Jetstar announces MCY-DPS-SIN

[Harrison_133]

Jetstar have announced flights between Sunshine Coast and Singapore, via Bali effective 25 March 2026. Flights operate 3 times a week on the A321neo.

Schedule effective 29 March 2026:

JQ86 MCY 09:10 DPS 13:35 32Q Day 146
JQ86 DPS 15:05 SIN 18:00 32Q Day 146

JQ87 SIN 19:25 DPS 22:20 32Q Day 357
JQ87 DPS 23:50 MCY 07:30 +1 32Q Day 357

Source: https://newsroom.jetstar.com/jetsta...-from-199-with-easy-connections-to-singapore/

 

[AIRwin]

Looks like JQ86/87 is in addition to and not replacing the current JQ42/43 sectors between DPS and SIN, leaving DPS within 15 minutes of each other (unless schedules haven't been updated)

 

[dajop]

Good timings for Bali trips for travellers originating in Singapore, and must feel there is money to be made on this. Although it would have to be one of the more hotly contested routes in terms of number of carriers operating, with 9 competing on the route.

 

[Saab34]

SIN-DPS is a busy route and was probably one of the better 3K performers so likely a good move as they try and catch that SEQ market to Bali and the already established Jetstar traffic between SIN to DPS

 

[elanshin]

I wonder if routes like this bode well for JQ to keep JQ7/8 since I feel that routes lost a lot of its purpose with shuttling people to SIN to connect. I believe JQ87 times with JQ7 to be connectable.

Maybe this is also to see if they can't add more capacity to DPS from MEL and skirt the bilateral limits whilst also trying out MCY.

 

[dajop]

I wonder if routes like this bode well for JQ to keep JQ7/8 since I feel that routes lost a lot of its purpose with shuttling people to SIN to connect. I believe JQ87 times with JQ7 to be connectable.

I suspect the loss of the longstanding EK service has encouraged JQ to stay in the market longer, and see how it turns out. Anecdotally, in my 17 years of semi-commuting between SIN & MEL fares have never been higher than they have been this year. They are lucky, if like over the last couple of weeks, 787 problems occur during low seasons, a lot of people would be screwed over it happened in Dec, Jan, Apr, Jul or Sep.

 

[brokenagain]

The DPS-SIN flights don’t actually have many Aussies on them. It’s full of Europeans so suspect most of the pax are on codeshare flights from Europe,

 

[Saab34]

The DPS-SIN flights don’t actually have many Aussies on them. It’s full of Europeans so suspect most of the pax are on codeshare flights from Europe,

I can confirm that is the case. I took the JQ flight between SIN and DPS last year and it was an odd experience, Aussie Jetstar Pilots, Asian Crew, and pretty much all Euro passengers.

The Cabin Manager was Aussie which was different, I assume was training somebody or covering sick.

 

[markis10]

The Cabin Manager was Aussie which was different, I assume was training somebody or covering sick

Situation normal, they need an Aussie to operate as senior, been that way ever since they crewed the A330s out of BKK crew base

 

[Lowjhg]

According to EF, the JQ42/43 sortie seems to end on the 22nd March, and moving forwards from the 23rd March, the NTL/MCY sortie seems to switch once a day ex SIN, so maintaining 1x daily SIN-DPS-SIN.

I have a feeling HBA-DPS-SIN-DPS-HBA flights are coming soon, or routed through to BKK.

 

[Saab34]

Townsville to Bali?

Avalon to Bali would be another one if they had not been tied to the capital bilaterals. They have a new International terminal just sitting idle, what a waste of money. Perhaps they should try and change that.

 

[AIRwin]

Townsville to Bali?

https://newsroom.jetstar.com/jetstar-brings-international-flying-back-to-townsville/

 

[HS-TQE]

Townsville to Bali?

Avalon to Bali would be another one if they had not been tied to the capital bilaterals. They have a new International terminal just sitting idle, what a waste of money. Perhaps they should try and change that.

There was the short lived Citilink (Garuda's LCC) service on AVV-DPS which started prior to the Covid shutdowns. It did not return after Covid.

 

[Saab34]

There was the short lived Citilink (Garuda's LCC) service on AVV-DPS which started prior to the Covid shutdowns. It did not return after Covid.

Indonesian based carriers have somewhat struggled with the brand recognition on this end to make any success out of service. Batik has built up a profile now, Air Asia Indonesia should have been a dominant player to the East Coast but failed miserably with the A330s. I think QZ will do well if they get the NEO into Melbourne and Sydney.

 

[HS-TQE]

It was "too much" plane when Indonesia AirAsia X had the brief A330 service into SYD/MEL Low prices are good, but to fill the LCC heavy A330 would be tricky with minimal brand recognition and battling against the AU POS preference for Australian carriers (with the exception of GA)..

It seems similar to Thai AirAsiaX from DMK to BNE/SYD/MEL, couldn't fill outside of School Holiday peak periods with them withdrawing from BNE, then MEL and eventually SYD (from February 2025).

 

[aikman]

Yeah I don't know why AirAsia is not able to compete against Jetstar's 4x daily MEL-DPS. There is obviously a market there.

 

[Harrison_133]

Yeah I don't know why AirAsia is not able to compete against Jetstar's 4x daily MEL-DPS. There is obviously a market there.

They just don't have the right aircraft. A330 was previously too big. It's likely too far for an A320ceo to be economically viable. And the mothership in KL is reluctant to give the smaller subsidiaries in Indonesia & Philippines newer A320/21neo machinery.

 

[elanshin]

Indonesian based carriers have somewhat struggled with the brand recognition on this end to make any success out of service. Batik has built up a profile now, Air Asia Indonesia should have been a dominant player to the East Coast but failed miserably with the A330s. I think QZ will do well if they get the NEO into Melbourne and Sydney.

Yeah I don't know why AirAsia is not able to compete against Jetstar's 4x daily MEL-DPS. There is obviously a market there.

Because a 3-3-3 a330 is significantly worse than a JQ 3-3 narrowbody. And their seats are god awful to sit on . Came out of the flight to KUL sore all over. This is designed for skinny Asian bodies. The average aussie bloke will not fit in it period.

 

[RB001]

The average aussie bloke will not fit in it period.

An Aussie bloke would use a full stop.

 

[docjames]

Analytic flying did some interesting commentary on this on X/Twitter.

The bilateral (Au-Indo) is fully allocated, so this was a way to add DPS capacity and likely get a Qld subsidy at the same time. A bit like QR adding more MEL capacity by routing via ADL……

Apparently JQ have filled 99% of the additional ~115,000 seats they added to DPS so room for more!