Qantas Group pulls the pin on Jetstar Asia

In just seven short weeks, the Qantas Group will shut down its Jetstar Asia (3K) operations and transfer the airline’s 13 Airbus A320s back into the Australian fleet. The move is a blow to international Qantas passengers, who’ll have fewer options for earning and using points within Asia.

Based in Singapore, Jetstar Asia primarily serves intra-Asia routes to cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Manila. But Australia is also on the airline’s radar: Jetstar Asia has previously flown to Perth and currently operates the Singapore-Broome route.

While Jetstar’s Airbus A320 cabins weren’t exactly the epitome of luxury, the low-cost carrier did have a part to play in earning Qantas Points and Status Credits. Here’s what the upcoming closure means for you.

Jetstar Asia’s final day is looming

The final day of Jetstar Asia’s operations will be 31 July 2025. Over the next few weeks, the airline will progressively reduce its schedule in preparation for closure. Affected customers can ask for a full refund. Alternatively, they can also request to be rerouted onto another airline, ‘where possible’, according to the press statement.

Over its 22 years of flying, Jetstar Asia was a key way for Qantas Frequent Flyer members to earn and use points within Southeast Asia – even on standalone, one-way fares. The airline offered an affordable way to earn Qantas Points and Status Credits with its fare bundles. You could also redeem Qantas Points on Jetstar Asia reward seats, even though it wasn’t the most effective use of points.

After Jetstar Asia exits, Qantas passengers will need to rely on codeshares to earn points and Status Credits within Asia. However, these codeshares usually can only be booked in conjunction with a Qantas flight from Australia to Singapore. It’ll be far more restrictive to earn points and Status Credits in Asia.

For frequent flyers with Gold status and higher, flying 3K also unlocked another benefit – access to Qantas’ excellent lounges at Singapore. When Jetstar Asia was also based at T1, accessing the lounge was a simple matter. However, in March 2023, Changi Airport relocated Jetstar Asia to T4, making it more challenging to unwind in the Qantas lounge.

What’s next for the Jetstar Asia fleet?

With 13 Airbus A320s returning to Australia, Jetstar Australia will soon have significantly increased capacity across its domestic and New Zealand networks. Whether they’ll be used to bolster existing routes or launch new ones remains to be seen. According to the Qantas Group, some of these jets may be sent to Western Australia to ‘help accelerate fleet renewal in Qantas’ regional operations.’

Jetstar Australia may also use its stronger fleet to intensify competition with Virgin Australia, which earlier today confirmed its intention to list on the ASX on 24 June 2025.