Airfares for domestic economy travel rose in June while they were slightly lower for those flying in business class, government figures show.
The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) monthly measure of domestic ticket prices showed both the best discount and restricted economy categories were higher in June.
The best discount index was at 62.9 points in June, compared with 57.5 points in the same month a year ago.
Meanwhile, the restricted economy category came in at 79.4 points, up from 71.6 in June 2014.
Rising ticket prices have come as Australia’s two major airline groups, Qantas and Virgin Australia, have reported improving yields in recent times amid slower capacity growth slowed in a still subdued local market.
Qantas said in its most recent traffic statistics yields in the domestic market for both Qantas and Jetstar were higher so far in the 2014/15 financial year, compared with the prior corresponding period.
And Virgin said in its third quarter operating figures domestic yields for Virgin and Tiger “continued to improve and were positive compared to the third quarter of the 2014 financial year”.
The BITRE business class index was at 91.8 points in June, down from 92.8 points in the same month a year earlier.
