QantasLink’s cancellation rate for flights in and out of Launceston was 18.5 times higher than the next worst performing airline over the six-month period to March.
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Statistics supplied by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics Department showed the airline cancelled 51 flights in this period, compared to four by Jetstar and none by Virgin Australia.
This counts for a total of 3.7 per cent of QantasLink flights being cancelled, compared to 0.2 per cent for Jetstar.
A Qantas Group spokeswoman defended the airline’s cancellation rate.
“QantasLink experienced a spike in cancellations late last year as a result of pilot resourcing and engineering issues impacting the entire regional network,” she said.
“These issues were well-reported on at the time, and since then we have adjusted our schedules, and our performance and reliability has improved significantly.”
In the first three months of 2018 QantasLink cancelled 18 flights for a cancellation rate of 2.6 per cent.
This is a problem that has been going back for years and I’m calling them out on it.
- Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson
In the six months after March 2017 the cancellation rate was 2.57 per cent.
Tasmanian Greens senator Peter Whish-Wilson said he wanted to see QantasLink’s cancellation rates investigated by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee.
“This is a problem that has been going back for years and I’m calling them out on it,” he said. “It’s affected the way I travel and I do not fly with them out of Launceston.
“I’m chairing a Senate committee at the moment and I can’t risk not getting to Canberra.”
Launceston Airport general manager Paul Hodgen said he was aware of the issue.
“We have had concerns around QantasLink with this part of their service,” he said. “The other carriers perform really well … but QantasLink has had a high rate of cancellation.”
Launceston Chamber of Commerce executive officer Neil Grose said flight cancellations made it difficult for the region to attract new businesses and investment.
“A high proportion of business people fly with QantasLink,” he said.
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
