Australia’s three biggest carriers – Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia – have kicked off the festive period with aggressive Boxing Day sales designed to lock-in leisure and business demand for the first half of 2026. Qantas launched a nationwide promotion offering more than one million discounted seats across 60 domestic routes, with economy tickets as low as AU$109 one-way and more than 35 routes under AU$150. Regional Tasmanians were among the big winners: Hobart–Melbourne fares start at AU$145 while Hobart–Sydney seats dip to AU$149, giving small-business owners and fly-in-fly-out workers rare peak-summer bargains.
Jetstar and Virgin have responded in kind. Jetstar is advertising Darwin–Adelaide for AU$145, Darwin–Brisbane for AU$162 and Darwin–Bali for AU$175, while Virgin is selling more than half-a-million seats from just AU$49 – cheaper than some inner-city taxi rides. Virgin’s headline deals include Sydney–Byron Bay for AU$49, Brisbane–Whitsunday Coast for AU$70 and Sydney–Bali returns from AU$469. Both carriers emphasise that inventory is limited and sales close on 28 December (Jetstar) and 29 December (Virgin).
Whether you’re stringing together these bargain domestic legs before hopping abroad or arranging global itineraries for an entire team, VisaHQ can take the paperwork out of the equation. The service’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) delivers up-to-date entry rules for more than 200 destinations, one-click applications, and expert support—so the money saved on Boxing Day fares isn’t swallowed by last-minute visa headaches.
![Boxing Day Bonanza: Australian Airlines Slash Fares for 2026 Travel]()
For corporate travel managers the timing is strategic. Many companies finalise Q3–Q4 conference schedules in January; locking in air seats now can trim budgets by 20-40 per cent compared with booking closer to departure. Qantas is also allowing seats to be bought using Qantas Points, giving organisations an opportunity to burn large points balances before a planned devaluation of the Classic Plus table in July 2026.
Travel advisors warn, however, that the cheapest fares are non-refundable, carry change fees, and may require overnight stays to access headline prices – factors that could erode savings if itineraries shift. They recommend using corporate-friendly fare classes or adding change-flex bundles to mitigate risk. Companies with remote workforces – notably in mining, agriculture and construction – stand to benefit most from the deep discounts on routes linking Darwin, regional Queensland and Western Australia.
Airports are preparing for the surge. The Australian Airports Association expects domestic passenger numbers to eclipse last year’s Boxing Day record by 12 per cent, with security screening resources and SmartGate capacity increased accordingly. Travellers are advised to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure and to pre-book parking where possible.
Jetstar and Virgin have responded in kind. Jetstar is advertising Darwin–Adelaide for AU$145, Darwin–Brisbane for AU$162 and Darwin–Bali for AU$175, while Virgin is selling more than half-a-million seats from just AU$49 – cheaper than some inner-city taxi rides. Virgin’s headline deals include Sydney–Byron Bay for AU$49, Brisbane–Whitsunday Coast for AU$70 and Sydney–Bali returns from AU$469. Both carriers emphasise that inventory is limited and sales close on 28 December (Jetstar) and 29 December (Virgin).
Whether you’re stringing together these bargain domestic legs before hopping abroad or arranging global itineraries for an entire team, VisaHQ can take the paperwork out of the equation. The service’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) delivers up-to-date entry rules for more than 200 destinations, one-click applications, and expert support—so the money saved on Boxing Day fares isn’t swallowed by last-minute visa headaches.
For corporate travel managers the timing is strategic. Many companies finalise Q3–Q4 conference schedules in January; locking in air seats now can trim budgets by 20-40 per cent compared with booking closer to departure. Qantas is also allowing seats to be bought using Qantas Points, giving organisations an opportunity to burn large points balances before a planned devaluation of the Classic Plus table in July 2026.
Travel advisors warn, however, that the cheapest fares are non-refundable, carry change fees, and may require overnight stays to access headline prices – factors that could erode savings if itineraries shift. They recommend using corporate-friendly fare classes or adding change-flex bundles to mitigate risk. Companies with remote workforces – notably in mining, agriculture and construction – stand to benefit most from the deep discounts on routes linking Darwin, regional Queensland and Western Australia.
Airports are preparing for the surge. The Australian Airports Association expects domestic passenger numbers to eclipse last year’s Boxing Day record by 12 per cent, with security screening resources and SmartGate capacity increased accordingly. Travellers are advised to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure and to pre-book parking where possible.
