Jetstar has unveiled what its new fleet of Airbus aircraft will look like in the sky, complete with special paint that improves aircraft fuel economy.
The budget airline marked its 18th birthday in the Australian market today by revealing its new livery for what will be a fleet of 38 Airbus A321LR NEO aircraft servicing Australia's most popular domestic routes.
Jetstar's new-look aircraft is not just a branding exercise – the airline says the specially-formulated paint will indirectly help the environment and cut down on fuel costs.
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The livery uses a two-coat system consisting of a base coat and a clear coat, which in simple terms reduces the weight of the paint by up to 30 per cent.
This weight saving is anticipated to save up to 108 tonnes of fuel every year across the whole fleet and a saving of nearly 350 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Jetstar Group chief executive officer Gareth Evans said the new aircraft won't just benefit the business but the customer too, by providing up to 50 per cent quieter engines and overhead bins with 40 per cent more storage space.
"These modern aircraft are world-class in terms of performance, comfort and sustainability, ensuring our customers will enjoy a new range of benefits on board," Evans said.
"In addition to flying on our most popular domestic routes, the long-range NEOs open up new international opportunities, providing us with an opportunity to expand our international network and deliver on our promise to offer more low fares to more destinations."
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The new Airbus aircraft also boast wider seats than the existing Jetstar fleet, and include flip-down smartphone and tablet cradles, with every seat offering USB power access.
The airline is expecting to take delivery of eight A321LR aircraft between August 2022 and May 2023, with a full suite of 18 aircraft here in Australia by mid-2024.
A further 20 aircraft of the same variety will then arrive sometime between 2024 and 2029.
