Top flight deals as Aussies’ holiday hotspots revealed

New data has revealed the top overseas destinations for Aussies. See which holiday hotspot trumps Bali and what the cheapest flight deals are.

Aussies are searching for international flights over the summer holidays even more than they were before Covid, with New Delhi pipping Bali as our most popular destination.

Data from travel website KAYAK.com.au shows searches for international flights are up 164 per cent compared to the same period in 2019, despite steep increases in the cost of airfares. Searches for domestic flights are up 136 per cent.

Melbourne to New Delhi has become the most searched-for international route, ahead of Sydney to Denpasar and Melbourne to Denpasar. Sydney to New Delhi was the sixth most popular flight search.

Asian cities completely dominated the list of top 10 searches, with the only non-Asian destination being Los Angeles, squeaking in at number eight.

Last month Qantas started flying four times a week from Sydney to Bengaluru, India’s ‘Silicon Valley’. The flying kangaroo also recently launched the first phase of a codeshare partnership with IndiGo, India’s largest domestic carrier, to accommodate surging demand for connections.

But a passage to India ain’t as cheap as it once was. According to KAYAK, return economy airfares from Melbourne to New Delhi are up 43 per cent on what they were before the pandemic, and return economy flights from Sydney to Mumbai are up 33 per cent.

Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Dean Long said the demand for flights to India was being spearheaded by Australia’s booming Indian expat community, who were looking to visit friends and relatives.

“There’s no doubt you’ve got expat Indians looking to return home, and to bring loved ones out on the standard holidays that weren’t allowed during Covid,” Mr Long said.

Australians were “looking to travel, really no matter the cost,” reflecting two years of “pent-up demand,” he said.

The Kumar family are among the many Aussies travelling to India in 2022. (L-R): Rohan, 14, Nidhi, 43, Nikhita, 11 and Rohit, 50. Picture: Supplied

Nidhi Kumar, 43, recently travelled to her parents’ home town of New Delhi with her family to attend a cousin’s wedding; she said it had changed a lot.

“I hadn’t been back in 10 years, but I was so impressed. It doesn’t feel as congested, and I’ve never seen it so green,” Ms Kumar said.

“The resort scene is next-level, and the level of service was excellent”.

Ms Kumar said the family paid more than they had on previous trips, but the Australian dollar could still go a long way against the rupee.

“We’ll definitely be going back again sooner than 10 years,” she said.

Another traveller singing India’s praises is Sainath Redij, who recently spent three and a half weeks visiting family in his hometown of Mumbai.

The 38-year-old hotel manager said he was keen to resume his pre-pandemic practice of flying home for a visit every two years, despite the escalating costs of fares.

“Travel has become very expensive nowadays and finding reliable travel is also becoming very difficult,” he said. “It’s important for me lock in a cheaper price and a good airline and if I can do it early on and get the dates locked in, it’s actually easier for me.”

Sainath (Sai) Redij (left) with extended family members during his recent trip to India. Picture: Supplied

While most Australians travelling internationally now are what the industry terms the “VFR segment” (visiting friends and relatives), Mr Long said there were “good signs of recovery in the leisure segment” in August, led by professionals under the age of 30, and retirees.

KAYAK Brand Director Nicola Carmichael said the data reveals “higher airfares aren’t deterring Aussies from heading interstate and overseas for the upcoming summer holidays”.

According to KAYAK, December 23 will be the busiest day at Australian airports over the festive season, while December 20 will be the most expensive, with an average international fare price $372 above the average for the period.

The cheapest day to fly will be Australia Day, according to KAYAK.

Independent western Sydney-based travel agent George Vella said the VFR segment was a much bigger slice of his customer base than before Covid, and he expected that to continue in 2023.

The high price of airfares would also continue until May or June next year, he predicted.

AFTA CEO Dean Long. Picture: Supplied

Travel agent George Vella pictured at his Blacktown business, Breakaway Travel. Picture: Toby Zerna

“By that time most carriers will be able to put on extra flights, so there will be more capacity and prices might come down because other airlines might join in,” Mr Vella said.

While business had been solid this year, the airlines were not helping, he added.

“The airlines are directing people to book online rather than go to travel agents, but then they don’t provide the support when the person is overseas and need to change a flight or something,” Mr Vella said.

“We’re getting more people who need to change their flight for various reasons, whether it’s sickness in their families, or whatever, and they have enormous problems contacting the airline, and getting support from the airline.”

Originally published as Top flight deals as Aussies’ holiday hotspots revealed