If the mere mention of the Rugby World Cup plunges you into despair, the answer could be at hand.

Airlines are offering cut-price flights out of New Zealand throughout the cup, which begins when the All Blacks play Tonga on Friday week.

While various airlines are putting on extra flights and bigger planes to bring fans to New Zealand, the upside for rugby-haters or would-be tourists is that they need to fill them again for the return flights.

An industry expert said that meant airlines would have to offer cheap fares to fill the empty seats on planes leaving the country.

Those immune to rugby fever can already scoop a one-way flight to London for $690 or a return flight for $1491. Flights to Asia are also cheap, with Qantas advertising returns to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jakarta or Manila for $1499.

Flight Centre product general manager Dave Coombes said the deals were because of the cup.

"There are fewer people flying out of the country than in previous years, but airlines need to get people in to the tournament, and that means planes departing during September and October have empty seats." Travel demand also appeared down as Kiwis stayed home to make the most of the cup.

"Between good airfares and the dollar being really strong, it's a perfect time to go - and, if you're not a rugby fan, do you want to be here and saturated in it, or just go away?" Coombes said.

Air New Zealand confirmed the number of flights from London and Australia would rise during the cup and it is set to put new cut-price tickets to London and Hong Kong into the market.

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