Qantas Australia is number one for on-time flights

Qantas reclaimed the top spot as Australia’s most efficient airline. The airline has come back from disgrace to become a leader internal on-time arrivals and departures in October, while reducing cancellations to just 2.2% of flights.

However, the industry as a whole timely performance (OTP) is average at best, lagging more than 10% from long-term averages and 2021 levels. With the peak summer and holiday season beginning next month, Australia’s airlines and airports will face the toughest stress test since COVID-19 of their ability to cope in the air.

There is still a long way to go

As chaos engulfed Australian airlines over the Easter weekend, Qantas was in the depths of despair. His CEO Alan Joyceridiculed, blaming huge queues and delays Sydney Airport that passengers are not suitable because the airline has disclaimed responsibility for disrupted travel plans.

Fast forward to today, and Qantas learned to take responsibility, admit its mistakes and rise to the top of the rankings. Joyce was at the helm of that buyout and, with the support of most employees, steered the airline to a stunning recovery from COVID.

Every month the Australian Government Office of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economy (BITR) collects airline performance data. For this exercise, its charter provides “to monitor the punctuality and reliability of major domestic airlines operating between Australian airports”. Airlines Jetstar, Qantas, RexVirgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.

In October, this group averaged 69.3%. arrivals and 68.5% of departures within fifteen minutes of the scheduled time, which is the accepted criterion for on-time performance, and canceling 2.9% of flights. The long-term averages for these events are 81.8%, 82.9%, and 2.1%, respectively; in October 2021 – 88%, 88.4% and 3.7%. It’s great to see cancellations coming down so much, but OTP has a long way to go to reach the level most would consider normal in Australia.

Paradoxically, Qantas Group airlines keep the best and worst statistics for one-time passwords and cancellations. At the top, Qantas arrived on time (OTA) 74.2%, departed (OTD) 73.9% and canceled 2.2% compared to Jetstar at the other end of the scale with 64.4%, 61.6% and 3.9% respectively. With Jetstar positioned as the low-fare carrier, it needs to fix its cancellation rate quickly or take over as the country’s most frustrating airline this summer.

Virgin Australia had a disappointing month, slipping down the rankings, just ahead of Jetstar with OTA 64.9%, OTD 63% and 3.6% flight cancellations. After launching your new Bring on the great company, it wasn’t the start Virgin Australia wanted to see. Domestic and regional carrier Rex was around the monthly average with OTPs of 68.3% and 70.5%, but matched Qantas with 2.2% cancellations. It was the first time since March that Rex did not top the on-time table.

The premier route is suffering

Photo: Jetstar.

Route between Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL), which is steadily climbing the rankings of the world’s busiest routes, performs poorly on all three key performance indicators. For starters, Jetstar canceled 10.5% of scheduled flights, and for all airlines, on average, more than a third of arrivals and departures were delayed by more than 15 minutes.

Photo: Virgin Australia

It’s Australia’s main business and private route, so it was disappointing to see a major carrier like Virgin Australia cancel 6.3% of its 731 scheduled flights, with no more than half arriving or departing on time. Qantas leads SYD-MEL performance with OTA 74.9% and OTD 74.8% compared to Virgin Australia at 54.3% and 50.7%.

Do you think the system will handle the December/January peaks or the collapse?

Source: BITR

• 

  Qantas

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  QF/QFA

  Airline type:

  A full-service carrier

  Hub(s):

  Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport

  Year of foundation:

  1920 year

  Alliance:

  one world

  General Director:

  Alan Joyce

  country:

  Australia