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Summary—March 2021

For March 2021, on time performance over all routes operated by participating airlines (Jetstar, Qantas, QantasLink, Regional Express, Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines) averaged 84.9 per cent for on time arrivals and 85.0 per cent for on time departures. The cancellation rate for the month was 2.4 per cent. The equivalent figures for March 2020 were 84.2 per cent for on time arrivals, 85.4 per cent for on time departures and 17.3 per cent for cancellations.

This month's on time arrivals figure was higher than the long term average performance for all routes (82.2 per cent) and the on time departures figure was also higher than the long term average (83.6 per cent). The rate of cancellations was higher than the long term average of 1.7 per cent.

The Virgin Australia network (Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines combined operations) recorded 85.4 per cent for on time arrivals while the Qantas network (Qantas and QantasLink combined operations) recorded 83.2 per cent. Jetstar achieved the highest on time arrivals among the major domestic airlines at 86.9 per cent followed by Virgin Australia at 85.6 per cent and Qantas at 84.9 per cent. Of the regional airlines, Regional Express recorded 87.9 per cent for on time arrivals, followed by QantasLink at 81.9 per cent and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 80.9 per cent.

The Qantas network recorded 84.9 per cent for on time departures while the Virgin Australia network recorded 83.2 per cent. Qantas achieved the highest level of on time departures among the major domestic airlines for March 2021 at 87.5 per cent, followed by Jetstar at 85.1 per cent and Virgin Australia at 83.3 per cent. Of the regional airlines, Regional Express recorded 89.3 per cent for on time departures, followed by QantasLink at 83.0 per cent and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 80.5 per cent.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines recorded the highest percentage of cancellations (at 3.6 per cent) during the month, followed by Jetstar (at 3.0 per cent), QantasLink (at 2.6 per cent), Qantas (at 2.3 per cent), Virgin Australia (at 2.0 per cent) and Regional Express (at 1.5 per cent).

Airlines' on time performance varies across the routes they serve. Individual route data by specific airline for 55 routes are shown on pages 9–19.

Of the 55 routes which met the criteria for on time performance reporting in March 2021, the Emerald-Brisbane route had the highest percentage of on time arrivals (97.3 per cent) and the highest percentage of on time departures (96.7 per cent). The Port Hedland-Perth route had the lowest percentage of on time arrivals (57.1 per cent) and the Darwin-Brisbane route had the lowest percentage of on time departures (62.3 per cent). 

Cancellations were highest on the Sydney-Port Macquarie route at 16.3 per cent, followed by the Port Macquarie-Sydney route at 15.5 per cent, the Melbourne-Newcastle route at 13.7 per cent, the Newcastle-Brisbane route at 13.2 per cent and the Newcastle-Melbourne route at 12.2 per cent.

Emerald Airport recorded the highest percentage of on time arrivals (95.3 per cent) and the highest percentage of on time departures (96.7 per cent). Broome Airport recorded the lowest percentage of on time arrivals (68.9 per cent) and Darwin Airport recorded the lowest percentage of on time departures (65.0 per cent). These figures only refer to reported routes and do not cover all flights at these airports.

Table 1: Total Industry On Time Performance for March 2021

Figure 1: Total Industry On Time Performance by month from March 2018