It is a joint venture between Qantas, Japan Airlines and Tokyo Century Corporation, which owns 33.3%, 50% and 16.7% stakes respectively.

[3][4] Initially planned to commence flights in late 2012, Jetstar Japan launched ahead of schedule on 3 July 2012 using Tokyo's Narita International Airport as a base.

[10] In July 2013, the airline's chief executive officer (CEO) Miyuki Suzuki (鈴木 みゆき, Suzuki Miyuki) announced that Jetstar Japan's network strategy would be focused on the domestic market from Tokyo Narita for the foreseeable future, and that the company would try to optimize its schedule for connecting traffic with international flights operated by Australian-based Jetstar Airways.

[11] Suzuki later stated in August 2013 that Jetstar Japan hoped to decide the timing of the Kansai base opening within 2014.

[17] While no new routes were added to the base at its induction, Jetstar Japan announced on 16 July 2014 the addition of daily service to Oita Airport from 9 October 2014, and announced further expansion on 20 August 2014 with the addition of twice daily service to Kumamoto Airport starting on 26 October 2014.

She also stated Jetstar Japan's plans to commence international operations in the coming winter season, with initial destinations under consideration being within four or five hours of travel time from the airline's Tokyo Narita base.

[20] This gave the airline a distinction from traditional low-cost carriers, such as Peach and Vanilla Air, which were both affiliated with All Nippon Airways but lacked similar agreements with ANA.

[25] On 21 January 2015, Jetstar Japan announced a new daily service between Nagoya Centrair and Okinawa would commence from 29 March 2015.

[31][32][30] On 13 October 2015, the airline announced that service to Taipei Taoyuan would commence from Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai, and Nagoya Centrair.

[33] In early 2016, it was announced on 15 January that services between Osaka Kansai and Kumamoto would be discontinued at the beginning of the summer timetable on 27 March, while on 21 January, it was announced that new service linking Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai, and Nagoya Centrair with Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport would be inaugurated in March.

[36] On 23 August 2016, the airline was confirmed to have made its first profit, and also announced plans to grow its fleet from the current 20 aircraft to 28 over the next three years.

[38][39] In April 2019, Jetstar Japan announced a new domestic route between Tokyo Narita and Shonai Airport, beginning on 1 August 2019.

[4] In November 2013, Qantas and Japan Airlines each injected ¥5.5 billion of fresh capital in the form of non-voting shares.

[44] In November 2014, Qantas and Japan Airlines each agreed to inject a further ¥5.5 billion of fresh capital in the form of non-voting shares.

[46] In August 2015, at the announcement of Qantas' annual financial results, it was revealed that further capital injections would take place into Jetstar Japan totaling ¥10 billion.

The airline later created other characters as Jetta's family, consisting of Papa (パパ), Mama (ママ), Seiko (せいこ), and Hoshimi (ほしみ).