It begins just weeks before Jetstar starts another new direct Japan route between Melbourne and Tokyo, which is due to get underway on April 28, 2014. The Tokyo route has not been operated directly for the past five years.

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand, chief executive officer, David Hall, said: “We know Osaka is one of our most popular Japanese destinations and we’ve seen many customers travel there via other ports in our network.”

Melbourne Airport chief exexutive officer, Chris Woodruff, added: “This new Osaka service is the second Melbourne - Japan wide-body service announced by Jetstar in the last few months and we are delighted that they are providing more choice for Victorians and visitors.”

Woodruff said passenger traffic between Japan and Victoria had grown by 12% in the last year. “Since 2009, our growth has been nearly double the growth of the main Japanese markets in Australia such as New South Wales and Western Australia,” he added.