The ACCC reported this week that consumers are paying almost 30 per cent more for domestic flights compared to before the pandemic, resulting in a 15-year-high as they forecast the first profitable financial year since Covid hit three years ago.
“Airfares have risen due to strong demand for travel and constrained supply as airlines have scaled back their schedules in response to high jet fuel costs and operational challenges,” ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said.
And with rising airfares, long security lines, flight delays and cancellations and baggage drama, Aussies are looking to alternatives.
Many are opting for road trips, while some corporate companies and executives are ditching commercial flights altogether and turning to charter planes instead.
Paul O’Brien, who is the founder of Avmin, a high-profile Brisbane-based air charter company, said he was running “upwards of 80” charter flights per week for clients.
He said this time in 2019, he was putting on about 30 or 40 flights per week, with some corporates actually saving money when making group bookings by opting for a charter over a commercial carrier.
“That’s $3200 per person return based on the current figures and if we have four people travelling on a charter flight return it is comparable, if not cheaper.
He said it can cost anywhere between $10,000 to $12,000 for a four-seater jet.
“And four people travelling on the current advertised pricing of a commercial carrier is $12,800.”
“Charter aircraft don’t need to go in and out of terminals – they have their own private terminal and only need to turn up 15 minutes prior to departure,” he said.
“And you are avoiding things like long security lines. People just don’t want to be around other people while Covid is coming back into the equation.”
As a result, he said people are looking to the commercial viability of charter aircraft.
No comments:
Post a Comment