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Australia's most punctual airlines Australia's most punctual airlines
(3 months later)
When it comes to flights arriving on time, your best bet if you're travelling on metropolitan routes is Qantas. For regional travel Regional Express is the winner. At least, that's according to statistics released monthly by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport.When it comes to flights arriving on time, your best bet if you're travelling on metropolitan routes is Qantas. For regional travel Regional Express is the winner. At least, that's according to statistics released monthly by the Department of Infrastructure and Transport.
Every month the number of flights that arrive on time and the number of cancellations are released for every route in Australia, with the exception of when routes have less than 8000 passengers or there's only one carrier on that route.Every month the number of flights that arrive on time and the number of cancellations are released for every route in Australia, with the exception of when routes have less than 8000 passengers or there's only one carrier on that route.
From this, you can determine which carriers are more consistently on time, and which ones aren't. For the most recent figures in May, Regional Express came out on top with 86.4% of arrivals on time, closely followed by Qantas at 85.3%. The lowest at 77.8% was Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, which was formerly known as Skywest until it was acquired by Virgin, and then QantasLink at 79.5%.From this, you can determine which carriers are more consistently on time, and which ones aren't. For the most recent figures in May, Regional Express came out on top with 86.4% of arrivals on time, closely followed by Qantas at 85.3%. The lowest at 77.8% was Virgin Australia Regional Airlines, which was formerly known as Skywest until it was acquired by Virgin, and then QantasLink at 79.5%.
Looking more broadly at the figures for January 2013 through to May, the placings are similar: at the top are Qantas (83.7%) and Regional Express (83.6%), at the bottom Skywest (76.06%) and Virgin Australia (76.7%).Looking more broadly at the figures for January 2013 through to May, the placings are similar: at the top are Qantas (83.7%) and Regional Express (83.6%), at the bottom Skywest (76.06%) and Virgin Australia (76.7%).
For cancellations, QantasLink was the highest in May at 3.2%. Qantas attributed this high percentage of cancellations to their higher volume of flights to remote and regional destinations, with a spokesperson saying:For cancellations, QantasLink was the highest in May at 3.2%. Qantas attributed this high percentage of cancellations to their higher volume of flights to remote and regional destinations, with a spokesperson saying:
"We fly to more destinations than any other regional airline including many remote destinations which can at times create operational challenges.

"For instance, if an aircraft has a technical issue in a remote town like Gove, QantasLink must fly engineering support from a major city to look at the issue."		"We fly to more destinations than any other regional airline including many remote destinations which can at times create operational challenges.

"For instance, if an aircraft has a technical issue in a remote town like Gove, QantasLink must fly engineering support from a major city to look at the issue."
For 2013 to date, Virgin's ATR/F100 flights had the highest rate of cancellations at 3.8% (these are Virgin's fleet of small propeller planes used for charter flights and fly-in-fly-out jobs). The metropolitan carriers all had cancellation rates of under 2%.For 2013 to date, Virgin's ATR/F100 flights had the highest rate of cancellations at 3.8% (these are Virgin's fleet of small propeller planes used for charter flights and fly-in-fly-out jobs). The metropolitan carriers all had cancellation rates of under 2%.
For city to city routes, Geraldton to Perth has been the worst for late arrivals so far this year. Flights arriving at Brisbane are also among the most likely to be cancelled, with 8.6% of flights to Brisbane from Gladstone cancelled in May, and 3.81% of flights cancelled overall throughout 2013 to May.For city to city routes, Geraldton to Perth has been the worst for late arrivals so far this year. Flights arriving at Brisbane are also among the most likely to be cancelled, with 8.6% of flights to Brisbane from Gladstone cancelled in May, and 3.81% of flights cancelled overall throughout 2013 to May.
The notoriously fog-plagued Canberra to Sydney route topped the list for cancellations, at 4.35%.The notoriously fog-plagued Canberra to Sydney route topped the list for cancellations, at 4.35%.
You can explore all the intercity routes via this interactive map.You can explore all the intercity routes via this interactive map.
Virgin Australia responded to the statistics with a statement, saying:Virgin Australia responded to the statistics with a statement, saying:
"This was the first month of statistics for Virgin Australia Regional Airlines following the acquisition of Skywest in April by Virgin Australia."This was the first month of statistics for Virgin Australia Regional Airlines following the acquisition of Skywest in April by Virgin Australia.
"It is early days for VARA and we remain focused on delivering long term results as we look to grow and strengthen the operation."It is early days for VARA and we remain focused on delivering long term results as we look to grow and strengthen the operation.
"Performance in May was significantly affected by four days of fog-related weather which particularly impacted the ATR operation in Queensland and on the Sydney to Canberra route (one of our highest frequency services). Perth airport congestion also impacted operations in WA.""Performance in May was significantly affected by four days of fog-related weather which particularly impacted the ATR operation in Queensland and on the Sydney to Canberra route (one of our highest frequency services). Perth airport congestion also impacted operations in WA."
Qantas replied to the release of the statistics with a statement of their own, saying:Qantas replied to the release of the statistics with a statement of their own, saying:
"These newest figures show Qantas has recorded the best on time performance every single month this year for both departures and arrivals.

"Our on time performance is thanks to the hard work of all Qantas employees' across the country, from our ground staff and crew to our network and operations teams."		"These newest figures show Qantas has recorded the best on time performance every single month this year for both departures and arrivals.

"Our on time performance is thanks to the hard work of all Qantas employees' across the country, from our ground staff and crew to our network and operations teams."
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