Time to book that flight to Australia

by Robin Gauldie

Flights from Edinburgh to Australia are cheaper than from anywhere else in the UK, according to one of the world’s largest travel agency chains.

Flight Centre’s first-ever Australia Travel Trends Report, released today to celebrate Australia Day, also reveals that Glasgow is the most expensive departure point for flights to Oz.

On average, there’s a 22 per cent price difference between flights from Glasgow and flights from Edinburgh, according to the report.

Flight Centre also predicts record low fares to Australia and other long-haul destinations in 2017, with airlines offering cut-price tickets to compensate for the weakness of the pound as a result of Brexit. 

Sterling is currently trading at around A$1.67 Australian dollars to the pound. In the late 1990s, when the Australian dollar was at an all-time low, £1 bought around three dollars. 

The company, which specialises in long-flights to Australia, New Zealand and other far-flung destinations, has shops at North Bridge, Forrest Road and Queensferry Street.