
RECORD low airfares are contributing to a surge in Australians flying domestically, with savvy travellers snapping up flights between some capital cities for under $20.
The number of people travelling on domestic airlines grew by eight per cent in September compared to the same month last year, latest government figures show.
Tiger Airways yesterday launched a sale with fares between its new base at Avalon, on Melbourne's outskirts, and Sydney or Adelaide from $19.95.The low-cost carrier also offered fares between Sydney and the Gold Coast and Sydney and Brisbane from $28.95.International fares are also plunging, with Jetstar offering sale fares to New Zealand from $89 earlier this week for people travelling with carry on baggage only to celebrate its fifth anniversary on the Trans Tasman route.It is also launching flights from Darwin to Manila in the Philippines in February, with sale fares available from $199 from Melbourne and Sydney and $99 from Darwin.The fares will be available from 4pm today (AEST).Centre for Pacific Aviation chairman Peter Harbison said having three airlines competing in the domestic market provided a lot more competition than two and Tiger was extremely aggressive as it sought to establish its market presence."All of the airlines have new aircraft arriving next year and so, with even more seats in the market, we can look forward to the low prices continuing,'' he said."Against the background of a very soft consumer market, the airlines will have to keep discounting to attract passengers to fill all the new seats.''A Tiger Airways spokeswoman said people need to be quick to book the cheapest fares and should sign up to its database to hear about them as soon as they become available."Obviously the cheapest fares are snapped up pretty quick so the key is to book early,'' she said."Once the cheapest fares are sold out, a new price bracket applies.'' She said the carrier had brought real competition to the industry since launching three years ago."Who would have thought five years ago, that a taxi ride to the airport might cost more than your airfare?'' she said. A total of 4.69 million passengers were carried on domestic airlines in September, according to the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics figures.Already the busiest route in the country, the research shows the Melbourne to Sydney route grew by nearly eight per cent in September, while the route between Melbourne and Brisbane increased more than 13 per cent.The number of people flying between Sydney and Brisbane rose by two per cent.
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