• Australian Aircraft Activity reports and time series data files

Summary of current report

This annual survey covers all civilian registered aircraft used in the Commercial Air Transport (CAT), general aviation and sport and recreation sectors of the Australian aviation industry.

The CAT sector is scheduled commercial air transport and non-scheduled commercial air transport operations. The general aviation sector is all other VH registered aircraft (other than commercial air transport). The sport and recreation sector includes aircraft registered with one of the following Civil Aviation Safety Authority regulated self-administration bodies:

• Recreational Aviation Australia (RA-Aus),
• Gliding Australia,
• Sports Aviation Federation of Australia (SAFA) or,
• the Australian Sport Rotorcraft Association (ASRA).

The major categories of flying are aerial work, own use business flying, instructional flying, personal and pleasure flying and other flying. In addition, the sport aviation segment includes operations by ultralight aircraft, gliders, hang gliders and gyrocopters. The survey results are merged with details from the civil aircraft register which gives access to additional relevant information including aircraft type, engine and fuel type, country and year of manufacture.

The base measure of this report is flying hours. All operators of Australian registered aircraft are asked to report the hours flown and landings across the various flying categories. The VH registered response to this year's reporting request was 70.2%.

Since 2020 aircraft registered with RA-Aus have been included in the annual Australian Aircraft Activity Report. The RA-Aus response to this year’s reporting request was 72.6%. Statistics for the remainder of the sport aviation segment are collected directly from the self-administrating associations.

Key Indicators

In 2024 the total hours flown in Australia by Australian owned and operated aircraft increased by 1.4% to 3.63 million hours.

CAT hours flown by VH registered aircraft increased by 1.5% to 1.93 million hours. Hours flown by scheduled commercial air transport increased by 4.7% to 1.44 million hours, while hours flown by non-scheduled commercial air transport decreased by 6.9% to 489,442 hours.

General aviation hours flown by VH registered aircraft increased by 2% to 1.4 million hours. Sport and pleasure flying hours decreased (down 10% to 221,665 hours), instructional flying (up 14.5% to 437,458 hours), own-use business flying (up 1.3% to 131,330 hours) and aerial work (down 1.4% to 542,419 hours).

Sport aviation (ultralights, gliders, hang gliders and gyrocopters) activity generally experiences large swings in activity from year to year. In 2024, sport aviation activity decreased 1.5 % to 328,574 hours.

Hours Flown in Australian Aircraft Activity (000's)—year end December

^*VH aircraft are registered with CASA
^*non-VH aircraft are registered with self-administrating associations

• Airline on-time performance—monthly reports and time series data
• Airline on-time performance—annual reports (financial and calendar years)

Summary—August 2026

For August 2026, on-time performance over all routes operated by participating airlines (Hinterland, Jetstar, Qantas, QantasLink, Rex Airlines, Skytrans Australia, Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines) averaged 81.4% for on-time arrivals and 81.7% for on-time departures. The cancellation rate for the month was 1.1%. The equivalent figures for August 2025 were 74.6 % for on-time arrivals, 75.5% for on-time departures and 2.4% for cancellations.
This month’s on-time arrivals figure was higher than the long-term average (averaged over the period of OTP reporting starting in November 2003) performance for all routes (80.5%) and the on-time departures figure was also higher than the long-term average (81.6%). The rate of cancellations was higher than the long-term average of 2.2%.
 

On-time arrivals

The Qantas network (Qantas and QantasLink combined operations) recorded 83.6% for on-time arrivals while the Virgin Australia network (Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines combined operations) recorded 81.1%. Hinterland achieved the highest on-time arrivals at 95.0%, followed by QantasLink at 83.7%, Qantas at 83.5%, Virgin Australia at 81.2%, Jetstar at 76.7%, Rex Airlines at 75.8%, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 74.7% and Skytrans at 73.1%.

On-time departures

The Qantas network recorded 83.9% for on-time departures while the Virgin Australia network recorded 81.7%. Hinterland achieved the highest level of on-time departures for August 2026 at 97.5%, followed by Qantas at 85.9%, QantasLink at 82.8%, Virgin Australia at 81.8%, Rex Airlines at 78.5%, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 77.0%, Jetstar at 74.6% and Skytrans Australia at 74.3%.

