Virgin, Rex, Jestar drop Melbourne-Sydney fares below $50

Airline fares between Australia’s two biggest cities have been drastically slashed, with customers set to reap the rewards of prices under $50.

Customers are set to reap the rewards from a price war on domestic flights between Melbourne and Sydney.

Airlines Virgin and Regional Express (Rex) both dropped fares on flights between the nation’s two major cities to $49 on Wednesday.

But Jetstar went one better on Friday when it revealed its prices would fall to $29 on the Melbourne to Sydney route.

Jetstar’s Friday Fare Frenzy runs from noon until 8pm on Friday before they revert back to the non-sale price of $39 one-way between Melbourne and Sydney.

Jetstar is set to run up to 63 return flights between Sydney and Melbourne each week in February and plans to operate up to 88 return weekly return services on the route by the end of March 2021.

The Rex special fares are available for flights between Sydney and Melbourne in March and must be booked by the end of February.

Rex flights between Sydney and Melbourne launch on March 1. Picture: AAP Image/James Gourley

Deputy chairman John Sharp said most taxi rides to the airport would cost more than $49.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for travellers to get between Australia’s two biggest cities on a whim to get over the COVID blues,” he said.

“Importantly, all fares during this pandemic are covered by Rex’s COVID refund policy, which guarantees full refunds for any flights affected by COVID, even if Rex’s flights are not affected.”

Virgin has also dropped its prices between Sydney and Melbourne for March.

The $49 fares include free 23kg check-in and 7kg carry-on baggage and refreshments on board.

Rex’s Sydney to Melbourne services begins on March 1.

Virgin’s sale fares are also available for travel during the month of March and must be booked by the end of February.

A Virgin spokesman said the airline had put more than two million seats on sale in the past week.

“We’ve been inspired to look at new ways to push the envelope when it comes to stimulating the market and getting Australians back in the skies again,” he said.