Virgin Australia surpasses Qantas in January domestic market share

Virgin Australia has pipped rival Qantas to claim the highest share in the Australian domestic travel market in January, as interstate border restrictions ease and airlines ramp up flying. Data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) shows that Virgin Australia carried 34% of all domestic passengers in January. This compares to Qantas’ 31%, as well as the 31% market share claimed by Qantas low-cost unit Jetstar. The ACCC notes that Virgin Australia also grew its market share from 33% in October 2021, as well as 22% in November 2020 when it had just emerged from business restructuring. Meanwhile, Jetstar recorded the most significant growth in market share, from 17% in October 2021 to 31% in January. The ACCC attributes this to border reopening, as well as “strong leisure demand” during the year-end summer travel period in Australia. Consequently, that meant mainline Qantas’ share dwindled significantly — from 46% in October 2021 to 31% in January. Taken together, the Qantas Group still holds the lion’s share of the Australian domestic market at 62%, similar to pre-pandemic January 2019. Against December 2021, however, it represented a slight dip in market share. As for Regional Express, the competition watchdog notes that its 4% market share has held steady since October. <br/>