The Qantas Airways Ltd-owned Jetstar to start direct flights from Melbourne to Singapore, from the month of December, which is likely to endow a sturdy base for the escalation of the low-cost carrier's long-haul ambitions.

The Jetstar Airways Chief Executive, Bruce Buchanan said that these flights will be directed with the help of two Airbus A330-200 aircraft, which will be based in the city-state itself.

Singapore Airlines, Emirates Airways and Qantas mainline have been serving the Melbourne-Singapore route for long now. On top of the 58 superjumbo already on order, 32 additional A380 were asked to be delivered by them.

"Our focus will be on the 21 destinations we serve beyond Singapore into Asia, while Qantas's focus is Europe. It's a great way for us to build that market where we are relatively underserved as a Qantas group", Mr. Buchanan said.

Another announcement was made by Jetstar stating that Singapore-Auckland services would begin in March.

To start with long-haul operations footed out of Singapore to Australia, North Asia and Europe, the airline had bannered various plans in May.

The two new services were likely to associate the six-year-old Jetstar's three oldest and largest bases - Melbourne, Auckland and Singapore.

Mr. Buchanan said that Melbourne was where they had started in May 2004, then in late 2004 they went in for Singapore and since 2005 they have been flying in New Zealand.

The whole process he said would result in linking those three businesses together and ensure further growth and development.