Qantas Faces Operational Hurdles With Double The Flight Cancellations Of Virgin Australia In 2025

Published on August 16, 2025

With Australia’s aviation manufacture connected nan mend, nan Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has drawn attraction to a glaring imbalance betwixt 2 of nan country’s starring airlines. In a precocious published report, nan ACCC noted that Qantas Airways (QF) has been cancelling flights astatine doubly nan complaint of Virgin Australia (VA) successful nan twelvemonth 2025. This is of interest to galore travellers because of nan precocious cancellation rates connected important routes specified arsenic Canberra (CBR) to Sydney (SYD).

In contrast, Virgin Australia seemed to do overmuch amended , posting nan lowest cancellation complaint retired of nan awesome home carriers and maintaining a much accordant formation schedule successful 2025. According to nan ACCC’s assessment, Virgin Australia only cancelled 1 constituent six percent of their flights during nan twelvemonth starring up to June 2025. In that aforesaid period, Qantas was considerably nether performing arsenic they cancelled 3 constituent 2 percent of their scheduled flights.

High Cancellations connected Key Routes

The ACCC’s study besides identifies peculiar routes wherever cancellations person been notably high. The Canberra–Sydney way has been a awesome hotspot, pinch Qantas flights suffering importantly much cancellations than its competitors. In immoderate months, nan cancellation complaint connected this way for Qantas has been astir 3 times higher than nan manufacture average, while Virgin Australia’s cancellations connected its Link services person remained nether control.

Despite these challenges, Virgin Australia demonstrated amended operational efficiency, cancelling conscionable 1 constituent 1 percent of flights successful June 2025. In contrast, Qantas capacity was marred by operational hurdles, particularly connected high-frequency routes for illustration Canberra–Sydney, wherever cancellations surged to almost 15 percent successful June. The hose attributed this to adverse upwind conditions, specified arsenic beardown winds and fog astatine cardinal airports.

Airline Punctuality and Operational Performance

Flight punctuality crossed Australia’s airlines has shown betterment successful caller years. In June 2025, precocious arrivals for each airlines fell to nether eighteen percent, marking nan lowest complaint successful 3 years. Virgin Australia achieved its champion capacity connected clip arrivals, pinch only 15 constituent 2 percent of its flights delayed successful May 2025. However, this fig roseate to 20 constituent 4 percent successful June. Meanwhile, Qantas maintained a somewhat amended record, pinch nineteen constituent six percent of flights arriving precocious successful June.

While cancellations person been precocious connected definite routes, formation punctuality has wide improved crossed nan sector. However, capacity remains a concern, arsenic airlines person been operating 1 100 seventy-two 1000 less seats successful June 2025 compared to nan aforesaid period successful 2019. Despite a afloat betterment successful rider demand, nan manufacture has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels successful position of formation availability.

Airfares Rise Despite Lower Fuel Costs

In 2025, mean airfare prices person risen substantially, outpacing nan alteration successful pitchy substance prices. In April 2025, hose tickets were importantly much costly compared to nan aforesaid play successful 2024, moreover erstwhile adjusted for inflation. This value summation came arsenic a consequence of higher request during back-to-back nationalist vacation periods, which pushed airfare costs up.

The ACCC suggested that constrained spot readiness has contributed to nan rising prices, pinch airlines capable to complaint higher fares owed to constricted capacity. This has led to airlines generating much gross per rider successful June 2025 than they did successful nan aforesaid period nan erstwhile year, contempt little operational costs linked to fuel.

Frequent Flyer Programs: A Growing Concern

Amid rising airfare costs, galore passengers person turned to predominant flyer programs successful a bid to offset summons prices. However, nan ACCC has raised concerns complete nan worth of these programs, highlighting imaginable risks specified arsenic points devaluation, constricted redemption availability, and expiration of points. In 2023–24, Qantas earned 5 100 eleven cardinal dollar from its predominant flyer program, while Virgin Australia earned 1 100 15 cardinal dollar. Despite nan worth these programs offer, they person been scrutinised for not ever delivering nan expected returns for customers.

Regulatory Scrutiny connected Qantas

Qantas has faced regulatory scrutiny complete its practices successful caller years. In 2024, nan hose was ordered to salary a 100 cardinal dollar punishment aft it was recovered to person sold tickets for flights it had already decided to cancel. The hose faced ineligible consequences arsenic it grounded to pass customers astir nan cancellations for up to sixty 2 days aft nan decisions were made.

Looking ahead, nan ACCC continues to show nan hose manufacture closely. The committee is keeping an oculus connected cancellation rates, airfares, and loyalty programs, pinch nan purpose of ensuring that travellers are not unfairly impacted by rising costs and unreliable service.

Conclusion: What This Means for Australian Travellers

With Australia’s aviation manufacture still recovering, passengers are encouraged to salary person attraction to operational hitches airlines are grappling with. In ray of Qantas excessive cancellation rates alongside rising airfare, customer restitution could return a important deed connected predominant traveller segments. On nan different hand, Virgin Australia’s capacity pinch costs and timeliness could render it a much reliable action for home travellers.

Travellers tin expect heightened operational and value scrutiny from nan airlines and nan ACCC, pinch investigations still pending. In nan coming months, it remains to beryllium seen if Qantas and different carriers will beryllium capable to heighten reliability, affordability, and operational ratio alongside pending fare structures.