Airfares on the descent but still far above pre-pandemic levels, consumer watchdog finds

Some routes are more than twice as expensive as four years ago, though fares improved in January

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates

• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Australians are still paying significantly more for air travel than before the pandemic, with some routes more than twice as expensive as four years ago, but prices are starting to drop.

Lower fuel costs, more available seats on domestic routes and a drop in demand from the Christmas peak contributed to a 13% decline in average prices in January, analysis by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup