Discounted Domestic Air Travel in Australia to Boost National Tourism
The Australian government has unveiled a new initiative aimed at reviving the local tourism sector, which has been impacted by border closures and travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a package of 800,000 reduced airfares, with the aim of encouraging locals to visit other parts of the country.
These reduced airfares will be offered between April and July 2026. The list of subsidised destinations includes popular tourist spots such as the Gold Coast, Cairns, the Whitsundays, Alice Springs, and Broome. The scheme, worth A$1.2bn ($930m), is part of a broader effort to boost tourism in Australia.
However, the Labour opposition has raised concerns, arguing that the government's package is selective and mainly benefits airlines. They also highlighted that there is no direct funding provided for tourism and hotel operators in the government's package.
Mr Morrison emphasized the need to have planes in the air and tourists on the ground to support the tourism sector. He made these remarks at Sydney Airport on Thursday, stating that the tourism sector still requires support to keep people in their jobs, as the "JobKeeper" wage subsidy scheme will end at the end of the month.
In addition to this government-backed initiative, major airlines like Qantas and Virgin Australia have also launched extensive airline-driven discounted flight sales. These sales, running from late 2025 to mid-2026, cover over 60 domestic destinations nationwide, with discounted one-way fares starting as low as $63 to $65 on some routes. The sales fares typically include checked baggage and onboard services.
While no explicit government-named half-price flight scheme with specified funding for tourism and hotel operators was found in the current results, the promotion of discounted fares by Qantas and Virgin Australia is the closest related initiative. This initiative aims to boost domestic travel through significantly reduced airfares over several months, covering holiday periods.
It's worth noting that additional government-supported measures such as the Western Australian Regional Airfare Zone Cap scheme provide capped fare prices specifically for regional residents to/from Perth, enhancing regional affordability but distinct from the promotional sales described above.
This new half-price flight scheme, coupled with ongoing airline sales, presents a promising outlook for the revival of Australia's tourism sector in the coming months.
- The government's initiative includes reduced airfares for flights between April and July 2026, aiming to encourage locals to visit various destinations across Australia.
- Subsidised destinations under this initiative include popular tourist spots like the Gold Coast, Cairns, the Whitsundays, Alice Springs, and Broome.
- The Labour opposition has voiced concerns that the government's package is selective and primarily benefits airlines, with no direct funding provided for tourism and hotel operators.
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison stressed the importance of keeping planes in the air and tourists on the ground to support the tourism sector, particularly as the "JobKeeper" wage subsidy scheme will end soon.
- Additionally, major airlines like Qantas and Virgin Australia have launched discounted flight sales, running from late 2025 to mid-2026, covering over 60 domestic destinations with significantly reduced airfares.
- Although no explicit half-price flight scheme with specified funding for tourism and hotel operators was found, the promotional sales by Qantas and Virgin Australia aim to boost domestic travel, presenting a promising outlook for Australia's tourism sector revival in the coming months.
