Regional airfare war: Virgin and Qantas slash domestic flights from $55

A fierce airfare war has broken out between Australia's two biggest carriers, handing regional and capital-city holidaymakers a rare chance to lock in deeply discounted travel.

Qantas has released more than two million sale seats across 109 domestic routes, slashing fares to under $140 on key regional links from Canberra, Newcastle, Tasmania and Victoria.

Meanwhile, Virgin Australia has launched an aggressive seven-hour Halloween flash sale starting from just $55 one-way.

Here's our breakdown of the best flights to nab if you live in regional Australia.

Canberra residents looking to enjoy a bit of sun in the Gold Coast can take advantage of a price battle between the two big carriers with Virgin dropping one-way economy lite fares from $99 and Qantas listing the route from $209 in economy.

Canberrans can fly to Melbourne on Qantas from $139 in economy or $299 in business class - one of the lowest entry points for business class across the Qantas network.

Canberra to Sydney one-way flights on Qantas have dropped from $139, with business going from $349.

Regional Qantas routes to snap up quickly include Canberra to Merimbula or Hobart from $229, Launceston from $239, Devonport from $259, Hamilton Island from $309 and Uluru from $379.

Newie locals planning a trip to Brisbane are in for some joy as Virgin is slashing one-way economy lite fares from $99. The same route on Qantas has dropped from $129 in economy or $299 in business.

Newcastle to Adelaide flights are going from $239 in economy and $349 in business class with Qantas.

Residents of the Illawarra and Greater Sydney can take advantage of discounts from both Sydney and Western Sydney airports.

Virgin is offering Sydney to Ballina (Byron Bay) flights from $55, beating Qantas' $99 sale fare on the same route.

Sydney to the Gold Coast is going from $89 on Virgin and $129 on Qantas.

Sydney to Melbourne tickets start from $139 in economy and $349 in business - or the same route begins at $119 on economy lite with Virgin.

Fly from Western Sydney and you can nab a Melbourne fare with Qantas from $129 for economy or $329 in business.

Western Sydney to Brisbane is going from $129 in economy and $329 in business, also with Qantas.

Qantas is offering a number of discounted services to regional destinations from Sydney.

Fly to Coffs Harbour or Dubbo from $129; Merimbula, Orange, Port Macquarie or Tamworth from $139; or Albury, Armidale, Griffith, Moree or Wagga Wagga from $149.

Regional Victoria is also covered, with Qantas offering tickets from Bendigo to Sydney from $129 and Bendigo to Brisbane or the Gold Coast from $199.

Albury-Wodonga locals could fly to Sydney from $149 and the Gold Coast from $199 on Qantas.

Tasmania is also covered. Fly from Melbourne to Launceston from $129 or Hobart from $159 with Qantas.

Qantas has dropped the prices of seats on Devonport to Gold Coast services, which are now going from $209, as well as Hobart to Mildura from $209 and Hobart to Canberra from $229, or fly Launceston to Canberra from $239.

For those up north, Burnie to Perth seats are going from $399 with Qantas, while Devonport to Perth is selling from $399.

Virgin's sale is a high-urgency seven-hour flash sale, running from 4pm to 11pm on Thursday, October 29.

Qantas' sale runs for one week, until 11.59pm on Wednesday, November 4.

Virgin's sale targets autumn and winter getaways between April 1 and June 30, 2027.

Qantas' discounts cover a broader window from November 30, 2026 to September 30, 2027, unlocking dates across summer school holidays, Christmas, New Year and Easter.