Qantas recorded the highest rate of cancellations in December 2012, with 2.1% of its scheduled services for the month not leaving the ground.
The latest government figures showed the result as above both the monthly average of 1.3% and the long-term average of 1.2%. Regional Express had the lowest level of cancellations with 0.4%.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia and Qantas tied with the highest level of on time departures for the month, both with 82.1%. They were followed by Tiger with 81.1% and Jetstar at 72.9%.
However, Qantas came out on top for arrivals with 79.9% of its scheduled flights touching down on schedule. Tiger followed with 78.7%, with Virgin lagging just behind in third place with 78.3% and Jetstar in fourth with 74%.
Of the regional airlines, Virgin Australia's ATR/F100 operations came top for departures 86% on time, followed by Regional Express with 85.4%, QantasLink with 78.8% and Skywest at 76.4%.
Regional Express emerged as the most punctual for arrivals with 82.9% on time, followed by Virgin with 80.7%, Skywest with 76% and QantasLink with 74.8%.
Overall airline on time performance slipped during the month compared with December 2011. Of departures, 80.4% came in on time – below both the December 2011 figure of 81.3% and the long term average of 83.9%. On time arrivals accounted for 77.9% of all scheduled flights, also down from last year's figure of 80.1% and the long-term average of 82.4%.
