The Qantas Group today announced the creation of up to 100 new jobs with the establishment of maintenance and training facilities in Melbourne for Jetstar Airways as the airline prepares to take delivery of its first 787.
State of the art equipment, including a 787 flight simulator, will be installed at the group’s flight training centre in Airport West as part of a $100 million investment in anticipation of the first 787 delivery by the end of September.
Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce and Jetstar Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka were joined by the Premier of Victoria Denis Napthine and Victorian Minister for the Aviation Industry Gordon Rich-Phillips at the centre to oversee training preparations.
“We are delighted that Melbourne, the home of Jetstar Airways, will also be the Australian home of the 787,” Mr Joyce said.
“The 787 has a strong connection to Victoria with parts of the aircraft manufactured at Boeing Aerostructures Australia’s facility in Port Melbourne.
“Today’s announcement builds on that link with our Airport West facility set to house a replica of the 787 cabin door and a 787 flight simulator which will be used for crew training.”
Jetstar Group CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said support from the Victorian Government was integral to ensuring Melbourne became the home and hub of the airline’s 787 operations.
“New jobs will include cabin crew trainers, simulator instructors and engineers to support the entry into service of the aircraft and the establishment of a dedicated Jetstar maintenance facility at Melbourne Airport,” Ms Hrdlicka said.
“Jetstar is leasing a widebody hangar from the Qantas Group to undertake line maintenance for the 787 and it is being fitted out with the latest equipment and tooling specifically required for the new technology of the aircraft.
“Forty eight engineers and 10 pilots have already completed their training for the 787 and more training is currently underway. Our cabin crew will be the next group of Jetstar team members to be trained to operate on the aircraft using our dedicated facilities at Airport West.
“We are on track for delivery of our first 787 by the end of September and the excitement around the entire Jetstar team is building.
“The aircraft’s revolutionary design, which includes larger windows, improved cabin pressure and smoother flying, will ensure it becomes a destination in itself.”
Customers will have the opportunity to fly Jetstar’s first 787 on domestic services before international operations are launched by the end of the year.*
The 787s will be progressively introduced onto Jetstar’s international network, operating to destinations including Hawaii, Phuket, Bali and Japan.*
Delivery of the 787-8s to Jetstar will see its existing A330s transferred to Qantas, following a refit of the cabins.
This will then enable the progressive retirement of Qantas’ Boeing 767 fleet by mid-2015.
*Subject to government and regulatory approval