Special paint in new aircraft

Jetstar is celebrating its 18th birthday with a new lick of paint.

The airline has unveiled a new tweaked livery for its upcoming fleet of A321LR aircraft.

There are 38 new engine option (NEO) on order and the new-look on the tail and underbelly, and freshly branded wingtips, are courtesy of a special fuel-efficient paint.

Jetstar is using a two-coat system consisting of a base coat and a clear coat. The airline says it lasts longer and reduces paint weight by up to 30%. That means a fuel saving of up to 108 tonnes each year across the whole A321LR fleet and a saving of nearly 350 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Jetstar Group CEO Gareth Evans said the arrival of the NEO fleet was one of the most significant milestones in the airline’s 18-year history.

‘‘These modern aircraft are world-class in terms of performance, comfort and sustainability, ensuring our customers will enjoy a new range of benefits on board,’’ Evans said.

‘‘In addition to flying on our most popular domestic routes, the long-range NEOs open up new international opportunities, providing us with an opportunity to expand our international network and deliver on our promise to offer more low fares to more destinations.’’