2022 was the year that travel returned. But one sector rebounded more than most. And it didn’t just come back; it closed the gap, equalised, and then kicked more goals to give its 2019 numbers a real beating.
That sector was regional travel, specifically, regional business flights. New Flight Centre Corporate data shows that local business flights grew by 10.5 per cent in 2022, not just on the previous year, but on 2019 levels.
Tom Walley, Global Managing Director at Corporate Traveller, Flight Centre Travel Group’s SME (small to medium sized enterprise) travel management company, said the increase in local business travel over the last 12 months was promising.
“By the end of the 2022 financial year, the regional tourism industry recovered to 96 per cent of its pre-pandemic levels, while the population in regional Australia has increased rapidly in the last two years and is predicted to continue growing,” he said.
“I anticipate we’ll continue seeing an uptick in businesses travelling regionally this year and beyond, as the promising growth of many regional communities will likely bring with it increased investment in infrastructure, technology, tourism, transport and housing that will prove rewarding for businesses.”
According to the Flight Centre data, Queensland dominates the sector, with six of the top seven routes occurring between Brisbane Airport and regional Queensland cities, and two other routes in the top ten taking in the Gold Coast (ex Sydney and Melbourne).
The only other state to get a look in was Western Australia, thanks to its Perth-Kalgoorlie and Perth-Port Hedland routes.
The top ten regional routes:
- Brisbane-Mackay
- Perth-Kalgoorlie
- Brisbane-Rockhampton
- Brisbane-Townsville
- Brisbane-Moranbah
- Brisbane-Emerald
- Brisbane-Cairns
- Sydney-Gold Coast
- Melbourne-Gold Coast
- 10.Perth-Port Hedland
“This data underscores what an essential hub Brisbane Airport is for Queensland and our role in supporting regional economies,” Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said.
“BNE is Australia’s most connected domestic airport, with connections to 53 towns and cities, 30 of them in Queensland.
“Importantly, they connect Queenslanders to the world and communities with each other.”
