Stong dollar keeps Aussies flying image source:realsimple.com

While retailers complain about low end of year commercial sales, airlines report economic woes haven’t impacted the number of people flying.

Travel agent Flight Centre has reported double digit growth over the holiday season to overseas destinations and single digit growth to varies domestic destinations, the Australian reported.

According to Flight Centre, Australian families in particular are booking vacations to the US and Hawaii and taking advantage of the strong Australian dollar and low airfares.

Flight Centre Global Marketing Manager Colin Bowman said booking numbers are up across many of the major destinations for the holiday period.

“And that’s both domestic and international,” Mr Bowman said.

Mr Bowman said the recent airfare deals have encouraged Australians to travel overseas, and Hawaii proving the most popular destination, while destinations such as Phuket and Thailand which are traditionally strong during this period also show growth.

Qantas Airways said it was operating at peak capacity and that they have not experienced any slowing down in the demand for travel.

Virgin Australia reported much of the same, with an airline spokesperson reporting that they have experienced a “growth in demand” for the holiday season compared to last year.  

Additionally, Tiger Airways had reported an increase in demand for all flights over the holidays and added an additional 45,000 seats to accommodate the growth.