With international travel banned for the foreseeable future and many state borders closed, Australians are not currently straying very far from home.
The New South Wales-Victoria border is the only one that remains open and people are allowed to move between the states if they need.
Despite Sydney to Melbourne being the second-busiest flight route in the world, there are currently no return trips without stopovers available until June 12.
Return flights between the destinations include overnight stops in other cities and cost up to $1800 – the price of a trip to London and back before the coronavirus.
But aviation experts say what goes up must come down, and there will be a sweet spot for cheap flights just in time for the July school holidays.
Below are some examples of domestic trips in June between Sydney and Melbourne and what they would cost one economy traveller, not including baggage or any extras.
JUNE TRAVEL
Sydney-Melbourne
Departing: Friday, June 5
Cheapest flight: $215 – Jetstar
Cheapest direct flight: $1496– Qantas
Most expensive flight: $1496– Qantas
Details: The cheapest flight takes 28 hours and stops in Adelaide. The Qantas flight is direct.
Sydney-Melbourne
Departing: Sunday, June 14
Cheapest flight: $190 – Jetstar
Cheapest direct flight: $246 – Jetstar
Most expensive flight: $966 – Qantas
Details: The cheapest flight takes 28 hours and stops in Adelaide. The Qantas flight is direct.
Sydney-Melbourne
Departing: Monday, June 15
Cheapest flight: $123 – Virgin Australia
Cheapest direct flight: $123 – Virgin Australia
Most expensive flight: $483 – Virgin Airways
Details: Both flights are direct.
Melbourne-Sydney
Departing: Friday, June 5
Cheapest flight: $228 – Jetstar
Most expensive flight: $1466 – Virgin
Details: The cheapest flight takes 27 hours and stops in Adelaide. The most expensive takes 25 hours and stops in overnight Brisbane. No direct flights available this day.
Melbourne-Sydney
Departing: Sunday, June 14
Cheapest flight: $210 – Jetstar
Cheapest direct flight: $246 – Jetstar
Most expensive flight: $871 – Virgin
Details: The cheapest flight takes 24 hours and stops overnight in Adelaide. The most expensive stops twice – in Brisbane and Canberra – and takes 49 hours.
Melbourne-Sydney
Departing: Monday, June 15
Cheapest flight: $137 – Virgin
Cheapest direct flight: $137 – Virgin
Most expensive flight: $1096 – Qantas
Details: The most expensive flight takes six hours and stops in Brisbane and Canberra.
How long will this last?
It’s good news for travellers because prices will plunge in July, just in time for the school holidays.
Neil Hansford, Chairman of Strategic Aviation Solutions, told 9news.com.au the cost of a return trip between Sydney and Melbourne will drop below pre-pandemic prices.
He said the airlines will “go from ramping up to a price war”, plus people who usually travel to Queensland during the cooler months will be lured elsewhere.
“It will be great for NSW in the bushfire area, there will be a boom in NSW and Victoria,” Mr Hansford said.
“They can’t go on a cruise ship, they can’t go to Bali or Thailand – where else will they go?”
Mr Hansford said there will be a sweet spot for cheap domestic travel between July and October, but prices will start to rise again after that.
“My expectation is after COVID, when we start again you’ll never see fares as expensive as before the pandemic,” he said.
In July, travellers will be able to fly return to Sydney to Melbourne, and vice-versa, for less than $200 – even if they travel during peak times such as Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.
Below are some examples of domestic trips in July between Sydney and Melbourne, and what they would cost one economy traveller, not including baggage or any extras.
Sydney-Melbourne
Departing: Wednesday, July 1
Cheapest direct flight: $86 – Jetstar
Most expensive direct flight: $160 – Qantas
Details: There are 23 direct flights this day.
Sydney-Melbourne
Departing: Friday, July 3
Cheapest direct flight: $132 – Jetstar
Most expensive direct flight: $160 – Qantas
Details: There are 23 direct flights this day.
Sydney-Melbourne
Departing: Monday, July 6
Cheapest direct flight: $93 – Jetstar
Most expensive direct flight: $160 – Qantas
Details: There are 20 direct flights this day.
Melbourne-Sydney
Departing: Wednesday, July 1
Cheapest direct flight: $76 – Jetstar
Most expensive direct flight: $160 – Qantas
Details: There are 23 direct flights this day.
Melbourne-Sydney
Departing: Friday, July 3
Cheapest direct flight: $93 – Jetstar
Most expensive direct flight: $195 – Qantas
Details: There are 23 direct flights this day.
Melbourne-Sydney
Departing: Monday, July 6
Cheapest direct flight: $86 – Jetstar
Most expensive direct flight: $160 – Qantas
Details: There are 23 direct flights this day.
Flight information is accurate at the time of publication and is subject to change.
Source: 9News
