Rush for Flights to AU vs NZ Finals Clash

27 October 2015
MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Rugby World Cup Results Spark Rush for Flights to AU vs NZ Finals Clash

Aussie and Kiwi rugby fans have set their sights on the UK, with research from Cheapflights revealing a surge in searches for London-bound flights both during, and following, the Rugby World Cup semi-finals games, with the stage now set for an epic Wallabies vs. All Blacks finals showdown.

In New Zealand:

• Searches remained quite static during the match, reflecting the closeness of the game, but spiked directly following it

• In the 30 minutes following the final whistle, searches on flights from Wellington or Auckland to London jumped by 17 per cent and 19 per cent respectively

• In the hours since the All Blacks’ win, demand has levelled out to around a 12 per cent increase, slightly in favour of departures from Auckland

In Australia:

• Cheapflights recorded substantially more search traffic at half-time, compared with the All Blacks game, perhaps reflecting confidence Australia would retain the lead at that point

• This spike was followed by another surge of interest at full-time

• Overall, searches on flights to London from Australia have increased 18 per cent, with the majority (46 per cent) emanating from the Sydney area, followed by Melbourne (21 per cent) and Brisbane (14 per cent)

Last week, following the All Blacks’ advancement to the semis, Cheapflights also recorded a 19 per cent lift in searches for flights to get fans to the UK in time for New Zealand’s match on 24 October. In Australia, there was a concerted 27 per cent increase in searches for flights to reach London for the 25 October semi-final.

According to Phil Bloomfield, Global Head of Communications at Cheapflights, the leading flight search and deals publishing platform, there are still great fares available for hard-core rugby fans.

“With the northern hemisphere teams now out of the running, sources in the UK are reporting that finals tickets are available, meaning there is a great opportunity for savvy locals to grab a spot at the Twickenham stadium on 31 October,” he said.

“You could fly from Sydney to Heathrow, and head back in the days after the grand final, for around AU$1,500, which is amazing value. There are also some great opportunities around the $1,700 mark for flights with shorter journey time. In the New Zealand market, costs are slightly higher but fans can still make a return trip for around NZ$2,200. Just be sure you have your match tickets locked in and somewhere to sleep, and you’re off.”

Bloomfield noted that if fans are serious about making it to London, they need to search smart, as fares are constantly changing, and commit sooner rather than later to get the best deal.

To find out more and book your flights, head to www.cheapflights.co.nz.

ENDS

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