Qantas and Air New Zealand were closely matched in a new punctuality report but behind some Southeast Asian operators. Photo / Supplied
June ended in a disastrous data breach for Qantas but the Australian airline just pipped Air New Zealand in punctuality for the month, according to new data.
Aviation analytics company Cirium’s June on-time performance report, based on 252,797 flights, rated Saudia and Aeromexico best in the world.
The Saudi Arabian flag carrier arrived on time 91.33% of the time and the Mexican airline had 87.85% on-time arrivals.
In Asia-Pacific rankings, Thai AirAsia was first with 87.71% on-time arrival.
Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand were ranked eighth, ninth and 10th, respectively.
Data from Cirium showed Thai AirAsia had 87.71% on-time arrivals.
Japan’s ANA and Philippine Airlines rounded out the region’s top three.
Qantas, Singapore and Air New Zealand ranged from 78.96% to 78.61%.
Kate Boyer, Air New Zealand airports general manager, told the Herald the airline was taking multiple steps to improve punctuality.
“In June, we saw slightly more delays than usual due to adverse winter weather across New Zealand, particularly fog, poor visibility at major ports and a state of emergency due to weather in some regions,” she said.
“Despite this, we’re encouraged by overall improvements we’re seeing in on-time performance. Over the past six months, we’ve increased our on-time performance 6.5%.”
Boyer said the airline would acquire a second new Airbus A321neo and keep rolling out retrofitted aircraft in upcoming months.
She said those aircraft and a new hangar in Auckland should support a more reliable network.
“Maintaining strong on-time performance is a priority for us.”
Riyadh King Khalid International Airport, Chile’s Santiago Arturo Merino Benitez International and India’s Bengaluru Kempegowda International were the most on-time large airports.
Honolulu International, at seventh, was the most on-time large Oceania airport, with 86.48% on-time departures.
Osaka Itami International, Panama City Tocumen and Brasilia International were the most on-time medium airports.
Perth Airport, at 20th with 77.16% on-time departures, was the only Oceania airport to make the top 20 in that category.
Ecuador’s Guayaquil Jose Joaquin de Olmedo, Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont and Durban King Shaka International were the most reliable small airports.
No Oceania airports made the top 20 in that category.
The Asia-Pacific was the only region to record fewer flight cancellations last month than it did in May.
Air Vanuatu’s disasters have opened the gate for regional competitors.
The airline entered voluntary liquidation in May last year.
An A$3m ($3.28m) funding injection from the Vanuatu Government was announced two months later, enabling resumption of some domestic services.
However, the archipelago’s flag carrier has not resumed international flights.
Fiji Airways, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Qatar Airways and Solomon Airlines all fly to the island nation of 330,000 people.
Qantas last September launched Brisbane-Port Vila flights for the first time, and started flying from Sydney to the Melanesian country in December.
Now Solomon Airlines says it will celebrate Vanuatu Independence Day with discounts on flights from Auckland to Port Vila.
The sale runs from today to August 15 or until sold out, with flights from Auckland to Port Vila return from $799.
Vanuatu Independence Day is celebrated on July 30.
Solomon Airlines uses the single-aisle, twinjet Airbus A320 for the route, with 12 seats in business class and 138 in economy.
The push comes amid a shake-up in Pacific aviation, with Air Marshall Islands and Nauru Airlines forging an alliance earlier this month.
In addition, four countries just north of the Solomons signed a deal on trade and economic integration, focusing on air cargo.
The Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru and Palau signed the deal at the 27th Micronesian Island Forum.
John Weekes is a business journalist mostly covering aviation and courts. He has previously covered consumer affairs, crime, politics and courts.