Cancellations

Skytrans Australia recorded the highest percentage of cancellations at 4.1% during the month. The second highest cancellation rate was from Rex Airlines at 1.9%, QantasLink at 1.7%, Virgin Australia at 0.9%, Qantas at 0.8%, Jetstar at 0.5% and Hinterland and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines both at 0.0%.

Routes

Airlines’ on-time performance varies across the routes they serve. Individual route data by specific airline for 59 routes (118 sectors when counting both directions of flights) are shown on pages 10-21.
Of the 59 routes which met the criteria for on-time performance reporting in August 2026, the Melbourne-Ayers Rock sector had the highest percentage of on-time arrivals (100.0%), while the Perth-Adelaide sector had the highest percentage of on-time departures (94.2%). The Hamilton Island-Sydney sector had the lowest percentage of on-time arrivals (51.7%) and the lowest percentage of on-time departures (48.3%). 
Cancellations were highest on the Orange-Sydney sector at 8.7%, followed by the Sydney-Orange sector at 8.5%, the Port Lincoln-Adelaide sector at 5.1%, the Adelaide-Port Lincoln sector at 4.3%, the Canberra-Melbourne sector at 3.8% and the Port Macquarie-Sydney sector at 3.4%.
For the month of August 2026 35 of the 118 route sectors (from the 59 routes) had zero cancellations: Adelaide-Alice Springs, Adelaide-Gold Coast, Alice Springs-Adelaide, Brisbane-Darwin, Brisbane-Hamilton Island, Brisbane-Hobart, Brisbane-Launceston, Brisbane-Mount Isa, Brisbane-Perth, Brisbane-Proserpine, Brisbane-Rockhampton, Cairns-Melbourne, Canberra-Gold Coast, Darwin-Melbourne, Darwin-Perth, Gold Coast-Adelaide, Gold Coast-Canberra, Hamilton Island-Brisbane, Hamilton Island-Sydney, Launceston-Brisbane, Launceston-Sydney, Melbourne-Cairns, Melbourne-Darwin, Melbourne-Sunshine Coast, Mount Isa-Brisbane, Newman-Perth, Perth-Broome, Perth-Darwin, Perth-Newman, Proserpine-Brisbane, Sunshine Coast-Melbourne, Sydney-Hamilton Island, Sydney-Launceston, Ayers Rock-Melbourne and Melbourne-Ayers Rock.
 

Airports

Ayers Rock Airport recorded the highest percentage of on-time arrivals (100.0%) while Emerald Airport had the highest percentage of on-time departures (93.4%). Port Macquarie Airport recorded the lowest percentage of on-time arrivals (62.9%) while Hamilton Island Airport had the lowest percentage of on-time departures (49.2%). These figures only refer to reported routes and do not cover all flights at these airports.

Table 1: Total industry on-time performance for August 2026

Figure 1: Total industry on-time performance by month from August 2023

• Airline on-time performance—annual reports
• Airline on-time performance—monthly reports and time series data

Summary – 2025 Calendar Year

For the year ended December 2025, on time performance (OTP) over all routes operated by participating airlines (Hinterland, Jetstar, Qantas, QantasLink, Rex Airlines, Skytrans Australia (formerly Smartlynx Australia), Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines) averaged 76.9 per cent for on time arrivals and 77.7 per cent for on time departures. The cancellation rate for the year was 2.5 per cent. The equivalent figures for 2024 were 74.6 per cent for on time arrivals, 75.4 per cent for on time departures and 2.6 per cent for cancellations. Airlines’ on time performance varies across the routes they serve. Individual route data by specific airline for 60 routes which operated for at least part of the 2025 calendar year are shown on pages 9-21.

The 2025 on time arrivals figure was lower than the long-term average (average over the period of OTP reporting starting in November 2003) performance for all routes (80.5 per cent) and the on time departures figure was also lower than the long-term average (81.6 per cent). The rate of cancellations was higher than the long-term average of 2.2 per cent.

