Capacity is climbing (and your options are too)

Right now, international airline capacity is sitting at 101% of where it was pre-COVID—and it's only going up from here. According to Flight Centre Corporate Global COO Melissa Elf, “we can expect to see the trend continue this year, with levels expected to reach a high of 106% of pre-pandemic capacity by mid-year.”

And some cities are absolutely thriving. “We’ve seen Perth become a real leader as an origin point for international capacity, with the airport seeing 121% of pre-pandemic seats available on flights out of the country,” says Elf. “It’s followed by Melbourne (102%), Brisbane (101%) and Sydney (98%).”  

So, what does that mean for you? More flights. More flexibility. And fewer travel headaches. 

New routes are taking off

Aussie travellers have spoken—and the airlines are listening. Emirates, Fiji Airways and United Airlines have all announced shiny new routes. United is launching the first-ever direct service from Adelaide to San Francisco this December, opening up a straight shot to the States for South Australians.

And then there’s Fiji Airways, quietly becoming a business traveller’s best-kept secret. “Fiji Airways is the quiet achiever that has been growing its fleet and opening up new routes for Aussie travellers,” says Elf. “It’s quickly becoming a favoured stop-over destination for North America.”  They’ve hit a massive 134% of pre-pandemic capacity and are about to make North Queenslanders very happy with new direct flights from Cairns to Nadi—plus onward connections to Dallas-Fort Worth. 

The takeaway? There’s never been a better time to travel

For business travellers, the return of global air capacity means one thing: more choice. Whether you’re chasing international opportunities, reconnecting with overseas teams, or finally booking that long-delayed business trip, 2025 is opening more doors than ever—with more routes, better value, and a lot less friction.

And at Corporate Traveller, we’ve got your back. Thanks to our global travel network and strong airline partnerships, you’ll get access to the best fares, the most flexible options, and exclusive deals you won’t find elsewhere.  
 

About Flight Centre Travel Group

The Flight Centre Travel Group is one of the world’s largest travel retailers and corporate travel managers. The company, which is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, has company-owned leisure and corporate travel business in dozens of countries, spanning Australia, New Zealand, the Americas, Europe, the United Kingdom, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Asia. ASX listed Flight Centre Travel Group (FLT) also operates the global FCM corporate travel management network, which extends to more than 100 countries through company-owned businesses and independent licensees, along with Corporate Traveller, the flagship business specific to the small-to-medium-sized enterprise sector. For more information, visit fctgl.com.