BITRE for Sept. 2016: high cancellation on MEL - SYD route; lower punctuality overall

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Melburnian1

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The BITRE has just published its September 2016 report for domestic airline punctuality and cancellations.

On a nationwide all measured routes basis, 83.5 per cent of flights were 15 minutes or less late in arriving at destination, compared with 88.4 per cent in September 2015, which is a very significant 4.9 per cent drop. At least in east coast Australia, September 2016 was mostly rainier than in September 2015 so that may not have helped timekeeping.

Overall, QF and VA tied (including 'QantasLink' and 'VA Regional Airlines') with 85.1 per cent of flights 15 minutes or less late upon arrival, although QF mainline overall was ahead of VA. The latter has not been the case for all 2016 months.

On the important MEL - SYD route, northbound, 6.1 per cent of VA's timetabled flights and 5.6 per cent of QF's were cancelled, which are extremely high figures, indicating that flights with insufficient bookings are sometimes cancelled within seven days of the advertised departure, although weather, lack of staff and failures may also be reasons for this. 4.6 per cent of JQ flights were cancelled but only 1.3 per cent of TT's.

Northbound on MEL - SYD, 88.3 per cent of VA flights arrived on time compared with 83.9 per cent of QF's. As has often been highlighted in the delays forum, JQ had only 71.2 per cent of arrivals being on time which given the 15 minute allowance before a flight is called 'late' is very poor.

From SYD to MEL (southbound), VA was again more punctual but not by much, with 80.1 against 79.1 per cent of arrivals punctual. JQ was again worst, with just 70.8 per cent of arrivals having chocks on at the MEL terminal 15 minutes or less after the timetabled arrival. Cancellation rates southbound were 6.3 per cent for VA, 5.1 for QF, four per cent for JQ and an acceptable 0.9 per cent for TT.

VA also beat QF for punctuality on the northbound MEL - BNE route but the difference was marginal: 86.5 per cent versus 85.5 per cent of arrivals were 'on time'.

JQ's performance on the MEL to HBA and LST routes was disastrous with only 69.8 and 72.8 per cent respectively of flights 'on time.' However 93.3 per cent of TT's sole daily flights from MEL to HBA were punctual as per the 15 minute definition. JQ was similarly bad from SYD down to HBA: 69.9 per cent.

QF (referred to as 'QantasLink' by the BITRE) was poor on many of the NSW country routes with timekeeping (out of SYD in that direction) being 58.6 per cent for the Wagga Wagga route, 58.8 per cent for Armidale, 59.4 per cent for Port Macquarie, 65.3 per cent for Dubbo, 66.4 per cent for Albury and 70.7 per cent for Tamworth.

Yet VA (with a smaller number of flights) could manage 80.8 per cent punctuality from SYD to TMW while ZL's punctuality of 84.3 per cent from SYD to DBO and 88.3 per cent from SYD down to WGA absolutely creamed QF.
 
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Re: BITRE for Sept. 2016: high cancellation on MEL - SYD route; lower punctuality ove

I have noticed some pretty light loads on SYD-MEL of late, and have also observed slightly more cancellations - have had two cancellations of the 409 with more than 3 days notice in the last two months.

E.g. the 7am this morning was probably only about 40% full.
 
Re: BITRE for Sept. 2016: high cancellation on MEL - SYD route; lower punctuality ove

I have noticed some pretty light loads on SYD-MEL of late, and have also observed slightly more cancellations - have had two cancellations of the 409 with more than 3 days notice in the last two months.

E.g. the 7am this morning was probably only about 40% full.

Great on the spot reporting, bismarck (and great username!). Was this also the QF southbound this morning as you imply, QF409 (the 0700 hours departure), or was it VA or another airline?
 
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Re: BITRE for Sept. 2016: high cancellation on MEL - SYD route; lower punctuality ove

Great on the spot reporting, bismarck (and great username!). Was this also the QF southbound this morning as you imply, QF409 (the 0700 hours departure), or was it VA or another airline?

Qf409 ......
 
Re: BITRE for Sept. 2016: high cancellation on MEL - SYD route; lower punctuality ove

I have noticed some pretty light loads on SYD-MEL of late....
And light loads SYD-BNE for many months yet airfares continue to increase. $102 is the latest QF special yet Sunday 05 February the afternoon/evening flights are priced at $160/$189 and more. Love to know the loads on those flights now.
 
Re: BITRE for Sept. 2016: high cancellation on MEL - SYD route; lower punctuality ove

I would be surprised if SYD-MEL cancellations exceeded SYD-CBR.
 
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Re: BITRE for Sept. 2016: high cancellation on MEL - SYD route; lower punctuality ove

I would be surprised if SYD-MEL cancellations exceeded SYD-CBR.

Mattg, in September 2016, VA cancelled 5.6 per cent of its Sydney to Canberra (southbound) flights while QF cancelled 2.3 per cent.

From SYD down to MEL (southbound), cancellation percentages were VA 6.3; QF 5.1; JQ 4.0 and TT, the winner, 0.9.
 
Re: BITRE for Sept. 2016: high cancellation on MEL - SYD route; lower punctuality ove

Mattg, in September 2016, VA cancelled 5.6 per cent of its Sydney to Canberra (southbound) flights while QF cancelled 2.3 per cent.

From SYD down to MEL (southbound), cancellation percentages were VA 6.3; QF 5.1; JQ 4.0 and TT, the winner, 0.9.

Wow - that must be pretty unusual. It's pretty common for flights to be cancelled and merged with other flights on the SYD-CBR run.
 
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