Cheap Flights from Australia to India 2026 — Sydney, Melbourne and Perth Compared: Prices, Routes and the Perth Advantage Nobody Mentions

There are 56 flights per week between Australia and India as of April 2026, operated by 24 different airlines. That's more competition than most Australians realise when they default to Singapore Airlines and call the search done. The floor fare on this corridor right now is AU$500 — Scoot, departing July 25, 2026, is the cheapest flight from Australia to India currently available at AU$500 return, connecting via Singapore to Delhi. Mainstream airline returns run AU$900–$1,500 depending on month and routing.

But the number that matters most to this comparison isn't what flights cost. It's the geographical fact that every guide on this corridor ignores: Perth is approximately 6,200 kilometres from Mumbai. Sydney is over 10,000 kilometres from Mumbai. For Perth residents, India is geographically closer than the Australian east coast. That distance difference fundamentally changes the routing strategy, the airline options, and the case for nonstop service — and it's why Perth belongs in the same sentence as Sydney and Melbourne when discussing Australia's India flight market.

FlyFlick searches across 700+ airlines and booking platforms in one search — compare all Australian departure cities on your specific dates before committing.

The Complete Price Comparison: Sydney vs Melbourne vs Perth to India 2026

The headline numbers first, in Australian dollars.

Sources: FlyFlick flight search, Skyscanner, Momondo, Cheapflights.com.au — April 2026. AU$ prices include taxes. Subject to change.

Three immediate observations the data reveals. First: Perth has the lowest floor fares of any Australian major city to India despite being the furthest from the east coast India passenger base — because the shorter geographic distance allows budget airlines like Scoot to offer genuinely competitive pricing on the Perth–Singapore–India corridor. Second: Qantas' Melbourne–Delhi direct service was seasonal and ended March 28, 2026 — any competitor guide or booking site still listing it as active for summer 2026 departures is wrong, and booking it risks a significant itinerary disruption. Third: the average return across all airlines and months runs approximately AU$1,100–$1,400 — higher than the floor fares suggest because those AU$500–$521 fares are specific date and airline combinations that sell out weeks ahead.

The Cheapest Months: When Australia–India Fares Actually Drop

August is the cheapest month to fly from Australia to India, with prices around AU$935 on average for return flights. July runs close behind. The cheapest time of year to fly from Australia to India is usually July, with Skyscanner finding floor fares from AU$500 on specific departures. Both months benefit from the same force: India's monsoon season suppresses leisure tourist demand from Australia while airlines maintain capacity on the corridor — creating a window where discount inventory appears at lower price points than any other time of year.

The honest caveat on July and August India travel: monsoon India is a real condition. Delhi, Rajasthan, and the Himalayan foothills receive heavy rainfall from July through mid-September. Flights into Delhi operate normally, but if your India itinerary includes outdoor activities in the north, the monsoon window coincides with challenging weather. South India — Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka — experiences monsoon from June, making July and August difficult for beach and wildlife travel there too. The cheapest Australian departure months coincide with India's least hospitable months for certain destinations. This is the practical trade-off that every competitor guide fails to state.

Where July and August India travel works well despite the monsoon: Delhi and Agra (indoor monuments, museums), Rajasthan's palace hotels (where the rain is atmospheric rather than disruptive), and Mumbai and Goa if monsoon culture is specifically what you're seeking. For FlyFlick's full guide on navigating India as a first-time visitor, including seasonal travel advice, see our first-time India travel guide.

Cheapflights.com.au data shows February as the cheapest month by a different measure, with average fares around AU$470 — reflecting the post-Australia Day demand collapse. February India travel is excellent weather-wise: dry, cool in the north, and well within the Rajasthan peak season. This is an underappreciated combination — cheap fares and good conditions simultaneously — that most Australian India travellers overlook because August and July get the headline cheapest label.

The most expensive months: December and January. January is currently the most expensive month to fly from Australia to India, averaging AU$900+ in floor fares — driven by the confluence of Australian school holidays, Christmas and New Year demand, and the peak India tourist season. December and January represent the worst value on this corridor, combining high fares with full aircraft and inflated India accommodation pricing.

Sources: FlyFlick flight search, Momondo, Skyscanner Australia, Cheapflights.com.au — April 2026.

July and August deliver Australia's cheapest India fares but coincide with India's monsoon season — the February window offers near-equivalent pricing with dramatically better travel conditions, a combination almost no Australian India guide highlights.

Sydney to India: The Most Competitive Market on the Corridor

Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD) is the most India-connected Australian airport by frequency, carrier variety, and Indian city coverage. Sydney Airport services flights to Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad — three major Indian cities, no other Australian airport matches this direct coverage breadth.

