Airservices Australia has released its Australian Aviation Network Overview report for April 2026.
Highlights include:
- The Australian aviation network continues to demonstrate resilience despite geopolitical and economic volatility. Notably, 2 April 2026 marked the busiest April day since 2019, driven by Easter holiday leisure travel. However, growth has recently pulled back markedly reflecting the impact of ongoing Middle East disruption on the Australian aviation industry.
- International growth moderated to 3% year-on-year as global uncertainty persists. Australia-Middle East traffic is 30% of pre-conflict levels. Encouragingly, displaced long-haul demand, particularly for the European market, has largely been absorbed via alternative hubs driving solid growth in Asia-Pacific markets.
- Demand outlook however remains uncertain. In response to fuel supply risks and operating cost pressures, major airlines implemented forward capacity reductions, followed by targeted ticket sales to stimulate demand in key domestic and short-haul international leisure markets. This reflects dynamic adjustment in capacity, yield and cost management across the sector.
- Airservices has been working closely with airlines and industry stakeholders to jointly develop a Network Fuel Conservation Framework, focusing on effective strategic use of Ground Delay Programs (GDP) to minimise airborne delay and fuel burn. This positions the network to respond coherently and in alignment with the National Fuel Security Plan should any movement in levels be triggered. We also continued to focus on balancing flight efficiency and community outcomes by maximising the use of Simultaneous Opposite Direction Parallel Runway Operations (SODPROPS) at Brisbane when weather and traffic conditions permit.
- Industry on-time performance (OTP) has been steady, with weather disruption being the dominant constraint. This was evident on 12 April when prolonged single runway operations due to strong crosswinds in Sydney resulted in network disruptions. Post-event reviews with industry stakeholders reinforced the importance of earlier activation of demand management, flight plan data integrity and schedule compliance for operational predictability, and effective use of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM). Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) outcomes have since improved, tracking above the 12-month average. All four major airports recorded the highest compliance to A-CDM Target Off-Block Times (TOBTs) since go-live, well ahead of global benchmarks.
- Air traffic service consistency also strengthened, with 92% year-on-year reduction in tower service variations. Airspace service variations were confined to non-peak periods in three locations, and there were no Airservices-attributable ATFM delays at the four busiest airports. This progress reflects heightened holiday resilience measures and sustained focus on increasing resourcing and strengthening processes to improve service outcomes.
About Airservices
Airservices Australia is a government-owned organisation responsible for safely and efficiently managing air traffic in 11 per cent of the world’s airspace, as well as the provision of aviation rescue fire fighting services at Australia’s busiest airports. We are regulated by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and work closely with our customers and industry to support the long-term growth of the aviation industry.