On time arrivals

The Qantas network (Qantas and QantasLink combined operations) recorded 77.9 per cent for on time arrivals while the Virgin Australia network (Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines combined operations) recorded 76.0 per cent. Hinterland achieved the highest on time arrivals at 88.4 per cent, followed by Skytrans Australia at 85.1 per cent, QantasLink at 78.3 per cent, Qantas at 77.2 per cent, Virgin Australia at 76.0 per cent, Jetstar at 75.2 per cent, Rex Airlines at 73.0 per cent and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 71.5 per cent.

On time departures

The Qantas network recorded 78.8 per cent for on time departures while the Virgin Australia network recorded 77.0 per cent. Hinterland achieved the highest level of on time departures for 2025 at 92.5 per cent, followed by Skytrans Australia at 86.3 per cent, Qantas at 79.7 per cent, QantasLink at 78.3 per cent, Virgin Australia at 77.2 per cent, Rex Airlines at 76.0 per cent, Jetstar at 73.6 per cent and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 67.6 per cent.

Cancellations

Skytrans Australia recorded the highest percentage of cancellations at 8.4 per cent during the year. The second highest cancellation rate was from QantasLink at 3.6 per cent, followed by Qantas at 2.7 per cent, Rex Airlines at 2.5 per cent, Jetstar at 2.2 per cent, Virgin Australia at 1.7 per cent, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 1.1 per cent and Hinterland at 0.8 per cent.

Routes

Of the 60 routes which met the criteria for OTP reporting, the Townsville-Cairns route (Jan 2025 only) had the highest percentage of on time arrivals (90.9 per cent) and the highest percentage of on time departures (90.9 per cent). For those routes reporting for the entirety of 2025, Emerald-Brisbane had the highest percentage of on time arrivals (89.8 per cent) and the highest percentage of on time departures (88.4 per cent). The Hamilton Island-Sydney route had the lowest percentage of on time arrivals (60.8 per cent) and the lowest percentage of on time departures (61.6 per cent). 

Cancellations were highest on the Canberra-Sydney route at 6.2 per cent, followed by the Sydney-Canberra route at 5.6 per cent, the Port Lincoln-Adelaide and Sydney-Melbourne routes at 4.4 per cent, the Port Macquarie-Sydney and Melbourne-Sydney routes at 4.3 per cent, the Adelaide-Port Lincoln and Gladstone-Brisbane routes at 4.1 per cent, the Sydney-Port Macquarie route at 4.0 per cent and the Devonport-Melbourne route at 3.9 per cent. 

Cancellations were lowest on the Melbourne-Ayers Rock at 0.0 per cent, followed by the Sydney-Hamilton Island route at 0.1 per cent, Ayers Rock-Melbourne and Sydney-Cairns routes at 0.3 per cent, and the Perth-Newman and Melbourne-Sunshine Coast routes at 0.4 per cent.

Airports

Of the airports with OTP reporting for 2025, Emerald Airport recorded the highest percentage of on time arrivals (86.2 per cent) and the highest percentage of on time departures (88.4 per cent). Port Macquarie Airport recorded the lowest percentage of on time arrivals (70.0 per cent) and Broome Airport recorded the lowest percentage of on time departures (64.8 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 2025

Figure 1. Total Industry Arrivals and Departures On Time by month from December 2020

Figure 2. Total Industry Cancellations by month from December 2020

The Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES) provides financial assistance for cost incurred by shippers of eligible non-bulk goods moved by sea across the Bass Strait. More information about the operation of the Scheme can be found at Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

Under the TFES Ministerial Directions, BITRE provides a statistical report on all components of the Scheme every four years. The Monitoring Reports and other reports related to the scheme are linked below.

Monitoring Reports

• Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme Monitoring Report 2024
• Consultation Draft Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme Monitoring Report 2024
• Monitoring report 2020 Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme

Other Reports

• Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme - Review of the expanded component: Final Report (2018)
• Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme: A 'Landbridge' Approach to the Estimation of Subsidy Rates (1981)
• Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme: Recommended Rates of Assistance for Southbound Cargoes, Livestock and Timber at 31 January 1979
• Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme: Recommended Northbound Assistance Rates at 1 January 1978
• Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme: Discussion Paper September 1996

Tasmanian Freight Schemes Parameter Reviews

• Tasmanian Freight Schemes—Parameter Review 2013
• Tasmanian Freight Schemes—Parameter Review, October 2011
• Tasmanian freight schemes parameter review (2008)