Find out how and where to get a half price domestic flight before they’re all gone
800,000 half price domestic flights are on offer thanks to a new initiative to inject life back into the Australian tourism industry from the Australian government.
Half-price destinations initially list 13 places, including Queensland, Alice Springs, north-west Tasmania and other locations heavily dependent on people flying in to holiday to give people confidence to book holidays.
The discounted flights will be available between April 1 and July 31, capturing the Easter school holidays, with a 50 per cent discount on flights both to and from the destinations. Australians won’t have to register, but simply book the flights through Qantas and Virgin airlines themselves, starting April 1.
But will it be enough to tempt you? And will there be accomodation available at good prices, too?
The boss of Accor hotels, the country’s largest operator, Simon McGrath, has said his biggest problem is that regional hotels are doing well while city hotels – 60% of his beds – are languishing empty.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the measures would work hand-in-hand to boost interstate tourism and aviation in key regions significantly impacted by the loss of tourists.
“The new Tourism Aviation Network Support (TANS) Program will give Australians clear incentives to travel to key domestic tourism areas,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“Discounts will be offered on tens of thousands of fares per week across an initial 13 key tourism regions.
“We’re working with airlines to increase the number of flights to these tourism areas, giving travellers the flexibility needed when organising dream holidays to destinations such as Tropical North Queensland and Kangaroo Island.
“In a big win for local communities, especially in regional Australia, we will continue to financially support flights which are so key to health services, employment opportunities and social activities.
“We’re also backing the workforces of our international airlines and the teams and infrastructure they need so that when tourism takes off again and our borders reopen, our airlines are ready to go.”
Flights, routes and the total number of tickets will be driven by demand and are subject to final discussions with the airlines. The discounts will be off the average fare and will be available on airline websites from 1 April.
So is a city break better than a country one?
Half price destinations on offer:
Queensland:
Gold Coast
Cairns
The Whitsundays
Sunshine Coast
Mackay and region – Proserpine, Hamilton Island and the Sunshine Co
New South Wales:
Merimbula
Tasmania:
Devonport
Launceston
Burnie
Western Australia:
Broome
Northern Territory:
Alice Springs
Lasseter region
Melbourne:
Flights to Avalon airport
South Australia:
Kangaroo Island
Book a half price flight from April 1:
Qantas: qantas.com.au
Virgin: virgin.com.au
