Qantas launches flight sale days after Virgin as experts predict more cut-price fares on the horizon

Qantas has launched a massive sale on flights just days after Virgin announced cut-price fares across half a million flights, as experts predict more airfares will drop.

Adella Beaini

@adellabeaini

3 min read

January 17, 2024 - 4:18PM

News Corp Australia Network

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Australia’s battle of the airlines is heating up, with national carrier Qantas launching a sale just days after Virgin announced its cut-price fares across half a million flights.

And while airfares haven’t returned to pre-pandemic levels, travel experts predict airlines will be offering sales more frequently as competition increases.

Qantas’ latest sale has international and domestic sale fares starting from $529 return for economy and $999 for business class to places including Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and Tonga.

“The great news for travellers is that we are starting to see reasonable falls in airfare prices on most international routes and some highly attractive sale fares,” Flight Centre Travel Group Australia managing director James Kavanagh said.

“The reality is that we need increased competition and capacity for them to become more affordable and get more people travelling, especially families.

“We’re expecting to see plenty of great offers crop up throughout 2024, however, sale fares can be difficult to secure so talk to an expert and consider locking in deals as quickly as possible because they tend to sell out early.

Qantas has released sales on 30 routes.

Sydneysiders can head to New Caledonia and Fiji, with return flights $529 and $549 respectively, while return flights to Tonga are $599.

Those travelling from Melbourne can also grab a flight to New Caledonia (via Sydney) for $579, or head to Norfolk Island for $799.

Linkd Tourism’s strategic director Michael Cassis said the frequency of flight sales have been increasing, and predicts more sales will be on the horizon, particularly for dates excluding school holiday periods.

“Early in 2023, we saw sale fares being released by the airlines about once every quarter. Since June 2023, those sales have become much more frequent, often getting released every four to five weeks,” Mr Cassis said.

“Given the increased volume of services that have since come online, and with more on the horizon as airlines like Qantas and Virgin Australia bring in new aircraft, we predict that sales will continue, especially to highly competitive routes like SYD/MEL to LAX, which are serviced by numerous major airlines.”

More sales across airlines are predicted over the coming months.

Qantas’ sale also includes premium economy and business fares with return flights starting from $999 to $6299.

Mr Cassis said it’s unusual to see sales on business class fares, but with more competition emerging, he expects to see more prices drop.

“My advice is for Australians to continue to book early. The best deals are normally found six to nine months prior to travel,” he said.

“And if you’re flexible on dates, aim for low or shoulder season travel such as February to mid-March, May, late August to mid-September, and mid-October to November.

“As for the economy, there are already enough seats with increased services, so I think you can expect lower prices coming through more regularly.”

At least 30 routes are on sale for travel periods between February and December this year, and the offer ends 11.59pm (AEDT) January 23, unless sold out prior.

The Flying Kangaroo’s sale comes after Virgin Australia released their sale frenzy on Monday across 500,000 domestic and international flights.

Virgin deals have domestic airfares starting from just $49 and international prices as low as $419. Sydneysiders can head to Byron Bay for just $49 one-way and Hamilton Island for $119, while those in Melbourne can go to the Gold Coast for $109.

Some of the best international deals include return flights from Sydney to Queenstown for just $435, Brisbane to Vanuatu and back for $419, and Sydney to Bali return from just $549.