Virgin Australia has reported its biggest day on record for the sale of domestic flights following the release of ‘Half-Price’ fares on Thursday.
Reporting its biggest day of sales in its 20-year history, the newly rebooted airline said that 71,000 of the Government’s half-priced tickets were sold in the 24-hour period from 12:01am on Thursday.
Around 85 per cent of fares were booked from May onwards with Virgin Australia saying that the record-breaking sales demonstrate renewed confidence and excitement to travel as Australians rushed to book forward travel.
VA also noted that there was more consumer confidence to book ahead this week with more than 82% of bookings today beyond 30 days from the departure date. Last week more than 40% of bookings were within 14 days of departure.
The top 10 destinations of Virgin Australia’s half-price fares in both directions were:
- Melbourne – Gold Coast
- Sydney – Gold Coast
- Melbourne – Sunshine Coast
- Melbourne – Cairns
- Melbourne – Sydney (not covered under the government program)
- Sydney – Cairns
- Darwin – Brisbane
- Brisbane – Hobart
- Sydney – Sunshine Coast
- Adelaide – Gold Coast
Destinations not included in the Government’s half-off fares program also saw a significant boost in sales, particularly on routes such as Melbourne to Perth, Perth to Sydney and Melbourne to Sydney.
“The overwhelming response from Australians demonstrates loud and clear that they are ready to get back in the air and travel and are a positive sign for the aviation and tourism sectors as they look to recover from the impacts of COVID-19.”
Virgin Australia
The news follows a turbulent week for travel in the lead up to the Easter break with Brisbane enduring a snap-three day lockdown as well as Byron Bay in NSW being established as a hot spot, travel plans being cancelled and the end of the Job Keeper support program.
The half-price fares can be booked at virginaustralia.com until midnight AEST 31 July 2021 unless sold-out prior with travel from mid-April until 30 September 2021.