Airservices Australia has released its Australian Aviation Network Overview report for November 2025.
Highlights include:
- November 2025 was a challenging month for the Australian aviation industry impacted by adverse weather, a Melbourne Air Traffic Services Centre (ATSC) communications outage, a fire at Melbourne Airport, and the impact of a global Airbus A320 software directive. Lessons learned from these events are shaping the response and disruption management strategies across the industry.
- Against this backdrop, the Australian aviation network still recorded its strongest monthly year-on-year growth in 2025, driven by a surge in domestic travel and strong ongoing international demand. Load factors in the domestic network have grown year-on-year, exceeding 85 per cent on major domestic routes and projected to reach 98 per cent on airline networks in the upcoming peak holiday period. Close collaboration across the aviation ecosystem is enhancing preparedness and disruption responses during these high-demand periods.
- The overall industry on-time performance remained in line with last year despite adverse weather, showing the resilience of our industry. In November, thunderstorms impacted Sydney on four days and at Brisbane on five days, requiring the usage of Ground Delay Programs (GDPs) and tactical measures to minimise network impacts. Responses to these events highlighted the value of industry collaboration, with lessons learned being embedded to strengthen resilience to weather disruptions across the network, including refining Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) procedures and configuration of enabling technology to maximise outcomes during challenging scenarios.
- Melbourne Airport joined other major capital airports in implementing Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) on 12 November, completing the rollout nationally – a major milestone for Australia’s aviation industry. This achievement marks a significant step toward enhancing predictability, efficiency, sustainability, and collaboration across the network. As A-CDM continues to embed, industry utilisation of the system and processes will be refined, and work is underway with industry partners on a national framework to track benefits and share learnings across the aviation ecosystem to maximise network outcomes.
- In November, airspace and tower service variations continued to show improvements year-on-year, reducing by 91 per cent. However, unplanned staffing unavailability impacted Sydney Airport which contributed to 0.7 per cent of total delays at the airport. In preparation for a record summer holiday period, we have proactively reviewed rosters, rescheduled training and maintenance activities to occur outside peak periods, and will maximise the use of available controllers, including cross-trained staff, to support peak period resilience.
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.
