There’s a good, old-fashioned boom underway — and for once, it’s not just hot air.
Flight capacity between Australia and Asia has not merely bounced back from the dark days of the pandemic; it has taken to the skies with a gusto that would make even the most seasoned aviation veterans raise an eyebrow. While much of the world is quietly congratulating itself for reaching 103% of pre-COVID international flight levels, Australia’s links to Asia have roared ahead, leaving the global average coughing in its vapour trail.
Corporate Traveller, the SME division of Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), has crunched the numbers, and they make for heady reading. Flights between Australia and India are now operating at an astonishing 346% of pre-pandemic capacity. Vietnam isn’t far behind at 263%, with South Korea cruising at a sturdy 153%.
For business travellers, it’s Christmas come early — and for trade officials, it’s a vindication that old-school face-to-face business still matters more than any number of Zoom calls.
Corporate Traveller Global – Managing Director, Tom Walley.
“Airlines are racing to meet surging demand for Australia–Asia business connections,” says Tom Walley, Global Managing Director at Corporate Traveller, with the quiet satisfaction of a man watching a well-laid plan come good. “We’re seeing direct routes blossoming, codeshares multiplying like rabbits, and a noticeable uptick in premium cabin bookings. It’s clear: when it comes to doing business in Asia, Australians prefer to press the flesh rather than bump fists online.”
The numbers support Walley’s point. Australia’s two-way trade with ASEAN nations has surpassed $192.9 billion, surpassing trade with both the United States and the European Union. Not bad for a region that, until relatively recently, was still being treated by some boardrooms as a side hustle.
Singapore and Indonesia, those dependable old favourites, are also punching above their weight, with flight capacities at 107% and 128% of their pre-pandemic levels, respectively. No surprise, then, that Singapore, the Philippines, China, and Hong Kong rank among the top ten international destinations for Australian business travellers in 2024.
Meanwhile, newcomers Vietnam, South Korea, and India have elbowed their way firmly into the top 20, carrying with them the sort of promise that would make even the most jaded CFO nod approvingly.
And what of Vietnam, that once-humble dragon now breathing fire? Bilateral trade with Australia has climbed 10% year-on-year, while India’s growing importance is unmistakable — helped along, no doubt, by the new codeshare agreement between Air India and Virgin Australia. For business travellers, it means fewer stopovers, faster trips, and less time contemplating the mysteries of airport food courts.
Tom Walley notes that broader global dynamics are also at play. As trade wars simmer and supply chains reroute like Sydney traffic during a long weekend, more Australian firms are pivoting towards Southeast Asia.
“Trump-era trade tensions pushed many to rethink old alliances,” Walley says. “Asia isn’t just convenient — it’s now absolutely critical.”
And when it comes to getting there, Australians aren’t roughing it, far from it. Business-class travel is enjoying a renaissance not seen since the heady days before the global financial crisis (GFC) hangovers sobered up corporate budgets. Corporate Traveller reports a 45% year-on-year increase in international business-class bookings from Australia in the second half of 2024.
The hunger for a lie-flat seat and a glass of something sparkling is extreme on routes to Hong Kong (up a cracking 60%) and China (a respectable 57%). One in four corporate travellers flying to Hong Kong are now swanning about in business class, and China isn’t far behind.
Some things — like the preference for comfort and a properly chilled Chardonnay — never go out of style.
Policy changes have also been lending a helpful hand. China’s decision to extend visa-free entry from 15 to 30 days, effective November 30, 2024, has paid almost immediate dividends. Since the policy came into force, Corporate Traveller reports a 21% jump in Australian corporate travel to China, and trips are getting longer, as executives rediscover the forgotten art of sealing deals over banquets rather than video calls.
“Visa liberalisation, a flood of competitive airline offerings, and strengthening trade ties have placed Asia firmly at the centre of Australia’s corporate travel agenda,” says Walley. “It’s not a trend — it’s a tectonic shift.”
Meanwhile, back in the skies, airlines are fighting for a bigger slice of this surging Australia-Asia pie. Jetstar, never one to be left behind, is busy investing millions in a Dreamliner fleet upgrade — proof that even low-cost carriers know they can’t skimp on comfort if they want a piece of the new corporate travel gold rush.
More routes, bigger planes, upgraded cabins: for business travellers, it’s shaping up to be a golden age of connectivity.
As competition heats up, the humble businessperson is the ultimate winner, with better options, sharper prices, and more efficient journeys on offer across the region. In an era often painted as remote and digital-first, the enduring value of a handshake, a meeting over lunch, and a seat at the negotiation table is back with a vengeance.
And if there’s a moral to the story?
It’s this: the good old-fashioned business trip isn’t dying — it’s flying higher than ever.
After all, some traditions are just too crucial to be replaced by Zoom.
By Sandra Jones
