This aggressive pricing drive comes as international travel fares begin to stabilise after the pandemic, creating heightened competition among carriers.
Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Fiji Airways and Cathay Pacific have launched significant fare promotions. While Qantas presented its campaign as a “travel week”, it closely aligns with Black Friday timing and competitor activity. The airline reduced fares on 33 international routes, offering economy class returns from Perth to Singapore at $519 and business class at $3299. Domestic fares start from $99 one way.
These deals mark a return to “early bird” offers, which largely disappeared during the global travel halt in 2020 and 2021. Airlines aim to fill quieter travel periods in 2025 and 2026. Most offers exclude school holidays and peak demand dates, creating urgency for early purchases.
Qatar Airways is promoting premium QSuite cabin fares, including Melbourne-Barcelona returns from $1719 and Sydney-Amsterdam from $1769. Other business fares range from $7409 for Adelaide-Frankfurt to $8199 for Melbourne-Zurich. Singapore Airlines responded with economy fares to Singapore starting at $835 and to Frankfurt from $1777. Business deals reach up to $8733 for London returns.
Fiji Airways and Virgin Australia have also joined the fray. Fiji is offering Japan returns via Nadi for $975. Virgin launched fares like $419 return for Melbourne to Denpasar, added a 15% cut on long-haul routes operated by Qatar and is offering triple loyalty points on select bookings.
Some carriers are enhancing frequent flyer benefits. Qantas is giving six points per dollar spent on its own hotel platform in a broader effort to reward brand loyalty and improve cash flow well ahead of the holiday season.
Cathay Pacific is expected to join shortly. Emirates, amid strong demand, remains outside the discount race. However, this wave of reduced fares reflects a longer-term strategy by many airlines to capture customer spending well in advance for flights as far out as 2026. Fare availability is already becoming limited and not all deals are expected to last.
