Brandwave

Qantas vs Virgin Australia:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Qantas had more branded searches than Virgin Australia among airlines in Australia. Qantas had about 1 million branded searches, while Virgin Australia had 673,000. Qantas made up 34% of all airline searches we track, and Virgin Australia accounted for 22.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airlines, Virgin Australia appeared in four of the five answers and Qantas in three. Qantas and Virgin Australia were each mentioned first in two of the four answers.

Among airlines in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Qantas, about 49% more searches than Virgin Australia

Qantas 1M searchesVirgin Australia 673K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Virgin Australia, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Qantas in 3

Virgin Australia in 4 of 5Qantas in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Each is named first in 2 of 4 answers.

Qantas first in 2Virgin Australia first in 2

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Top airlines in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Virgin Australia was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Qantas was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Qantas and Virgin Australia were each listed first in two of the four answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Virgin Australia1st
  2. Qantas2nd
  3. Jetstar3rd
  4. Rex–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Jetstar4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Virgin Australia4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Qantas3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Rex0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about airlines

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in Australia on October 22, 2026.

Is Qantas or Virgin Australia more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Qantas and Virgin Australia by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all four airlines we track, month by month, from searches in Australia.

Qantas and Virgin Australia among airlines in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Qantas, Virgin Australia. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthJetstarQantasVirgin AustraliaRex
Oct 202541.5%33.7%22.8%2%
Nov 202541.6%33.9%22.8%1.7%
Dec 202541.5%34%22.9%1.7%
Jan 202641.6%33.9%22.8%1.7%
Feb 202636.7%36.7%24.8%1.8%
Mar 202641.6%33.9%22.8%1.7%
Apr 202641.5%34%22.9%1.7%
May 202644.3%29.6%24.3%1.8%
Jun 202639.5%32.3%26.6%1.6%
Jul 202636.8%36.8%24.8%1.5%
Aug 202641.8%34%22.9%1.4%
Sep 202641.5%34%22.9%1.7%

How has the Qantas and Virgin Australia comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Qantas was ahead of Virgin Australia in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Qantas’ share of searches among airlines in Australia moved from 33.7% to 34%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 1.2M to 1M.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Virgin Australia’s share of searches among airlines in Australia moved from 22.8% to 22.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 823K to 673K.

How did search popularity change for Australia airlines in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. Virgin Australia’s share of searches among airlines in Australia has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 26.6% to 22.9% in September 2026.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Qantas in Australia fell 18% over 12 measured months, from 1.2M to 1M in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Qantas’ and Virgin Australia’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Qantas

1 branded search term

  • qantas

Virgin Australia

1 branded search term

  • virgin australia

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among airlines

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