Australia's best (and worst) performing airlines and airports, ranked - MASHAHER

If you think Australian airlines are becoming less reliable, you’re right.

Almost a quarter of all domestic flights in February arrived or departed late, according to the latest monthly report from the federal government’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE).

That compares to just 16.4 per cent arriving and 17.3 per cent departing late in February 2023 and is significantly higher than the long-term average.

Four per cent of domestic flights in February were cancelled — 0.4 per cent more than the same time last year and almost double the long-term average of 2.2 per cent.

The best (and worst) performing airlines

Bonza was the best-performing airline, with more than (81.7 per cent) of its flights both arriving and leaving on time in February, according to BITRE’s report.

Jetstar came in second for on-time arrivals (76.1 per cent), followed by QantasLink (74.5 per cent).

Passengers travelling with Virgin Australia Regional Airlines were most likely to land later than expected, with only 69.2 per cent of their flights arriving on time.

Bonza had the highest percentage of flights arriving on time in February. Source: SBS News

When it came to on-time departures, Rex Airlines (76.3 per cent) came second, closely followed by Skytrans, which services Cape York and the Torres Strait in Far North Queensland, at 76.1 per cent.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines was again the worst performing, with just 65.6 per cent of its flights taking off on time.

Bonza had the highest percentage of flights departing on time in February. Source: SBS News

Qantaslink recorded the highest percentage of cancellations (6.8 per cent) during February, followed by Skytrans (4.9 per cent), and Qantas (4.3 per cent).

Rex Airlines had the fewest cancellations (2.1 per cent), followed by Bonza (2.5 per cent), and Jetstar (2.6 per cent).

QantasLink had the highest percentage of cancelled flights in February. Source: SBS News

Most (and least) reliable airports

Three-quarters of all flights (75.6 per cent) to Hobart and Canberra arrived on time during February, making them the most reliable capital city airports land in.

Adelaide (73.6 per cent) Brisbane (73.4 per cent) and Syndey (71.6 per cent) rounded out the top five.

Melbourne was the least reliable capital city airport to fly into with just 68.6 per cent of flights arriving on time, followed by Darwin (69.2 per cent) and Perth (69.6 per cent).

Canberra and Hobart airports had the equal highest percentage of on-time arrivals in February. Source: SBS News

When it came to departures, Adelaide was the most reliable capital city airport, with 76.1 per cent of flights taking off on time during February.

It was closely followed by Brisbane (76 per cent) and Canberra (75.3 per cent).

Darwin and Hobart were the least reliable, with just 71.7 per cent of flights out of both airports leaving on time.

Adelaide airport had the highest percentage of on-time departures in February. Source: SBS News

The most (and least) reliable routes

People flying between Adelaide and the Gold Coast were more likely to arrive (89.7 per cent) and leave on time (91.4 per cent) than those on the 58 other routes.

Those travelling between Melbourne and Darwin were more likely to be delayed, with less than half (44.4 per cent) of the flights on that route arriving on time.

Flights on the Mildura-Melbourne route took off late almost as frequently as they left on time (53.2 per cent).

Industrial action in Western Australia led to significant flight cancellations during February, affecting around one in four trips between Perth and Broome, and almost one in five between Perth and Darwin.

Source Agencies