Travelers in Asia are about to get a dose of camels, kangaroos and red dust thanks to a unique Jetstar Asia livery showcasing Australia’s Top End.
The Northern Territory-themed “flying billboard” was officially launched at Darwin International Airport Friday, accompanied by an announcement Jetstar Asia would boost the number of seats between Singapore and Darwin by 25 percent with daily services starting in April.
Jetstar Asia has been flying to Darwin for a decade and chief executive Bara Pasupathi said the airline had seen steady and strong demand during that time.
“By offering up to seven regular services a week on our Airbus 320, we are committed to providing more options for travelers from Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and the rest of Southeast Asia to discover Darwin,’’ he said.
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“The livery collaboration with NT Tourism and NT Airports is the first of a number of opportunities that will see us increase awareness of our services and entice more visitors to explore this incredible destination”.
The livery is part of wider moves by Darwin International Airport to partner with local organizations to stimulate tourism and aims to showcase the NT to a new audience.
In addition to signature wildlife and landmarks, it features the logo of the Top End’s 18-day celebration of art, music, theatre and dance: the Darwin Festival.
Targeted campaigns in Asian markets have combined with investments with Singaporean wholesalers to boost visitors by 14 percent in the six months ended December 2018.
There has also been work with Qantas and Jetstar Asia to create new itineraries through Darwin to Uluru and Alice Springs.
“The new Darwin-Uluru service and additional capacity on services to Alice Springs also opens up the Red Centre to our close Asian neighbours,’’ NT Airports chief executive Ian Kew said.
Kew said the iconic natural earth tones of the Red Centre and Uluru made them “must-do destinations” that were increasingly sought after by Asian travelers seeking a unique experience.
“Being less than five hours from Singapore makes the entire Northern Territory very accessible to Asian markets,” he said.
Disclosure: Steve Creedy also writes for the Australian Airports Association.
