It took four years and the most highly anticipated music tour in recent memory, but Australia’s aviation industry has finally recovered from the impact of the COVID-19pandemic.
The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) said passenger numbers for March this year were at almost 99 per cent of 2019 levels, while February was the first month that outperformed its pre-pandemic counterpart.
That surge in air travel demand was driven in large part by Taylor Swift’s seven-show tour of Australia, the ACCC said.
Some one-off events contributed to a spike in domestic passenger activity in February, compared to what is typically observed in that month,” its Domestic Airline Competition said.
“Most notably, Taylor Swift performed seven shows to more than 600,000 people across two weekends exclusively in Melbourne and Sydney.
“Airlines added some capacity following news of her tour. For example, Qantas announced it had added 67 additional flights, or over 11,000 seats on Melbourne and Sydney routes.”
While administrators are exploring options for the company, the ACCC doesn’t expect it to get back in the air, according to the report.
The consumer watchdog says the new airline’s demise is a blow for the sector – and for travellers hoping for cheaper airfares.
“Since Bonza began operations, travellers benefited from more affordable airfares and the convenience of direct connections to various regional and holiday destinations otherwise not offered by other airlines,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
