Latest figures have shown fight cancellations and delays were higher than average across major Australian airlines and popular domestic routes.
In the latest Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) On Time Performance report released in November, Virgin Australia had the lowest number of on-time flights, with only 54.3 per cent of flights arriving on time this month.
Budget airlines Bonza and Rex were the top performers of the month, with Bonza having an on time performance of 73.9 per cent and Rex with 70.5 per cent.
Qantas, previously ranked the worst airline for on-time arrivals and departures in November 2023, had 66.3 per cent of flights arrive on schedule in November.
Jetstar achieved the highest on time arrivals among major domestic airlines at 67.8 per cent, followed by Qantas at 62.5 per cent and Virgin Australia at 54.2 per cent.
The average on time arrivals in November was at 64.1 per cent, which was significantly lower than the long-term average performance of 81.1 per cent across all airlines.
On time departures were also lower than average, dropping from 82.3 per cent to 65.9 per cent.
Cancellations were higher than average at 3.7 per cent in November, compared with the long term average of 2.2 per cent.
The route with the highest number of cancellations was the Melbourne-Sydney route at 9.1 per cent, followed by the Sydney-Melbourne route at 8.8 per cent, the Townsville-Cairns route at 7.7 per cent and the Gladstone-Brisbane route at 7.4 per cent.
The Melbourne-Darwin route had the lowest rate of on time arrivals at 24.3 per cent while the Darwin-Brisbane route had the lowest rate of on time departures at 26.4 per cent.
“Given these very disappointing results, it is no wonder that so many Australians remain fed up with our major airlines,” Transport Minister Catherine King said in a statement on Thursday.
“Like all Australians, the government wants an aviation sector that supports our nation’s way of life and this means services need to be reliable, competitive and affordable.”
“As Australians gear up to travel for Christmas and the holidays, the government will be keeping a close eye on the performance of all our major airlines.”
Ms King also said the government had committed to delivering an Aviation White Paper in mid-2024, detailing the “next generation” of growth and development across the Australian aviation sector, as well as proposing economic reforms that aim to improve productivity across the sector.
This also includes considerations detailing how consumers can be better protected through a stronger ombudsman model or added measures implemented in overseas jurisdictions.
A spokesperson for Virgin Australia told SkyNews.com.au it apologises for their latest operational performance, citing factors such as weather, aircraft maintenance and shortages.
“We always work hard to deliver our customers great value and choice, underpinned by a reliable and stable operation. We apologise that in November our operational performance was below our standards and did not meet all of our customers’ expectations,” the spokesperson said.
“Factors including aircraft maintenance, crew resourcing, weather, and air traffic controller shortages impacted our performance last month.”
Shadow transport minister Senator Bridget McKenzie has criticised the government for its “failure” to implement reforms that would ease travel plans this holiday season.
“Performance in Australia’s airline industry plummeted further last month leaving Australians travelling to see friends and family or for work, disrupted by sky high delays and cancellations,” Senator McKenzie said told SkyNews.com.au.
“As with previous months, the Albanese Labor Government’s failure to implement reforms to the industry which have been sitting on the Minister’s desk for 18 months now continues to see a high level of flights cancelled or delayed across the entire aviation network.
“And with the government shut down commencing tomorrow there is no chance of these changes being actioned to give holidaying Australians some respite from turbulence in the industry over the summer period.
“The Albanese Labor Government has failed travelling Australian families this holiday season.”
Ms McKenzie added the route between Sydney and Melbourne continues to be the “worst” in the country as it is often impacted by delays and cancellations.
“Almost half of November’s flights between Melbourne and Sydney were either cancelled or delayed, and 43 per cent of flights between Sydney and Brisbane,” she said.
On Monday, Virgin Australia also apologised to customers after a year of escalating delays and cancellations.
Ground and cabin crew members working for Virgin recently settled agreements regarding fair pay and job security, safer conditions and improved work-life balance, according to the Transport Workers Union.
(SKY NEWS)
