Brandwave

Rex vs Virgin Australia:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Virgin Australia had more branded searches than Rex among airlines in Australia. Virgin Australia had about 673,000 branded searches, while Rex had 49,500. Virgin Australia made up 22.9% of all airline searches we track, and Rex accounted for 1.7%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about airlines, Virgin Australia appeared in four of the five answers and Rex in none.

Among airlines in Australia in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Virgin Australia, about 14 searches for every 1 for Rex

Virgin Australia 673K searchesRex 49.5K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Virgin Australia, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Rex in 0

Virgin Australia in 4 of 5Rex in 0 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Virgin Australia, the only one of the two named

Virgin Australia first in 4Rex never named

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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. Rex did not appear in any of the five 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 Rex or Virgin Australia more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Rex 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.

Rex and Virgin Australia among airlines in Australia, by month

Share of searches by month for Virgin Australia, Rex. 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 Rex and Virgin Australia comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • Virgin Australia was ahead of Rex in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Rex’s share of searches among airlines in Australia moved from 2% to 1.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74K to 49.5K.
  • 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 Rex in Australia fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 49.5K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

3 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Rex’s 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.

Rex

2 branded search terms

  • rex airline
  • rex airlines

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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