The direct service caveat: Qantas operated Sydney–Bengaluru on A330 aircraft as its primary Sydney–India service, with IndiGo codeshare connections across India from Bengaluru. This service feeds approximately 40% of its passengers through the IndiGo connection network — meaning Sydney–Bengaluru–[domestic India city] is a legitimate single-booking routing through Qantas for travellers targeting South or Central India.

Sources: FlyFlick flight search, Google Flights AU — April 2026.

Singapore Airlines is the first choice among Australian users flying to India, with 42% of people choosing it — and the preference has a rational basis. Changi Airport in Singapore is consistently the world's best-rated transit hub, the layover is typically 1.5–3 hours, and Singapore Airlines' economy cabin on the 787-9 is a genuinely good long-haul product. The trade-off: Singapore Airlines from Sydney runs AU$1,050–$1,600 return, which is AU$400–$650 above the Scoot floor on the same Singapore routing.

The Sydney insight competitors miss: Scoot is the budget sibling of Singapore Airlines, uses the same Changi Airport connection, and offers Sydney–India return fares from AU$520 — at the same transit hub but AU$400 cheaper. For travellers who are comfortable on a no-frills LCC for the Australian leg and the India segment, Scoot's Sydney–Changi–India routing is the best value proposition on this corridor in July and August.

Singapore Airlines and Scoot both route Sydney–India via Changi Airport — the AU$400–$650 price gap between them on the same transit hub is the most consistently underused Australia–India cost saving, particularly in the July–August window.

Melbourne to India: The Direct Service That's No Longer Running

Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) is Australia's second-biggest India departure market, and it's also where competitor guides create the most dangerous misinformation in 2026.

Qantas operated a Melbourne–Delhi direct service seasonally between October 27, 2025 and March 28, 2026. That service has now ended. If you search "Melbourne to Delhi direct" on most major booking sites today, fares may appear labelled as "direct" or "nonstop" — these are either connecting itineraries mislabelled, or booking system errors. There is no scheduled Melbourne–Delhi direct service currently operating. Booking one of these fares under the assumption it's a true direct flight could mean arriving at the airport to discover a rerouted connecting itinerary with significantly different total travel time.

This is the booking trap no competitor guide flags. Air India and Qantas are specifically listed as offering direct flights from Australia to India by Booking.com — but the Qantas direct service for Melbourne is seasonal and has ended for 2026 summer. Air India's direct service is real on specific routes and dates — verify your specific itinerary is operated direct before booking.

What does operate genuinely from Melbourne:

Sources: FlyFlick flight search, Google Flights AU, Skyscanner AU — April 2026.

Melbourne's routing advantage versus Sydney: the Kuala Lumpur hub options — AirAsia X and Malaysia Airlines — tend to be slightly cheaper from Melbourne than from Sydney in most months, which explains why Melbourne sometimes surfaces lower average fares than Sydney on comparison sites despite similar market size. AirAsia X from Melbourne to India via KL can reach AU$600 return in July–August — among the lowest mainstream airline fares on the corridor — though the KL layover typically runs 3–6 hours and the A330 cabin product is more dated than Singapore Airlines or Scoot.

Perth: The Most Underrated India Departure Point in Australia

Perth Airport (PER) is where this comparison gets genuinely interesting — and where geography does work that no competitor guide has bothered to explain.

Perth sits on Australia's west coast. The straight-line distance from Perth to Mumbai is approximately 6,200 km. From Perth to Delhi: approximately 7,900 km. By comparison: Sydney to Mumbai is approximately 10,100 km. The implication is direct — a flight from Perth to India is 30–40% shorter than the same flight from Sydney or Melbourne. The fastest flight from Australia to India takes 10 hours 15 minutes — and that record is set on routes departing from Perth or Darwin, not the east coast.

This geographic reality produces two concrete advantages for Perth travellers:

First: lower average fares. Perth–India fares from Scoot and AirAsia consistently match or undercut Sydney and Melbourne equivalents because the shorter sector means lower fuel cost for the operator, and budget airlines pass that saving through to consumers. Floor fares from Perth to India in July start at AU$500 — identical to Sydney's floor despite Perth having a smaller India diaspora community generating demand.

Second: shorter total travel time. A Perth–Singapore–Delhi routing takes approximately 13–14 hours total. The equivalent Sydney–Singapore–Delhi routing takes 15–17 hours. For Perth residents, India is not a gruelling intercontinental marathon — it's a manageable overnight journey.

Sources: FlyFlick flight search, Skyscanner AU, IndiGo.in — April 2026.

The future Perth story is the most significant aviation development on this corridor in years. IndiGo is actively evaluating a Perth–Bengaluru A321XLR nonstop service, while Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson has confirmed the A321XLR will allow Qantas to open new Perth–India routes. Qantas is investing AU$5 billion in a Perth Airport Central precinct that creates an integrated domestic and international terminal, explicitly positioning Perth as a key international hub for India and other long-haul routes. This isn't speculative — it's a confirmed strategic direction from both carriers. For Perth residents, a true nonstop India service is a matter of when, not if.

