Jetstar Takes New WTA Partnership for Asia Pacific into the 'Sky'

SYDNEY, Jan. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Low fares leader Jetstar has been named the first ever official airline partner of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and its tournaments across the Asia Pacific region until 2013, serving the Jetstar brand into today's largest global aviation market of Asia.

For the Multimedia News Release, please visit the following link:

http://medianet.multimediarelease.com.au/bundles/a65f9f02-e543-489e-b78e-805040814ee5  

As Asia Pacific's largest low fares airline, Jetstar has a growing Pan Asian network including new routes to China and further developing its flying hubs in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

Australian tennis darlings Samantha Stosur and Jelena Dokic along with Singapore's leading female player, Stefanie Tan, joined Jetstar and the WTA to unveil the partnership in simultaneous launch events across the region. At the ground breaking launch in Sydney, an innovative larger-than-life projection of Sam, Jelena and Maria Sharapova played tennis across the iconic Sydney night skyline.

Under the three year, multi-million dollar Asia Pacific tie-up, Jetstar team members and customers have the chance to rub shoulders with elite women tennis players onboard, win tickets to attend tournaments, and take part in augmented reality** activations through social media websites.

Jetstar Group CEO Bruce Buchanan said its Asia Pacific airlines would receive global exposure, in particular throughout Asia, through branding, on court presence, local activation, as well as various player alignment opportunities and significant marketing and digital integration. Jetstar will also create a customised air travel program for WTA players, tournaments and its staff.

"Jetstar's ongoing expansion in Asia, today's dominant global aviation market, presented an incredible opportunity, and its strategic new partnership with the WTA gives great leverage to the Jetstar brand, a greater competitive proposition and regional relevance," Mr. Buchanan said.

WTA tournaments have the world's most prominent female tennis players, who will join tennis fans to fly Jetstar to a number of the airlines' primary destinations to attend tournaments, including this week in Hobart and future events within Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

The WTA events attract close to 5 million attendees annually to tournaments with millions more watching events globally on television networks, and following online and through social media.

In Sydney, Jetstar Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar and WTA Senior Vice President, Operations and Player Relations Peter Johnston announced the history-making partnership deal.

Jetstar Chief Commercial Officer David Koczkar said: "Jetstar is excited by the opportunities this presents our customers, team members and an appealing Pan Asian brand. The partnership between Jetstar and WTA is a natural fit, considering thousands of Jetstar customers and team members also love to play and watch tennis across over 50 of our Asia Pacific destinations."

WTA Senior Vice President, Operations and Player Relations Peter Johnston said: "Our partnership with Jetstar is a perfect match for the WTA's stars and our tournaments. We are extremely proud to welcome Jetstar as the first Official Airline Partner in the history of the Women's Tennis Association."

The WTA is the world's leading professional sport for women with more than 2,200 players representing 96 nations at the WTA's 53 events and four Grand Slams in 33 countries.  

* SALE DETAILS

A sale of $9 fares to highlight the 9 pan Asia tournaments Jetstar is supporting in 2011 will launch in this week's Friday Fare Frenzy (Friday 14 January 2011).

These fares will be accessible only via Jetstar.com and will be available to selected domestic Australian destinations (excluding WA & NT) for selected travel periods in 2011. For travel dates, details and to book visit Jetstar.com on Friday 14 January 2011 from 4pm AEDT.

JETSTAR WTA TOURNAMENTS SUPPORTED BY JETSTAR DURING 2011

** Augmented reality - A term for a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented by virtual computer-generated sensory input, such as sound or graphics. In this example interaction with larger-than-life virtual tennis balls in three dimension!

The application of computer-generated imagery in live-video streams is a way to expand the real-world. As a result, the technology functions by enhancing one's current perception of reality!

For Jetstar tennis customer promotions, including an augmented reality game visit www.Jetstarevents.com/Tennis

To 'like' Jetstar Australia on Facebook, go to: www.facebook.com/JetstarAustralia

Jetstar's latest news subscribe to our media-dedicated Twitter account: www.twitter.com/JetstarNews

SOURCE Jetstar