Cheapest economy airfares more than doubled on some routes after collapse of Rex flights

Rex entered administration after trying and failing to take on Qantas and Virgin Australia on potentially lucrative capital cities routes. Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

The average domestic airfare increased by 13% after the collapse of Rex flights between capital cities, the consumer watchdog has found, as Qantas and Virgin’s duopoly surged to 98% market dominance.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) found that since Rex suspended operations across 11 routes and entered administration, the average airfare on all major city routes increased by 13.3% in the quarter to September.