Jetstar outperforms Qantas in latest on-time performance and cancellation figures

Jetstar outperforms Qantas in latest on-time performance and cancellation figures
By Dan lake


Bosses at Qantas keen to find some positive news to share with the public will be avoiding the latest government statistics on cancellations and on time performance.

Qantas recorded the highest percentage of cancellations at 4.3 per cent during October, followed by Jetstar and Virgin Australia at 4.1 per cent, QantasLink at 3.6 per cent, Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 3.2 per cent, Rex Airlines at 2.3 per cent and Skytrans at 1.8 per cent.

On time performance over all routes operated by participating airlines (Jetstar, Qantas, QantasLink, Rex Airlines, Skytrans, Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines) averaged 71.1 per cent for on time arrivals and 71.1 per cent for on time departures.

The cancellation rate for the month was 3.8 per cent. The equivalent figures for October 2022 were 69.3 per cent for on time arrivals, 68.5 per cent for on time departures and 2.9 per cent for cancellations.

This month’s on time arrivals figure was significantly lower than the long term average performance for all routes (81.2 per cent) and the on time departures figure was also significantly lower than the long term average (82.3 per cent). The rate of cancellations was higher than the long term average of 2.2 per cent.

The Qantas network (Qantas and QantasLink combined operations) recorded 73.0 per cent for on time arrivals while the Virgin Australia network (Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines combined operations) recorded 68.8 per cent. Virgin Australia achieved the highest on time arrivals among the major domestic airlines at 68.6 per cent, followed by Jetstar at 68.0 per cent and Qantas at 66.6 per cent. Of the regional airlines, QantasLink recorded 77.2 per cent for on time arrivals, followed by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 73.9 per cent, Rex Airlines at 73.5 per cent and Skytrans at 70.7 per cent.

The Qantas network recorded 72.7 per cent for on time departures while the Virgin Australia network recorded 68.9 per cent. Virgin Australia achieved the highest level of on time departures among the major domestic airlines for October 2023 at 68.9 per cent, followed by Jetstar at 66.4 per cent and Qantas at 65.1 per cent. Of the regional airlines, QantasLink recorded 77.6 per cent for on time departures, followed by Rex Airlines at 76.5 per cent, Skytrans at 71.7 per cent and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines at 68.8 per cent.

Airlines’ on time performance varies across the routes they serve.

Of the 62 routes which met the criteria for on time performance reporting in October 2023, the Townsville-Cairns route had the highest percentage of on time arrivals (92.4 per cent) and the highest percentage of on time departures (92.4 per cent). The Hamilton Island-Sydney route had the lowest percentage of on time arrivals (46.9 per cent), while the Cairns-Melbourne route had the lowest percentage of on time departures (40.4 per cent).

Cancellations were highest on the Sydney-Armidale route at 10.2 per cent, followed by the Melbourne-Sydney route at 10.2 per cent, the Armidale-Sydney route at 10.0 per cent and the Sydney-Melbourne route at 9.9 per cent.

Port Lincoln Airport recorded the highest percentage of on time arrivals (90.5 per cent) and the highest percentage of on time departures (90.5 per cent). Mildura Airport recorded the lowest percentage of on time arrivals (60.1 per cent) and Hamilton Island Airport had the lowest percentage of on time departures (56.3 per cent). These figures only refer to reported routes and do not cover all flights at these airports.

Total Industry On Time Performance for October 2023:

Reporting Airlines Sectors Scheduled Arrivals On Time % Departures On Time % Cancellations %
Jetstar 7,696 68.0 66.4 4.1
Qantas – all QF designated services 20,575 73.0 72.7 3.9
Rex Airlines 5,977 73.5 76.5 2.3
Skytrans 327 70.7 71.7 1.8
Virgin Australia – all VA designated services 12,401 68.8 68.9 4.1
All Airlines 46,976 71.1 71.1 3.8
Individual operating entities
Qantas 8,186 66.6 65.1 4.3
QantasLink 12,389 77.2 77.6 3.6
Virgin Australia 11,934 68.6 68.9 4.1
Virgin Australia Regional Airlines 467 73.9 68.8 3.2

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