A new analysis released on 6 February by National Seniors Australia shows on-time performance across domestic carriers fell to 67 % in January, well below the pre-pandemic average of 81 %. Jetstar recorded delays on 47 % of its Melbourne–Adelaide services, while QantasLink saw 63 % of flights on the Launceston–Sydney route depart late.
The consumer group says chronic staffing shortages, aircraft maintenance bottlenecks and air-traffic-control gaps are unlikely to ease before 2027, and is backing independent MP Monique Ryan’s proposal for a legislated compensation scheme modelled on EU Regulation 261. Airlines warn the measure would force airfares higher, but travel-buyer associations argue that predictable compensation costs could incentivise better reliability.
![Airline punctuality crisis fuels calls for EU-style passenger compensation]()
In the meantime, corporate travellers juggling disrupted schedules may also face knock-on risks when a delayed domestic leg jeopardises onward international flights and the validity of their travel documents. VisaHQ’s Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) helps mitigate that stress by offering rapid visa checks, rush passport renewals and real-time status updates, giving mobility teams a single dashboard to revise paperwork the moment plans change.
For mobility and travel managers, the data reinforce the need to build wider connection buffers into itineraries, prefer fully flexible fares and maintain robust duty-of-care tracking in case delays trigger overnight stays. Some firms are negotiating service-level agreements that tie agency fees to arrival punctuality metrics.
The consumer group says chronic staffing shortages, aircraft maintenance bottlenecks and air-traffic-control gaps are unlikely to ease before 2027, and is backing independent MP Monique Ryan’s proposal for a legislated compensation scheme modelled on EU Regulation 261. Airlines warn the measure would force airfares higher, but travel-buyer associations argue that predictable compensation costs could incentivise better reliability.
In the meantime, corporate travellers juggling disrupted schedules may also face knock-on risks when a delayed domestic leg jeopardises onward international flights and the validity of their travel documents. VisaHQ’s Australian portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/) helps mitigate that stress by offering rapid visa checks, rush passport renewals and real-time status updates, giving mobility teams a single dashboard to revise paperwork the moment plans change.
For mobility and travel managers, the data reinforce the need to build wider connection buffers into itineraries, prefer fully flexible fares and maintain robust duty-of-care tracking in case delays trigger overnight stays. Some firms are negotiating service-level agreements that tie agency fees to arrival punctuality metrics.
