Jetstar edges Qantas, Virgin Australia in flight cancellation rates
It's been quite some time since Australians were confident to travel within the country due to the alarming spread of COVID-19. As a result, all domestic airlines had to learn to be more flexible while also trying to maintain their service standards.
However, the budget airliner Jetstar has been making waves after data released by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics revealed something quite unexpected.
In July, Jetstar had the lowest percentage of domestic flight cancellations at 3.3 per cent, compared to Qantas at 3.6 per cent and Virgin Australia at 5.3 per cent.
Previous reports showed Jetstar had recorded the highest percentage of cancellations at 4.2 per cent.
Of course, few people were happier about this accomplishment than Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully herself.
'These figures show that Jetstar is back on track,' she said. 'After a lot of great work by our teams, our punctuality and reliability have returned to pre-COVID levels.'
Tully explained this was made possible due to the airline's investment in hiring more cabin crew, pilots, and engineers; introducing new Airbus A321neo aircraft; and providing enhanced customer support.
She continued, 'Everyone at Jetstar is focused on delivering a world-class low fares experience for our customers every time they fly.'
Touching on the company’s challenges, the CEO said, ‘The industry was in hibernation for a few years so getting started, getting all of our people back, we had a number of supply chain issues with parts.’
‘So we have had to work extra hard and do extra things to make sure Jetstar is performing the way people expect,’ she added.
To guarantee the company’s comeback, Jetstar introduced new bag drop and check-in times while also assuring customers that their on-time performance and fewer cancellations will continue to be a priority.
Additionally, Jetstar has outperformed Virgin Australia when it comes to delays.
Regarding on-time arrivals, Qantas had the highest in July at 68.8 per cent, Jetstar close behind at 68.1 per cent, and Virgin Australia at 59.2 per cent.
Qantas also took the lead on the highest level of on-time departures with 68.9 per cent, followed by Jetstar at 66.3 per cent and Virgin Australia at 58.9 per cent.
A spokesperson from Virgin Australia told a news source that the airline was not wholly pleased with their service last month but that their 'focus on improvement' has already made a difference in August.
‘Our operation in July was impacted by a number of factors, including air traffic controller shortages, weather, and crew resourcing,’ the spokesperson stated.
‘We recognise our performance did not meet our standards, and we apologise to our guests who experienced disruption.’ Qantas has not released a statement yet.
What do you think of this story, members? Have you flown with Jetstar or other airlines recently? Share your experience in the comments below!
However, the budget airliner Jetstar has been making waves after data released by the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics revealed something quite unexpected.
In July, Jetstar had the lowest percentage of domestic flight cancellations at 3.3 per cent, compared to Qantas at 3.6 per cent and Virgin Australia at 5.3 per cent.
Previous reports showed Jetstar had recorded the highest percentage of cancellations at 4.2 per cent.
Of course, few people were happier about this accomplishment than Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully herself.
'These figures show that Jetstar is back on track,' she said. 'After a lot of great work by our teams, our punctuality and reliability have returned to pre-COVID levels.'
Tully explained this was made possible due to the airline's investment in hiring more cabin crew, pilots, and engineers; introducing new Airbus A321neo aircraft; and providing enhanced customer support.
She continued, 'Everyone at Jetstar is focused on delivering a world-class low fares experience for our customers every time they fly.'
Touching on the company’s challenges, the CEO said, ‘The industry was in hibernation for a few years so getting started, getting all of our people back, we had a number of supply chain issues with parts.’
‘So we have had to work extra hard and do extra things to make sure Jetstar is performing the way people expect,’ she added.
To guarantee the company’s comeback, Jetstar introduced new bag drop and check-in times while also assuring customers that their on-time performance and fewer cancellations will continue to be a priority.
Additionally, Jetstar has outperformed Virgin Australia when it comes to delays.
Regarding on-time arrivals, Qantas had the highest in July at 68.8 per cent, Jetstar close behind at 68.1 per cent, and Virgin Australia at 59.2 per cent.
Qantas also took the lead on the highest level of on-time departures with 68.9 per cent, followed by Jetstar at 66.3 per cent and Virgin Australia at 58.9 per cent.
A spokesperson from Virgin Australia told a news source that the airline was not wholly pleased with their service last month but that their 'focus on improvement' has already made a difference in August.
‘Our operation in July was impacted by a number of factors, including air traffic controller shortages, weather, and crew resourcing,’ the spokesperson stated.
‘We recognise our performance did not meet our standards, and we apologise to our guests who experienced disruption.’ Qantas has not released a statement yet.
Key Takeaways
- Australian budget airline Jetstar had fewer domestic flight cancellations last month than Qantas and Virgin Australia.
- Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully attributed this improvement to investments in hiring more staff, acquiring new aircraft, and enhancing customer support.
- Despite facing challenges due to the pandemic, Jetstar has made concerted efforts to improve its performance, including adjusting bag drop and check-in times to maintain punctuality.
- Virgin Australia acknowledged that its July performance did not meet standards but indicated early operational improvements in August.
What do you think of this story, members? Have you flown with Jetstar or other airlines recently? Share your experience in the comments below!