Bad news, the flights could still cost more. The cost of flights between Australia and Europe will stay high until the end of 2024, when they are expected to drop in price to near pre-pandemic levels, according to the boss of Flight Centre.

Looking back from 2026, airfares from Australia to Europe did not see a significant decrease in 2023; in fact, that year was characterized by some of the highest travel costs in recent memory. This "travel inflation" was driven by several factors: the massive "revenge travel" demand following the pandemic, high jet fuel prices, and limited airline capacity as carriers struggled to return their full fleets to the sky. While more capacity was added late in the year, prices remained elevated throughout the 2023 peak seasons. It wasn't until late 2024 and 2025 that fares began to stabilize as new, fuel-efficient aircraft entered service and competition intensified between legacy carriers and the growing Middle Eastern hubs. For Australians in 2023, the only way to secure "lower" fares was to book several months in advance or travel during the shoulder seasons of May and October, as the era of ultra-cheap $1,200 return flights to London had temporarily vanished in favor of a much more expensive post-pandemic reality.