Jetstar confirms Hong Kong flights by yearend

Asia-Pacific’s largest low-cost carrier said Hong Kong presents a world of possibilities.

Jetstar Airways’ CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the world of possibilities referred to both Hong Kong travelers and the massive Chinese market traveling to Hong Kong to shop.

"We've been held up a little bit by the Hong Kong government changeover and by the Chinese government changeover . . . and the regulatory constraints we've faced," Hrdlicka said. "But we're very confident of being able to fly by the end of 2013."

She said ensuring that Jetstar’s recent expansion into Asia delivered strong results was her main priority. Jetstar operates several joint ventures with a number of Asian full-service carriers.

She noted that Jetstar won't be adding new businesses to the portfolio for some time and in the next 12 to 18 months will focus on delivering the opportunities it has.

“ Our biggest challenge is ensuring that we are in a position to take the business from a very, very strong position . . . and to ensure we are absolutely sustainably competitive in every market we play in and build those markets to their full potential."

Jetstar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas Airways. It was launched in 2004 and is now the largest low-cost carrier in the Asia-Pacific region by revenue, with revenues of over $3 billion in 2012.