Airfares on key Australian flights soar after Rex’s collapse – and footy fans are being saddled with exorbitant prices
- Domestic airfares have risen 15 percent since July
- Airlines defend huge price increases during football finals
Travelers are being hit with huge increases in airfares as airlines take advantage of the sudden demise of smaller rivals Rex and Bonza.
Data shows that economy tickets on Virgin, Qantas and its subsidiary Jetstar have risen an average of 15 percent since Rex went into administration in July, with $500 million in debt, with some tickets even doubling in price.
That has left footy fans, who booked finals trips at the last minute, offering exorbitant prices to watch their team play on the highway.
A fed-up North Queensland Cowboys supporter took to social media to call out the major airlines.
‘We travel like no other, we fly to Sydney for the next three weekends to support. But $1500-$1700 round trip from TSV-SYD is a joke. GF will be double. Help the fans,” he wrote.
Another frustrated fan claimed the same thing is happening across the country, saying Hawthorn fans were being hit with absurd ticket prices to travel to last weekend’s AFL semi-final against Port Adelaide.
‘Last week flights from Melbourne to Adelaide cost over $900 for a flight of almost an hour. It’s ridiculous,” he said.
The price increases can be attributed not only to Rex’s dire situation, but also to the collapse of budget carrier Bonza in April after just 15 months of operational flights.
Travelers are being hit with massive airfare increases following Rex’s sudden demise. Pictured: Rex flight crew
“It is clear that we are starting to see the impact of not one but two airlines going bankrupt within four months, under the watch of the Albanian Labor government,” Opposition Transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Flights have risen by more than 50 per cent since Labor was elected and by 15 per cent since Rex came into government and left the capital routes.
“Air travel is an essential service for many Australians, especially those living in the regions….”
“And there is no indication yet that the government plans to take action to support travelers or tackle Australia’s entrenched duopoly.”
Qantas denied claims of price gouging in the first two weeks of the AFL and NRL finals, saying their tickets were actually “lower than this time last year, adjusted for inflation”.
A Qantas spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it has scheduled an additional flight (QF734) from Adelaide to Sydney this Friday for the preliminary final between Port and the Swans, with fares starting from $394.
The airline is also finalizing an additional flight between Townsville and Brisbane so fans can connect to Sydney.
Virgin also told Daily Mail Australia it is committed to offering customers frequent promotions and has booked around 130,000 Rex passengers for free since July 31.
Qantas has added an extra flight at 10am on Friday to allow fans to travel from Port Adelaide to Sydney ahead of the preliminary final. Pictured: a Port Adelaide fan
Qantas denied claims of price gouging in the first two weeks of the AFL and NRL finals, saying their tickets were actually ‘lower than this time last year, adjusted for inflation’
“Virgin Australia remains focused on providing exceptional value and choice to Australian travellers… we continue to offer frequent sales where customers can get great value fares,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson said.
Transport Minister Catherine King said fares today are well below their 2022 peaks and lower than before the COVID-19 crisis, but would watch over the major airlines.
“The ACCC has made it clear that they are closely monitoring airfares and are vigilant of other airlines increasing fares on routes where Rex no longer operates,” she said.
“If Qantas or Virgin abuse their power, they can expect to be caught.”
