Airservices Australia has released its Australian Aviation Network Overview report for January 2024.
Highlights include:
- The start of 2024 for the Australian aviation sector is marked by signs of moderately improving economic conditions and normalising patterns of growth.
- After unprecedented pent-up demand in 2023, the growth rate of international traffic is starting to stabilise. We continue to see expansion of services from markets such as India and South-East Asian nations improving connectivity between Australia and popular tourism destinations and trade networks.
- However, flights from China remain 20 per cent below 2019 levels, opening up opportunities for diversification from other international markets. Domestic traffic has stayed around pre-pandemic levels throughout this financial year.
- Notwithstanding industry’s investments in newer, greener and quieter aircraft, the pace of fleet renewal and aircraft capacity increase in Australia is slow. This reflects a trend towards maximising utilisation and load factors from existing fleet on the one hand, and ongoing challenges of parts and labour shortages faced by aircraft manufacturers and service providers. We have commenced work on better understanding the key drivers of network performance associated with the critical first rotation at major airports.
- Weather disruptions have been the most significant capacity constraint this summer, as our industry experienced an acute period of disruptions impacted by successive cyclones and other damaging weather conditions on the East Coast. In these challenging times, close coordination, joint emergency committees and information sharing across the aviation ecosystem have ensured the safety of aviation operational workforce and the travelling public, and the rapid recovery of essential services.
- Following a difficult month in December 2023 when one in every six delays were attributed to Airservices, overall air traffic management outcomes returned to an improving trend for this financial year to date.
- In January 2024, one in eight delays were attributed to Airservices. Importantly at Brisbane, the proportion of delays attributed to Airservices halved from the previous month to be at similar levels as that caused by airport works. Airservices’ program to minimise variation to our published services remains the key priority for the Airservices team in order to deliver month-on-month improvement.
The Australian Aviation Network Overview is updated monthly.
About Airservices
Airservices Australia is responsible for the safe and efficient management of 11 per cent of the world’s airspace and the provision of aviation rescue fire fighting services at Australia’s busiest airports. We connect people with their world safely – linking family and friends, generating economic activity, creating jobs and facilitating trade and tourism.
