International flight revenue overtakes domestic: Travel sector reports strong in

The travel sector has reported a strong increase in overseas bookings since the Government’s border reopening announcement, with Air New Zealand saying international booking revenue has overtaken domestic in recent weeks.

A spokesperson for the national carrier said international booking revenue has surpassed domestic for the first time since the pandemic struck, “albeit from a low base and recognising the impact of the current Omicron community outbreak on our domestic network”.

Flight bookings last week were sitting at about 30 per cent of 2019 levels, and have continued to grow since the February 3 announcement, she said. Trans-Tasman services are proving particularly popular, with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane attracting the most bookings.

“Further afield, we are seeing interest in travel to North America, the UK and Europe.”

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Travel Agents Association New Zealand (TAANZ) president and House of Travel chief operating officer Brent Thomas said the removal of the requirement for fully vaccinated New Zealanders to quarantine or self-isolate upon their return – along with loosening Covid-related travel restrictions around the world – have many Kiwis excited about overseas travel again.

“We’re not back to 2019 levels at this stage, but we’re well over half way, which is encouraging. It’s definitely a different feeling to the last two years. We’re all feeling a lot more confident and excited about the future.”

Stuff’s ongoing international travel survey has found about 87 per cent of the more than 8000 respondents so far plan to travel overseas, with 73 per cent of those intending to do so in 2022. The vast majority plan to be away for a week or more, with just 3.6 per cent saying they would be away for less than seven days. Just over 35 per cent said they would be away for three to four weeks, and 28 per cent indicated they would be gone for more than a month. Only 18 per cent plan to work for some or all of the time they are away.

Thomas said an initial spike in overseas bookings by customers keen to reconnect with family and friends overseas has been followed by a steady increase in bookings primarily, if not purely, for holiday purposes. Business travel, by contrast, is still well down on pre-pandemic levels.

The Pacific Islands are the most popular short-haul destinations among House of Travel customers, while the UK and Europe are most-booked for long-haul breaks. Sales for Fiji this week are 162 per cent higher than in previous weeks, while the Cook Islands has been “incredibly popular” over the past fortnight, Thomas said.

“What we know from the conversations consultants are having with customers is that people don’t want to spend a third winter in New Zealand, so they’re…