Share this @internewscast.com

Key Points
  • Jet fuel prices have dropped globally reducing operating costs for airlines.
  • The capacity of seats on planes has also increased.
  • Australia’s airlines are launching new international routes later this year.
Cheaper jet fuel has driven down airfares for Australian travellers, and the price relief is expected to continue.
Domestic economy airfares were 12 per cent cheaper in the first two months of 2025 than the same time last year, according to data compiled by corporate travel advisers FCM Consulting.
That represents $29 off the average ticket price.
The price drop comes despite the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) saying limited domestic competition was helping the country’s dominant airline groups — Qantas and Virgin — boost their profit margins.

While Qantas Group earnings before tax soared to $1.5 billion in the last six months of 2024, and Virgin Australia also announced record profits, market dynamics since the new year have also benefited travellers.

Jet fuel dropping in cost

Fuel is the largest operating cost for airlines, so fluctuations in fuel prices are passed through to airfares.

Ongoing weakness in jet fuel prices is expected to continue putting downward pressure on airfares in the coming months, according to the ACCC.
FCM Consulting director Felicity Burke said Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region had experienced sharper drops in fares compared to the rest of the world.

“We’ve been saying for a long time now that global capacity increases and other factors like jet barrel cost reductions would go hand-in-hand with airfare price drops in various regions, and this is one of several reasons that we’re now seeing this come to fruition,” she told the Australian Associated Press.

More seats available

Another factor in the cost of air travel is seat availability.
Around the world, more seats are available on planes, contributing to falling costs for travellers on international economy flights.
Global capacity in May was 7 per cent higher than in 2019 and 5 per cent higher than at the same time last year.

International economy airfares out of Australia dropped 5 per cent in January and February compared to the same period last year, while business class tickets fell by 3 per cent.

New flights on the way

More routes are set to launch in the second half of this year, with Virgin’s partnership with Qatar Airways adding further competition on the highly trafficked Australia to Europe corridor.
“Through this partnership with a world-leading global airline, we expect to not only create more choice for travellers but also drive healthy competition, which typically helps to place downward pressure on fares over time,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson told AAP.
Qantas will also launch new routes in late 2025, including Adelaide to Auckland and Perth to Auckland, as well as Perth to Johannesburg.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Unequal Impact: How Heatwaves Highlight Disparities in Suburban Areas

Parts of the country have been sweltering through a heatwave that’s set…
Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed has met with former Prime Minister and current Australian ambassador Kevin Rudd in the latest engagement on his trip to the US.

Bondi Hero Ahmed al-Ahmed Connects with Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd During U.S. Visit

Bondi hero Ahmed al-Ahmed has met with former Prime Minister and current…
Iran warns it will retaliate if Trump orders strike over protests

Iran Vows Retaliation Against Potential Trump-Ordered Strikes Amid Escalating Protest Tensions

Nationwide protests challenging Iran‘s theocracy saw protesters flood the streets in the…
With Cuban ally Maduro ousted, Trump warns Havana to make a 'deal' before it's too late

Trump Urges Cuba to Negotiate Following Maduro’s Ouster: A Geopolitical Shift in Latin America

President Donald Trump fired off another warning to the government of Cuba…

Cyclone Koji Approaches North Queensland: Residents Brace for Impact

Tropical Cyclone Koji is set to make landfall in Queensland’s far north,…
Childcare centre shut down in Sydney for failing to meet standards

Sydney Childcare Centre Closed Due to Non-Compliance with Standards

A Sydney childcare centre is the first to be shut down amid…

Iranian Authorities Attribute Unrest to ‘Terrorists,’ Indicate Escalated Response to Protests

Iranian authorities have indicated they could intensify their crackdown on the biggest…

Nobel Committee Clarifies Prize Rules Following Machado’s Proposal to Transfer Award to Trump

Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado has engaged in conversations about…

Preparing for Pet Loss: Developing a Grief Plan for Your Beloved Canine Companions

Furry friend or public pest? Not everyone wants to be pawed by…

The Rising Popularity of This Hobby Among Young Australians

Meeting a three-time premiership-winning rugby league player to look at birds on…
Anthony Albanese visited a bushfire-hit area in Victoria.

Immediate Disaster Relief Payments Announced for Victoria Bushfire Victims in Australia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan made their way to…

Australians Experience Relief as Cool Temperatures Follow Intense Heatwave: Here’s the Science Behind the Shift

Australians in the nation’s south-east have woken up to a steep drop…