Australian airlines more delayed than foreign competitors, but government decides not to nudge laws

Experts say lack of competition in Australia's airline market is a likely factor behind prevalence of delays

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More than one in four flights operated by major Australian airlines in 2024 arrived at their destinations late, with local punctuality rates lagging significantly behind average carriers in comparable countries.

Experts say a lack of competition in Australia's airline market is a likely factor behind the prevalence of delays, and that the Albanese government missed a golden opportunity to nudge local carriers into performing better when it decided to omit a cash compensation scheme for delayed and cancelled flights from its landmark aviation reforms.

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