Australian Travel Industry Trends

[Prawn_86]

This thread is to discuss the global and local trends affecting the Aussie tourism industry. Anything from currency to economics can be discussed here :)

[Prawn_86]

FOREIGN tourist numbers to Australia are plummeting - even before the full impact of the global recession is felt - and there is likely to be no lifeline for the $90 billion industry from domestic travellers over the next 12 months.


http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,24854314-5014090,00.html

Although Aus relies heavily on tourism, i personally dont think there is much that can be done. Travel is still somewhat of a luxury and non-essential travel is likely to be one of the first things people cut back on if the household budget is getting tight, imo.

[Prawn_86]

TRAVELLERS are reaping the benefits of the downturn in the airline industry, as carriers slash prices to some of the lowest levels in years and engage in a price war on the US route.
With the Christmas peak coming to an end, carriers enter one of the quietest periods of the year next month and are desperate to stimulate travel.



http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,24866637-5014090,00.html

[Prawn_86]

TIGER Airways has launched a network-wide half-price sale, with one-way tickets from $17 as gloomy economic times continue.
Melbourne-based Tiger said thousands of tickets would be available during the five-day sale for travel between next month and October, reports The Australian. (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24885927-5015661,00.html)
The airline services destinations in all states and territories except NSW and is opening a new base in Adelaide from March 1 using Airbus A320 (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=5014090&as=news&ac=search&q=Airbus A320)aircraft.



http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,24886726-5014090,00.html

Might have to go away for a weekend :)

[Prawn_86]

AUSTRALIANS are taking advantage of bargain airfares to the US and Britain as airlines compete for the tourist dollar.
Return airfares to Britain are selling for less than $2000 return, reports the Advertiser (http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/).



http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,24890666-5014090,00.html

[Prawn_86]

QANTAS could be counting the cost of a turbulent 2008 as figures released by the airline revealed passenger numbers are down by 124,000.
Preliminary figures calculated on Qantas Domestic, regional operator QantasLink, Jetstar Domestic, Qantas International and Jetstar International, said passenger numbers for the group in November 2008 had fallen by 3.8 per cent compared to the prior year.


http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,24937260-5014090,00.html

[Prawn_86]

UK billionaire and showman Richard Branson (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=5014090&as=news&ac=travel&q=Richard Branson)has declared war on Qantas and other rival airlines with the launch of his new fleet of V Australia (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=5014090&as=news&ac=travel&q=V Australia)passenger jets to fly the Australia-US route.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25020981-5014090,00.html

More competition can only be a good thing for us travellers :)

[Prawn_86]

THE global economic crisis is wreaking havoc in aviation with Qantas, Virgin Blue and Singapore Airlines all dramatically cutting capacity in the last 48 hours.
Late today, Virgin Blue was the latest airline to announce a significant restructure that will affect 400 staff.


http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25069398-5014090,00.html

[Prawn_86]

QANTAS has hijacked the media frenzy surrounding V Australia's maiden flight by offering a $2 million seat sale.
The nation's carrier announced domestic flights for as low as $55 ahead of V Australia's inaugural flight to the US.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25114176-5014090,00.html

[chrissylewis03]

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25114176-5014090,00.html


On that note, if you want to fly to LA in low season this yr, Qantas has flights as low as $13-1400 return incl taxes...

[kennas]

On that note, if you want to fly to LA in low season this yr, Qantas has flights as low as $13-1400 return incl taxes...Cost me double that a year ago. Incredible.

Prices for flights around South America haven't come down though. Bloody monopoly by LAN causing it. :mad:

[Prawn_86]

BUSINESS travel from Australia has slumped by almost a quarter as companies slash travel budgets because of the global financial crisis.
Latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that outbound business travel fell 24.3 per cent in January compared with a year ago



http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25170342-5014090,00.html

[chrissylewis03]

Cost me double that a year ago. Incredible.

Prices for flights around South America haven't come down though. Bloody monopoly by LAN causing it. :mad:

ouch, it's jetstar and v-australia causing all the competition, whatever city they start flying to suddenly becomes a cheap destination no matter what airline you use. makes sense of course.

LAN does seem to have a monopoly on the area so they don't have any reason to drop prices or have sales. You just have to make sure you're travelling at the right time, like right now.

[Prawn_86]

AIRLINES are blaming bad weather and industrial action for significant delays in January.
About 15 per cent of all flights during the month were delayed, with about 6000 failing to arrive or depart as scheduled, Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics data reveals,


http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25204175-5014090,00.html

[Prawn_86]

QANTAS will increase excess baggage charges for domestic passengers from tomorrow.

Travellers will be charged $10 for each kilogram over 23kg. Under the old system, there was no charge up to 32kg.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25277676-5014090,00.html

[Prawn_86]

I see that Tiger are now launcing a Sydney to Melboure route with plans for fares as low as $50.

Thats sure to shake up the competition :)

[Prawn_86]

AUSTRALIAN airline Jetstar has announced new commercial agreements with three international carriers in a move it says will provide customers with more travel options.
The agreements to commence interline and ticket settlement relationships with carriers Etihad, Air Tahiti Nui and Air Calin (http://search.news.com.au/search//0/?us=ndmnews&sid=5014090&as=news&ac=travel&q=Air Calin)will be a significant step forward, the airline says



http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25357715-5014090,00.html

[chrissylewis03]

what's interesting to me is that travel agencies are getting the same amount of enquiries as they were before the 'crisis' but we are making less bookings...

It seems that people still have big dreams but when they realise how much it will effect their already effected bank ballance they decide against it. either that or maybe people are just getting the ideas from us then booking it on the net cause it's cheaper? harsh...

Anyway, this crisis is deffinately effecting us travel agents so i hope it gets better soon!

[Prawn_86]

what's interesting to me is that travel agencies are getting the same amount of enquiries as they were before the 'crisis' but we are making less bookings...


I have read that traditionally May and June are the best two months for travel agents. Not sure why this is so...

[Prawn_86]

Flight Centre is now trying to increase its stake in the market, by not offering products/flights from airlines such as Singapore Airlines, as Singapore Air tries to undercut Flight Centre on their own website.

"These poor economic times give us a chance to get at and punish those carriers (only one or two) who are trying to undercut us on the web thus costing us in price beats," Mr Turner (Flight Centre CEO) said.

Interesting to see that they are flexing their muscle, i wonder what the airlines response will be.

[Prawn_86]

QANTAS chief Alan Joyce has warned discount air fares will end unless the nation's airports trim costs and stop charging for everything imaginable.
Mr Joyce said Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane ranked in the top five airports in the world as measured by operating margins.


http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25549907-5014090,00.html

Personally i dont think these airline prices are sustainable anyway. Virtually every airline in the world runs at a loss...

[EverNothing]

Air passenger traffic in record plunge!!!

WORLD airline passenger traffic fell 3.1 percent in 2009, the biggest drop in aviation industry history, fuelled by the global financial downturn, the International Civil Aviation Organisation said.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/world-air-passenger-traffic-plunges/story-e6frfq80-1225812001497

It was expected, so it's not a huge shocker.

I wouldn't mind seeing the stats for Australian travellers though - considering quite a number of families have decided to spend K-Rudd's $900 handouts on travelling and with the Oz dollar so high...

With the shitastic American economy Aussies are greatly flocking to the USA this chrissy and well into the new year. I wonder how long this trend will last for? Predictions, anyone!