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Budget airline Jetstar is launching its first direct service direct from Singapore to Shantou in Guangdong, commencing from February 2, 2010.

Jetstar will initially operate the new route as a three times weekly A320 return service between Shantou Waisha Airport and Singapore Changi Airport and has plans to grow the service.

Jetstar Asia is said to be the first foreign carrier to operate international flights into Shantou Waisha Airport.

The new services, representing the second mainland Chinese market to be served by Jetstar, will provide a direct flight link to Guandong for the 600,000 Chaozhou descendents now based in or living in Singapore, as well as for leisure and business travelers.

Shantou, a city of five million residents, is one of five special economic zones in China, and its commercial activities include it being the communication hub of southeast China.

The CEO of Jetstar Asia and Valuair, Chong Phit Lian, said the addition of Shantou to the airline's Singapore hub would provide the first direct flight access between Guangdong and Singapore.

Chong added that Jetstar plans to increase the existing capacity from their Singapore hub by 46% through the arrival of three additional A320 aircraft and these will directly support expansion into new markets: including to mainland China.

Shantou will become Jetstar's second mainland China service from Singapore following the commencement of four-times-weekly Singapore to Haikou (Hainan Province) flights.

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