In the annual report covering the 2015-16 period, the Sydney to Port Macquarie route achieved just 72.9 per cent for on time arrivals.

The BITRE monitors the punctuality and reliability of major domestic airlines operating between Australian airports.

The report allows for the evaluation of overall industry and individual airline performance, so that consumers of air travel can make informed decisions.

According to figures in the BITRE report covering Sydney to Port Macquarie, there were a total of 40 cancellations during the 2015/16 period or 1.7 per cent.

The report covered three airlines services – QantasLink, Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.

QantasLink flew 1590 of 1618 scheduled flights between Sydney and Port Macquarie.

Of those flights, 983 or 61.8 per cent arrived on time while 1103 or 69.4 per cent departed on time.

There were 28 cancellations or 1.7 per cent.

Virgin Australia had 362 scheduled flights, but with seven cancellations, flew 355 times between the two centres.

Of these flights, 299 arrived on time or 84.2 per cent while 299 departed on time or 84.2 per cent.

There were seven cancellations or 1.9 per cent of flights.

Virgin Australia Regional Airlines had 366 scheduled flights but registered five cancellations in the reporting period or 1.4 per cent.

Of these flights, 286 – or 79.2 per cent – arrived on time while 289 – or 80.1 per cent – departed on time.

Across all three airlines, there were 2346 scheduled flights and there were 40 cancellations or 1.7 per cent.

Of these flights, 1568 – or 68 per cent – arrived on time while 1691 – or 73.3 per cent – departed on time.

For the year ended June 2016, on time performance over all routes operated by participating airlines - Jetstar, Qantas, QantasLink, Regional Express, Tigerair Australia, Virgin Australia and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines - averaged 86.1 per cent for on time arrivals and 86.7 per cent for on time departures.  

Cancellations represented 1.6 per cent of all scheduled flights.  

The equivalent figures for 2014-15 were 85.1 per cent for arrivals, 86.5 per cent for departures and 1.4 per cent for cancellations.

The figures for 2015-16 were above the long term average performance for all routes (82.8 per cent for arrivals and 84.2 per cent for departures).

The rate of cancellations was higher than the long term average of 1.4 per cent.

QantasLink had the highest percentage of cancellations (2.6 per cent) during 2015-16, followed by Jetstar (2.2 per cent), Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (2.1 per cent), Virgin Australia (1.5 per cent), Qantas (1.1 per cent), Tigerair Australia (1.0 per cent) and Regional Express (0.5 per cent).

Of the 63 routes which met the criteria for on time performance reporting for all 12 months in 2015-16, the Brisbane-Mount Isa route had the highest percentage of on time arrivals (95.8 per cent) and the highest percentage of on time departures (96.3 per cent).

The Port Macquarie-Sydney route had the lowest percentage of on time arrivals (68.0 per cent) and the Sunshine Coast-Melbourne route had the lowest percentage of on time departures (69.6 per cent). 

Port Macquarie Airport recorded the lowest percentage of on time arrivals (72.9 per cent) and Sunshine Coast Airport recorded the lowest percentage of on time departures (72.0 per cent).

These figures only refer to reported routes and do not cover all flights at these airports.