Qantas Most On Time Australian Carrier in May

3rd Jul 2015

One of the worst things an airline company can do to itself is to have its flights depart or arrive late. In Qantas' case, things are a lot different as the carrier was named the most punctual in Australia.

According to figures from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE), 90.8 per cent of Qantas' flights departed on time, while 89.6 arrived to their destinations per schedule.

When it comes to regional carriers, Rex (Regional Express) was the carrier that left their passengers waiting the least with 88.5 on time departures and 86 per cent on time arrivals.

On Time Arrivals and Departures for May Australia Flights by BITRE

Here are the on time arrivals and departures, with the percentage point change from previous month in brackets:

On time arrivals for May:

1. Qantas 90.8% (+2.9)

2. Virgin 90.3% (+3.4)

3. Rex 88.5% (+3.0)

4. QantasLink 86.8% (+5.1)

5. Virgin Australia Regional 84.7% (-0.3)

6. TigerAir 84.6% (+3.8)

7. Jetstar 84.0% (+7.4)

On time departures for May:

1. Qantas 89.6% (+3.6)

2. Virgin 88.8% (+4.0)

3. Rex 86.0% (+3.9)

4. QantasLink 85.1% (+6.4)

5. Jetstar 84.3% (+6.4)

6. Virgin Australia Regional 83.4% (-0.2)

7. TigerAir 82.2% (+3.3)

Qantas vs. Virgin Australia

Close behind the 'Flying Kangaroo' was Virgin Australia. This carrier's planes departed on time 90.3 per cent and arrived 88.8 per cent on time in the month of May.

However, while Qantas might have edged Virgin in both departures and arrivals, Virgin Australia network did better better than Qantas' network in both arrivals.

When it comes to arrivals, Virgin Australia network was on time 87.8% (an increase from April by 3.2 percentage points), compared to Qantas network which had 87.3% on time arrivals (3.2 up from last month).

In departures Virgin Australia network also did better overall with 89.2% (+2.7) to Qantas network's 88.7% (+4.0)

BITRE states that a flight is considered on-time if it arrives or leaves within 15 minutes of the schedule it announced.