Business class travellers paying more than before, but Australians still getting half-price economy flights
BUSINESS travel is getting dearer as the Virgin v Qantas price war cools, but economy travellers can still find cut-price airfares.
THE extended honeymoon for business class passengers appears to be ending with domestic airfares creeping up again this month.
The Federal Government’s monthly airfare index shows business class prices are now at 92.6 per cent of full cost, after sinking as low as 63.1 per cent in 2012 when the Virgin Australia-Qantas price war was its peak.
Travellers can still get good discounts in economy class - which averaged 55.8 per cent of full fares this month, compared with 58 per cent a year ago.
The fare indexes are constructed from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics’ monthly survey of airline internet booking sites.
Both Qantas and Virgin are due to deliver their full year financial results at the end of the month, with considerable losses expected.
In February, Qantas posted a $252 million half year loss and embarked on a program of 5000 job cuts.
Virgin Australia fell $83.7 million into the red in the first six months of 2013-14.
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