MANILA – Mr Norazman Sapiie had tears in his eyes and a smile on his face as he readied the aircraft for departure, for the last time in his 20-year career as a flight attendant with Jetstar Asia.

After blowing kisses and waving goodbye to ground staff who had gathered on the tarmac and the aerobridge at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Mr Norazman took a deep breath, eyes closed as he turned away from the door.

As the aircraft picked up speed and lifted off, Mr Norazman, the in-flight customer service manager, said: “Cabin crew, for one last time, let’s go home.”

Mr Norazman, 57, is Jetstar Asia’s longest-serving flight attendant. He joined the airline in October 2004.

The flight he was operating, 3K764, was Jetstar Asia’s last scheduled flight as the curtains fell on the budget carrier, more than 20 years since its maiden flight in December 2004.

It departed Manila slightly behind schedule at about 6pm, with 156 passengers and seven crew members aboard the Airbus A320.

There was rousing applause from passengers after the flight touched down at Changi Airport.

The Straits Times was invited to be on board the flight.

Jetstar Asia announced in June that

it would stop operations on July 31 and retrench more than 500 employees,

Australian flag carrier Qantas, its parent company, said rising costs and stiff competition in the region had dented Jetstar Asia’s ability to offer low fares.

The first time Ms Tikka Cheung, 35, flew Jetstar Asia, it was out of necessity, as she had missed an AirAsia flight bound for Kuala Lumpur.