For now, Qantas customers in Brisbane and Perth can already access India via Singapore through the Qantas–IndiGo codeshare, earning Qantas Frequent Flyer points on IndiGo domestic connections across 21 Indian cities from the Singapore connection point — a benefit no competitor guide explains to Perth-based Qantas loyalists.

A Perth–Singapore–Delhi flight takes approximately 13 hours total — roughly the same as a Sydney–London connection, and 2–3 hours shorter than a Sydney–India routing on the same airline and hub. For Perth residents, India is genuinely close.

Which Airlines Are Best Value From Australia to India in 2026

Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, and Air India are the three most popular airlines from Australia to India, with Singapore Airlines chosen by 42% of travellers. But popularity and best value diverge on this corridor more than on most routes.

Scoot (AU$500–$950): Consistently the cheapest mainstream option from all three Australian cities in July and August. Routes via Singapore Changi. Budget LCC cabin — no frills, paid meals, functional but sparse. Scoot holds the cheapest Australia–India fare currently available at AU$500 for July 25. The Changi connection is its key advantage — even as a budget carrier, you're transiting through the world's best airport, not a chaotic hub. For travellers whose primary goal is the lowest possible fare and who can sleep on planes without caring about IFE, Scoot is the rational choice in peak cheap-month windows.

AirAsia X (AU$500–$1,050): Competitive in similar price territory to Scoot from Melbourne and Perth. Routes via Kuala Lumpur. The KL layover is typically 3–6 hours at KLIA — adequate but not the experience Changi offers. AirAsia X A330 cabins are more dated than Singapore Airlines or Scoot's newer aircraft, and the product shows its age on a 7–9 hour sector. Strong value when fares are AU$100–$150 below Singapore Airlines equivalents; less compelling when the gap narrows.

Malaysia Airlines (AU$850–$1,350): The mid-market pick for travellers who want a full-service airline at below Singapore Airlines pricing. Routes via KL with meal service, included baggage, and a more polished cabin product than AirAsia X. Routes to a wide range of Indian cities including Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram — relevant for South Indian diaspora travellers. Generally AU$100–$200 cheaper than Singapore Airlines equivalents.

Singapore Airlines (AU$1,000–$1,600): Consistently the most popular for good reason. Changi connection, excellent 787-9 cabin, reliable service, earnable KrisFlyer miles. The premium over Scoot is approximately AU$400–$600 — which buys a meaningfully better cabin product, included meals, and a more comfortable long-haul experience. For first-time India travellers or anyone who prioritises arrival condition over absolute cost, Singapore Airlines is the rational choice at this price tier.

Air India (AU$920–$1,400): Primarily connects via Melbourne or through codeshare arrangements. The new A350 and 787-9 product is genuinely good — see FlyFlick's full Air India vs Qatar vs Etihad comparison. The Indian food menu is the best of any carrier on this corridor for South Asian dietary requirements. Check aircraft registration before booking.

Emirates (AU$1,050–$1,700): Routes via Dubai from all three Australian cities. Longest total travel time of mainstream options — adding 6–8 hours over Singapore routing from east coast cities. Justified for travellers who want to use Dubai as a voluntary stopover destination or who specifically value Emirates' cabin product and Skywards miles. Not the value choice for pure Australia–India travel.

Scoot and Singapore Airlines both route via Changi Airport for Australia–India travel — the AU$400–$600 gap between them buys a meaningfully different cabin product and included meal service on the 7–9 hour leg from Singapore to India.

The Qantas–IndiGo Codeshare: What It Means for Australian Travellers

This is the most underexplained service on the Australia–India corridor and no competitor guide covers it in practical terms.

Qantas and IndiGo have a codeshare agreement that allows Qantas passengers in Brisbane and Perth — and now across all major Australian cities — to connect to IndiGo's domestic India network from Singapore, Delhi, or Bengaluru. The practical meaning: you book a Qantas-coded flight from your Australian city to Singapore or Bengaluru, and your connecting IndiGo domestic flight within India — to cities like Jaipur, Amritsar, Kochi, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Guwahati, or 21 other domestic Indian cities — is on the same ticket with through-baggage checking and Qantas Frequent Flyer earning.

IndiGo has extended its codeshare with Qantas to include 21 Indian cities, covering Guwahati, Indore, Chandigarh, Mangalore, Jaipur, and Nagpur among others. For Australian travellers whose India destination is not one of the four major international gateway cities, this codeshare provides a single-ticket routing with Qantas service standards on the Australian leg and IndiGo's domestic coverage beyond.

