Jetstar slashes flights as fuel costs bite
Source: Western Sydney International
Budget airline Jetstar is cutting back on flights while Singapore Airlines is boosting its Australian capacity as the war in the Middle East reshapes air travel.
Jetstar confirmed on Wednesday it was cutting some flights due to rising jet fuel prices and other costs, as well as falling demand amid the ongoing conflict.
One in 10 of the budget carrier’s services in May are affected. They include domestic services in New Zealand and flights between Auckland and Sydney and Brisbane.
“We have made some temporary changes to our schedule, including due to a rise in jet fuel prices as a result of the conflict in the Middle East and other rising costs,” a company spokesman said.
Most affected passengers have been offered seats on same-day Jetstar flights.
Jetstar carried more than 700,000 customers across the Tasman last year, up 9 per cent on 2024.
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Its owner, Qantas, is yet to confirm any major scheduling changes.
Air New Zealand was one of the first airlines to cut back on service amid the emerging fuel crisis. Two weeks ago, it said it was slashing 5 per cent of its flights, or about 1100 services, for two months as the Iran war sent jet fuel prices surging and disrupted travel.
Other airlines, including Qantas, Scandinavia’s SAS and Thai Airways have also flagged significant fare increases as the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping channel for oil, reduces the supply of aviation fuel and prices surge.
In the United States, United Airlines has cancelled about 5 per cent of services on what it said were underperforming routes. It said it faced spending an additional $US11 billion ($16 billion) in expenses if the surging fuel prices continued throughout 2026.
Singapore Airlines has confirmed its flight schedule from the new Western Sydney airport. Photo: Singapore Airlines
Major Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, however, has announced two significant boosts to its Australian capacity in recent weeks.
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It confirmed on Wednesday that it would fly its Airbus A350-900 to and from the new Western Sydney airport from November. The flights are in addition to Singapore’s existing Sydney services.
“Singapore Airlines’ services to Australia’s newest gateway at Western Sydney will deliver more choice and strengthen connectivity to this popular destination for our customers,” the airline’s senior vice-president of marketing planning, Dai Haoyu, said.
“Western Sydney’s late-night departure capacity will enable a seamless travel journey and connections through Singapore Changi Airport, to more than 130 global destinations served by the SIA Group.”
The first passenger flights will take off from the new curfew-free Western Sydney International Airport in October.
Singapore had already been named as a “launch partner” for the $6 billion airport at Badgerys Creek, along with Qantas, Jetstar and Air NZ.
Tickets for its new flights went on sale on Wednesday.
Singapore Airlines’ schedule for its Western Sydney flights. Image: Singapore Airlines
The airline also recently announced it would return its Airbus A380 on flights to Melbourne from March 29. The move, which will replace the Boeing 777-300ER on the same route, follows the continued suspension of Singapore’s services between the Asian hub and Dubai due to the war in the Middle East.
It is the first time in three years that Singapore will use the giant A380 on the Melbourne route. The upgrade will last at least until October.
Elsewhere, British Airways recently also added to seats to and from Australia.
Last week, it said it would offer a daily service from Melbourne to Heathrow, via Kuala Lumpur, from January 2027. The carrier has not flown direct to the Victorian capital since 2006.
“We’re also increasing services across several high-demand routes around the world. Together, these changes represent a significant investment in our long-haul leisure network, adding even more options and choice for our customers,” British Airways chief planning and strategy officer Neil Chernoff said.
“Elsewhere, we know there is short-term demand as a result of the situation in the Middle East. To support customers with alternative routes from popular destinations we have already scheduled additional flights, and we will continue to monitor customer demand and add flights to our schedule if we’re able to do so.”
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