON AIRPORT LIVERY

JETSTAR A330-202 VH-EBC (CN 506) PAINTED WHITE

THIS AIRCRAFT HAS NOW RETURNED TO QANTAS

JETSTAR A330-202 VH-EBD (CN 513)

JETSTAR B787-800 VH-VKG (CN 36232)