China flights for christmas

Jetstar will launch its first services into mainland China from December this year...

Four weekly services between Singapore and Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, will begin on December 16.

The low-cost carrier says it plans to increase its existing capacity from Singapore by 46 per cent in the next 12 months, helped by the arrival of three additional A320 aircraft.

Jetstar Asia and Valuair chief executive Chong Phit Lian said the China was a clear focus of future growth.

"Haikou is a very solid entry into mainland China for Jetstar and we look forward to the opportunity for further growth from this market should conditions prevail," Ms Chong said in a statement.

The announcement comes a day after the federal Government defended a dramatic fall in the number of Chinese tourists to Australia.

Tourist visa applications from China have reported dropped by up to 80 per cent during the past three months.

That follows sharp falls in Chinese and other Asian visitors in June 2008, compared with the June 2009, as recorded by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Assistant Treasurer Nick Sherry denied any suggestion that tensions between Australia and China could have an impact on the figures, noting an overall tourism decline fuelled by the downturn and swine flu fears.

Source: www.theage.com.au