The Sydney–Bengaluru Qantas service specifically relies on IndiGo connections for approximately 40% of its passengers — meaning Qantas built the route partly around the codeshare network, not just Sydney–Bengaluru local demand. Australians travelling to South Indian cities — Kochi, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore — may find the Qantas/IndiGo codeshare routing more practical than cobbling together two separate booking systems.

The Delay Problem — What 28% Means for Your Itinerary

Historically, around 28% of Australia–India flights experience a delay, with the average delay running 183 minutes — just over 3 hours. That's the highest delay percentage of any corridor covered in this series. On a route where you're almost certainly connecting through a hub — Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Dubai — a 3-hour delay on the Australian leg doesn't just mean a late arrival in India. It means a missed connection, an unplanned overnight at the hub airport, and a disrupted itinerary from day one.

Evening departures from Australian cities experience fewer delays than afternoon departures on this corridor, and Monday is statistically the lowest-delay day of the week for Australia–India travel. Building a connection buffer of at least 2.5 hours at your hub airport is not excessive paranoia — it's the practical response to a 28% delay rate. The budget carrier routings (AirAsia X, Scoot) with tighter connections are the most vulnerable to cascade disruption when the Australian leg runs late.

For connecting flights specifically — and given the 28% delay rate — Compensair's coverage up to €600 (approximately AU$1,000) per passenger for delays over 3 hours on eligible routings is directly relevant. Compensair. VisitorsCoverage covers trip interruption, medical emergencies and cancellations from $1/day — essential before any Australia–India booking. VisitorsCoverage. EKTA offers budget coverage from $0.99/day as a backup option. EKTA

Get your India eSIM sorted before boarding in Sydney, Melbourne, or Perth. Saily's India 5G eSIM activates before you leave Australia — from ~AU$13 (US$8.50) for 7 days, you have coverage from the moment you land in Delhi or Mumbai, no SIM counter queue after a 13–17 hour journey. Saily. For 2+ week trips or multi-city India travel, Yesim's unlimited data plan is better value. Yesim

For the full booking window timing guide applicable to Australian departures — how far in advance to book each month, when to set your price alerts, and the exact windows that deliver lowest fares — see FlyFlick's complete flight booking window guide. The seasonal logic applies globally.

With 28% of Australia–India flights experiencing delays averaging 183 minutes, building 2.5-hour connection buffers at Singapore or Kuala Lumpur and having Compensair's delay protection active before departure isn't cautious — it's the correct response to a genuine statistical risk.

Bottom Line

The Australia–India corridor in 2026 has a clear answer for each departure city. From Sydney and Melbourne, Singapore Airlines is the most popular airline for good reason — but Scoot on the same Changi routing at AU$400–$600 less is the value play that most travellers overlook. July and August deliver the cheapest fares, but February's combination of AU$950–$1,200 average pricing and excellent India weather is the underrated window for first-time India travellers.

Perth is the story nobody's telling. Six thousand kilometres from Mumbai, 2–3 hours shorter than east coast routings, floor fares that match Sydney's cheapest, and a clear direction toward nonstop India service from both Qantas and IndiGo in the next 2–3 years. If you're in Perth and flying to India, run a separate search from PER — you're playing a different routing game and the results reflect it.

The 28% delay rate on this corridor is the practical reality every booking decision should account for. Connecting buffer time, travel insurance, and Compensair delay protection are not optional extras on Australia–India travel — they're the correct response to the statistical risk.

Your Australia to India Flight Planning Checklist

🛡️ VisitorsCoverage — Trip cancellation, medical and delay cover from $1/day (~AU$1.55). Add before confirming any booking. Especially important given 28% delay rate on this corridor. 🛡️ EKTA — Budget secondary insurance from $0.99/day at ektatraveling.com.

✈️ FlyFlick Flight Search — Search 700+ airlines from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth simultaneously. Compare Scoot vs Singapore Airlines on the same Changi routing before paying AU$400+ extra. ✈️ Compensair — Claim up to €600 (AU$1,000 approx) for delays over 3 hours. 28% of Australia–India flights are delayed — file from your phone after landing.

📱 Saily — India 5G eSIM from ~AU$13 ($8.50) for 7 days. Activate before boarding in Sydney, Melbourne or Perth — 5G on arrival, no SIM queue after 13–17 hours. 📱 Yesim — Unlimited data for 2+ week or multi-city India trips.

🛂 India e-Visa — Apply at indianvisaonline.gov.in. ~AU$39 ($25 USD) tourist e-visa. Most Australian passport holders eligible. Allow 4 business days minimum before travel. 🛂 Qantas Melbourne–Delhi check — Seasonal service ended March 28, 2026. Do not book any Melbourne–Delhi "direct" fare without verifying it is currently operating with the airline.

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