MELBOURNE AIRPORT WELCOMED JETSTAR’S DIRECT JAPAN SERVICE

Melbourne Airport has welcomed Jetstar's announcement to commence direct services to Tokyo (Narita) from April 2014, the first non-stop service to Japan since 2008.

Melbourne Airport CEO, Chris Woodruff, said the new service will provide an important link for Victoria's business and export industries to one of Australia's largest trading partners.

"We are delighted that Jetstar is continuing to support its home base of Melbourne by commencing direct services to Japan."

"Japan is Victoria's most valuable single market for food and beverage exports. With around 85% of air exports carried in the belly of passenger aircraft, Jetstar's new service will further support this important market as well as the state government's vision to become Asia's food bowl," said Mr Woodruff.

"Japan is also a significant market for Victoria's education and tourism industries.  As a growing holiday destination, it's great news for those leisure passengers heading to the popular ski slopes as they will no longer be required to make an unnecessary stopover."

"Despite having to make a stop-over, over the last twelve months the number of people travelling between Victoria and Japan has grown by 10 per cent to reach 150,000, making Melbourne the fastest growing Japanese market across eastern Australia."

"Over the last five years, with support from airline customers such as Jetstar, we've almost doubled the number of international passengers travelling to or from Victoria."

Subject to government approval, the new Melbourne -Tokyo (Narita) four times weekly services will commence in April 2014.