Christmas and New year are peak travel times, and for those relying on airlines to get them places reliably and according to the expected schedule, we have some bad news.
But first, a thumbs-up for Rex Airlines. I flew to Sydney and back last week and the whole shebang was faultless. Booking and baggage was a breeze, flights left and arrived on time and there was even complementary tea, coffee and nibbles.
But … Aussie travellers are being warned to allow more time for flights over the holiday period and, if possible, avoid peak periods. Most airlines are struggling to deliver service improvements due to high demand and lingering supply chain issues.
Official stats are still showing a big number of delayed and cancelled flights, with airlines still running far behind their historical service standards.
Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) figures show airlines cancelled 3.8 per cent of flights in October and delayed just under 30 per cent on either arrival or departure.
Aviation consultant Neil Hansford says travellers should arrive at the airport earlier over the Christmas period and avoid travelling on busy days such as Thursday afternoon, Friday, Saturday morning and Monday, when congestion is at its peak.
“Travel on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning,” he told The New Daily. “Not only will you get cheaper prices, you’ll get less congestion.”
Are you flying over Christmas? Are you anticipating delays?
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