Aussies avoiding soaring airfares to cop the $25 sting at the bowser

Sunday, 15 March 2026 07:28

The roads may be filled with hybrid cars and weary travellers avoiding the skies next month.

The roads may be filled with hybrid cars and weary travellers avoiding the skies this Easter as global oil disruption sends petrol and jet fuel prices soaring.

The Easter long weekend is now just three weeks away and as the conflict in the Middle East rages on, the humble April road trip could look a little different this year.

Petrol at the bowser is now over $2.20 per litre for E10 and over $2.60 for diesel.

Petrol was, on average, just below $1.85 per litre in April last year.

Jet fuel prices are driving up domestic airfares in Australia across multiple routes too.

The most affordable return economy flights on the busiest route of Sydney to Melbourne during the peak Easter period are around $400-$500 on Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin.

East Coast Car Rentals chief marketing officer Ben Whitmore said these prices may push many Aussie travellers to stick to the roads for the Easter break.

"A lot of people have pre-booked their Easter travel and flights. If they have, they're lucky," he said.

"If they're not, they probably will be paying a premium.

"The demand [for cars] is still coming in pretty fast. It may come in even faster if people are opting for that self-drive holiday rather than flying,"

But if you're taking to the roads, Whitmore said a tank of fuel is still likely to be around $25 more expensive than it was before the war began.

If you fill up twice, that's an extra $50 tacked onto the price of your holiday.

"Diesel seems to be affected the most, which for our industry and rental cars, we don't have a great deal of diesels on fleet," he added.

"Where it will probably count the most is in some of the regional areas.

"If people are having Easter road trips out to more regional areas, I think the prices will be higher."

Some regional tourism operators fear the shortage crisis will result in lost revenue over the busy Easter period.

Business NSW chief executive Daniel Hunter said bowsers running dry in rural areas has spooked travellers into cancelling.

"A regional tourist park operator told us they are starting to see cancellations and hesitation from visitors worried they will not be able to refuel," Hunter said.

"That is lost revenue for regional communities that depend on tourism. It's important that our holiday plans continue to sustain our visitor economies, particularly in the lead up to the Easter long weekend."

Hybrid cars could be the key to avoiding the sting at the bowser.

Sales of hybrid vehicles jumped to nearly 200,000 cars in 2025.

Whitmore predicts some savvy travellers will book rental cars which are either EV or hybrid models as Easter approaches.

"If it were me, where possible, I'd probably be looking for a hybrid at the moment," Whitmore added.

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