Online travel sites adopt new plans as flight bookings nosedive

Falling demand for “click and fly” bookings has triggered a rethink by online travel sites negotiating the Covid pandemic, with one resorting to road trip planning.

Driving holidays are now being offered on travel websites more accustomed to selling cheap flights. Picture: iStock

Falling demand for “click and fly” bookings has triggered a rethink by online travel sites negotiating the Covid pandemic, with one resorting to road trip planning.

Booking and price comparison site Skyscanner has introduced the feature for Australian users in the hope of tapping into the surging self-drive market.

According to Tourism Research Australia, in the year to March 2021 self-drive holidays increased 13 per cent, while trips taken by air fell 35 per cent.

After seeing a huge jump in car hire searches, Skyscanner teamed up with itinerary platform Inspirock to develop a road trip planner.

The site’s head of car hire Paul Cumins said the platform offered tools to plan the perfect road trip, including optimal routes, accommodation options and vehicle rental, as well as personalised experiences along the way.

“Many travellers are opting for driving holidays, reviving the adventurous spirit of the road trip and discovering or rediscovering places closer to home in their state or ones they’ve not travelled to before,” Mr Cumins said.

“Skyscanner’s recently published travel trends revealed a shift towards smaller rural or coastal destinations and now Skyscanner can help those travellers who were still keen on an escape in their own backyard get there more simply.”

The innovation followed the worst year on record for airlines in 2020, with the International Air Transport Association recording a 66 per cent fall in overseas travel demand, and 49 per cent decline in domestic flying.

Passenger revenues plummeted $189bn and airline losses totalled $126bn, while a million jobs disappeared.

According to Tourism Research Australia, in the year to March 2021 self-drive holidays increased 13 per cent, while trips taken by air fell 35 per cent.

Australian Federation of Travel Agents chairman Tom Manwaring said once borders did open up, he expected a gradual return to overseas holidays but warned online booking sites could still face a challenge.

He said the increased complexity of travel post-Covid and heightened concern over refunds in the event of cancellations would make face-to-face bookings more attractive.

“There is a certain convenience to booking something at your dining room table at 8pm, I get that, but without a travel agent you really are on your own,” said Mr Manwaring said.

“There are reputable online agencies like Webjet but some of the other sites I would be wary of. Would you put $10,000 into an online bank account with an unknown brand? It’s not that much different.”

Limited opportunities for air travel were not necessarily a win for the car rental industry, despite reports of a drastic shortage of hire vehicles.

Australian Finance Industry Association CEO Diane Tate said right-sizing the car hire fleet had been a challenge, with demand “very lumpy” since the pandemic struck.

“The car rental industry has been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic whether it is due to people changing their bookings at the last moment due to lockdowns and border closures, or a shortage of new vehicles coming onshore due to disruption of global supply chains,” Ms Tate said.

“Another impact has been the increase in demand during lockdowns from essential workers seeking safe transportation to work.”