Domestic Airlines in Australia - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
Melbourne, Australia
Last Updated: January 2024
ANZSIC I4902Revenue
$17.4bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
28,044
Businesses
106
Wages
$X.Xbn
Domestic Airlines in Australia industry analysis
Trading conditions have been mixed for the Domestic Airlines industry over the past five years. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly restricted air travel volumes over the three years through 2021-22. Most state governments closed their borders in early 2020, all but halting interstate travel. Industry revenue further plunged in 2020-21 as COVID-19 restrictions continued to limit air travel. However, monthly passenger numbers rose steadily during the same year, offering some relief to airlines.
Trends and Insights
- The pandemic took a massive toll on industry revenue and profitability. At the pandemic’s peak, industry revenue declined by almost 50%, and airlines absorbed three years of losses. However, pent-up travel demand has the industry recovering at a staggering pace.
- Weak purchasing power has pushed consumers to seek out budget airfares. This has not only led to revenue growth from low-cost carriers but also increased the share of revenue generated from additional fees and surcharges.
- International airlines are clustered around Sydney Airport. Domestic airlines prefer to base themselves in Victoria and Queensland as they have airports with more terminal capacity and lower traffic volumes.
- Airlines have little negotiating power with airports on fees for navigation and air control services. Airports tend to operate with limited capacity and within geographic monopoly, giving them strong bargaining power on fees.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $17.4bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Travel restrictions rocked the industry, wiping out profit margins
- Domestic air travel was regularly restricted over the three years through 2021-22. State governments implemented several restrictions on personal movement, including border closures between states and restricted travel allowances only in cases of emergencies, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The industry is set for a full recovery
- The industry is on track to grow strongly over the next five years, with industry revenue volatility set to settle down from the fluctuations caused by the pandemic.
Biggest companies in the Domestic Airlines in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 |
|---|---|---|
Qantas | 10,106.0 | |
Virgin Australia | 4,474.2 | |
REX | 669.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Full-fare and business passenger transport, Low-fare passenger transport and Freight transport. Full-fare and business passenger transport is the largest segment of the Domestic Airlines in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Weakening economic conditions have hurt sales for full-fare and business passenger transport
- This segment includes full-fare services often preferred by business travellers because of the flexible nature of the tickets, which enables them to change flights with minimal costs and allows access to business lounges.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Interurban and Rural Bus Transport in Australia
Complementors
- Aircraft Manufacturing and Repair Services in Australia
- International Airlines in Australia
- Non-Scheduled Air Transport in Australia
- Airport Operations in Australia
- Rail, Air and Sea Freight Forwarding in Australia
International industries
- Global Airlines
- Domestic Airlines in the US
- Scheduled Air Transportation in Canada
- Airlines in New Zealand
- Scheduled Passenger Air Transport in the UK
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Domestic airlines primarily operate aircraft on scheduled routes within Australia to transport both passengers and freight.
What's included in this industry?
Full-fare and business passenger transportLow-fare passenger transportFreight transportOther servicesCompanies
QantasVirgin AustraliaREXPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA)REVENUE PASSENGER KILOMETRESAIRSIDE SERVICESLOAD FACTORIndustry Code
ANZSIC 4900 - Domestic Airlines in Australia
Performance
Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.
Analyst insights
The pandemic took a massive toll on industry revenue and profitability. At the pandemic’s peak, industry revenue declined by almost 50%, and airlines absorbed three years of ...
In this chapter (4)
- Current Performance
- Outlook
- Volatility
- Life Cycle
Key metrics
- Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
- Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
- Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
- Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business
Charts
- Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
- Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
- Industry Life Cycle
Detailed analysis
- Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
- Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
- Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
- How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.
Products and Markets
Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.
Analyst insight
Weak purchasing power has pushed consumers to seek out budget airfares. This has not only led to revenue growth from low-cost carriers but also increased the share of revenue...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2024
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2024
- Major market segmentation in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
- Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
- Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
- Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
Geographic Breakdown
Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.
Analyst insights
International airlines are clustered around Sydney Airport. Domestic airlines prefer to base themselves in Victoria and Queensland as they have airports with more terminal ca...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2024
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
- Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage
Competitive Forces
Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.
Analyst insights
Airlines have little negotiating power with airports on fees for navigation and air control services. Airports tend to operate with limited capacity and within geographic mon...
In this chapter (4)
- Concentration
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer & Supplier Analysis
Key metrics
- Industry concentration level
- Industry competition level and trend
- Barriers to entry level and trend
- Substitutes level and trend
- Buyer power level and trend
- Supplier power level and trend
Charts
- Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
- Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart
Detailed analysis
- Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
- Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
- Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
- Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
- Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
- Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
- Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
- Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
- Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.
Companies
Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.
Analyst insights
Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic put domestic airlines under strain. Virgin was forced into voluntary administration while Qantas' revenue cratered. Firms wit...
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
- Overview of Qantas's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Virgin Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of REX's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Qantas, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Virgin Australia, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for REX, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic pushed down domestic tourist visitor nights. However, easing travel restrictions and pent-up demand have caused a surge in vi...
In this chapter
- External Drivers
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key metrics
- Regulation & policy level and trend
- Assistance level and trend
Charts
- Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
- Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
- Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.
Financial Benchmarks
View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time.
Analyst insights
Elevated world crude oil prices have placed upward pressure on industry purchase costs. Aviation fuel costs are largely linked to crude oil prices, which remain well above th...
In this chapter
- Cost Structure
- Financial Ratios
- Key Ratios
Key metrics
- Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
- Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
- Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
- Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio
Charts
- Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
- Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- Average Wage (2014-2029)
- Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
- IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
- Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
- Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)
Detailed analysis
- Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2014-2029)
- IVA (2014-2029)
- Establishments (2014-2029)
- Enterprises (2014-2029)
- Employment (2014-2029)
- Exports (2014-2029)
- Imports (2014-2029)
- Wages (2014-2029)
Methodology
How are IBISWorld reports created?
IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.
Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.
What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
Key data sources in Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments Commission
Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.
These sources include:
- Industry and trade associations
- Industry federations or regulators
- Major industry players annual or quarterly filings
Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.
How does IBISWorld forecast its data?
IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.
IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.
Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia in 2024?
The market size of the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia is $17.4bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Domestic Airlines in Australia industry in 2024?
There are 106 businesses in the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Domestic Airlines market in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Domestic Airlines market in Australia are Qantas, Virgin Australia and REX
What does the Domestic Airlines in Australia include?
Full-fare and business passenger transport and Low-fare passenger transport are part of the Domestic Airlines industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Domestic Airlines in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in Australia is Qantas.
How competitive is the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia?
The level of competition is high and decreasing in the Domestic Airlines industry in Australia.
