Jetstar has been voted Best Low-Cost Airline for 2021 in the Asia-Pacific region by AirlineRatings.com in its annual Airline Excellence Awards. The airline group - made up of Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, and Jetstar Japan - is part of the Qantas Group and has been at the forefront of the development of low-cost travel in the region since launching in 2003. Since 2003 with just 14 Boeing 717s, the airline has grown dramatically across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Japan. Its Australian fleet now numbers 66 A320s and A321s and 787s. Jetstar Japan has 24 A320s and Jetstar Asia Airways 18 A320s. "Jetstar is a top-quality low-cost operation and has been in the winner's circle several times before at AirlineRatings.com," Mr. Thomas said. "The Jetstar group's DNA comes from its parent Qantas and it shows with a major focus on safety and customer care." Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said "we’re incredibly proud to be recognised as the Best Low-Cost Airline Asia – the award is a testament to the tireless work and commitment of our team members over the past year under challenging circumstances. "With airlines based in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Singapore, we’ve all experienced different impacts of the pandemic but the resolve of our teams to provide great service and low fares have remained strong across our entire network. "At a time when families and friends are looking forward to reuniting after months and years apart, providing affordable travel through our low fares is more important than ever, and we can’t wait to reconnect loved ones when international borders open," Mr Evans said. The Jetstar Group is one of the largest low-cost airline groups in the Asia Pacific by revenue and has flown more than 300 million passengers since it launched in 2004. Collectively the Jetstar Group offers around 5,000 (pre-covid) flights a week to 58 destinations in 18 countries and territories across the Asia Pacific region. Jetstar's mission is to offer all-day, everyday low fares to enable more people to fly to more places, more often. And incredibly about 2/3rds of its passengers pay less than A$100 (US$75) for their fares.