Getting an empty row to yourself is the stuff of dreams, especially on a long-haul flight.
But the likelihood of it becoming a reality depends on the airline and route you're travelling on.
Some 4.8 million seats were made available on international flights to and from Australia in January this year — an increase of 35.4 per cent year-on-year, according to the Department of Transport's latest International Airline Activity report, published in late March.
Overall, 81.5 per cent of the available seats were occupied, meaning almost a fifth were empty. It was a five-point drop from January 2023.
These are the 10 international routes with more than five services a month where you're most — and least — likely to get an empty seat next to you.
Flights most likely to have empty seats
Qantas' flights from Australia to Timor-Leste were the emptiest.
Less than a third of seats (32.9 per cent) on those flights were occupied during January, meaning passengers on that route were the most likely to have vacant seats next to them.
Beijing Capital Airlines flights to China came in a close second with just 33 per cent occupancy, meaning a whopping two-thirds of the seats on that route were empty.
Passengers heading to China could also travel on Hainan Airlines (36.7 per cent), China Eastern Airlines (48.4 per cent) or Tianjin Airlines (49.5 per cent) and almost be guaranteed an empty seat next to them.
Flights to Indonesia on Citilink Indonesia (36.9 per cent) and Thailand on Thai AirAsia X (42.1 per cent) were roomy choices as well.
For those keen on heading to the Pacific, flights to the Solomon Islands with Solomon Airlines (34.3 per cent), Vanuatu with Air Vanuatu (45.2 per cent), and Western Samoa with Virgin Australia (47 per cent) were also spacious options.
Qantas flights from Australia to Timor-Leste in January were the emptiest. Source: SBS News
Flights least likely to have empty seats
You'd be hard-pressed to get an empty seat next to you on an Air India flight to India, with services reaching 93 per cent occupancy in January.
Passengers on several of the Australian national carrier's international routes also have little chance of being able to spread out.
Qantas flights to the Philippines (92.6 per cent), South Africa (92.4 per cent), Canada (90.7 per cent), Chile (90.2 per cent), and Fiji (88.2 per cent) were among the 10 fullest in January.
While New Zealand is a popular travel destination for Australians, those wanting a roomy trip across the ditch might want to give Air Asia X a miss, with almost 90 per cent of its seats filled.
Flights to Singapore on both Scoot (89.4 per cent) and Singapore Airlines (88.2 per cent) also had few empty seats, as did Jetstar services to Thailand (88.4 per cent).
Air India flights from Australia to India in January were the fullest. Source: SBS News
What's the most popular travel destination for Australians?
Indonesia recently became for the first time, overtaking New Zealand.
Some 1.37 million Australians travelled to Indonesia in 2023, while 1.26 million went to New Zealand, according to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
New Zealand was the most popular destination since the ABS began recording tourism data almost 50 years ago.
Indonesia was second place since 2014 after it overtook the United States.
