AUSTRALIA | National carrier, Qantas has risen above recent scepticism that it was a declining airline.
Qantas has continued to improve its punctuality. The latest government data shows that more than 80 percent of its flights departed on time in May, its best result in 17 months and returning to levels close to long-term averages.
The data showed that 80.6 percent of Qantas flights (Qantas and QantasLink combined) departed on time in May, up from 79.9 percent in April and 78.2 percent in March.
Qantas’ cancellation rate was 2.6 percent compared to 2.3 percent in April. Its new domestic group boarding process continues to be rolled out across the country and is now in place in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. Customers have welcomed the more efficient and streamlined approach, with the new process to be introduced at Sydney Airport on Tuesday.
Jetstar’s cancellation rate was the lowest of the major airlines at 1.1 percent – its best result in almost three and a half years. The low-cost carrier also maintained its run of improved punctuality, with 79.1 percent of flights arriving on time.
“We’ve been working hard to ensure our customers get to their destinations as quickly as possible and we are now closing in on the levels we had before the pandemic," said Qantas Group Chief Customer & Digital Officer Catriona Larritt.
“Our new group boarding process has been well received by travellers at Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth airports and this week it’s being rolled out in Sydney.”
Qantas has also announced a new investment in its DeHavilland Dash 8 turboprop fleet as part of its ongoing commitment to keeping regional Australia connected. The national carrier will acquire 14 additional mid-life Dash 8-400 aircraft (Q400), with 19 smaller Q200 and Q300 turboprop aircraft to be gradually phased out of the fleet. The first aircraft will join the QantasLink fleet by the end of calendar year 2024. Q400 aircraft are more than 30 per cent faster than the Q200 and Q300 aircraft, saving customers time travelling to and from regional destinations. The younger fleet will also help improve operational reliability.
