Australian Airport Delay Index

Whether you’re travelling for business, fun, or visiting friends and family, flight delays and cancellations can be frustrating and stressful. The travel insurance comparison experts at iSelect have analysed 37 of Australia’s domestic airports’ departure performance, cancellations and passenger volumes to help you navigate potential disruptions.  

While delays are often viewed as a minor inconvenience, the sheer number of passengers impacted across Australia’s busiest airports shows how widespread the issue can be. The analsyis found millions of people were impacted by flight disruptions and cancellations at some point in 2025.  

Australian Airport Delay Index

Sydney’s domestic airport experienced the most disruptions in 2025, with an estimated 5.88 million passengers impacted by delayed departures. As the busiest airport, with the most passengers per year, it is expected to have the most people impacted, with 23% of flights last year not departing on time. However, Sydney’s domestic airport saw 3.12% of flights cancelled last year, with an estimated overall impact on 6.7 million passengers, based on official airline cancellation records and passenger flow data.

Melbourne domestic airport had the second most impacted passengers by disruptions in 2025, with 5.7 million passengers impacted by delayed flights, with 23% of flights reported to have not left on time, the same as Sydney. However, Melbourne reported 2.66% of flight cancellations with an overall estimated impact on 6.3 million passengers.  

Brisbane domestic airport saw 24% of flights delayed in 2025, with an estimated impact on 4.2 million passengers. Brisbane reported 2.52% of flight cancellations, with a major weather event in March 2025: Tropical Cyclone Alfred hit South East Queensland, which impacted over 140,800 passengers.¹https://www.bne.com.au/corporate/about/annual-reports

Perth ranked fourth nationally, with an estimated 2.17 million passengers impacted by flight delays or cancellations in 2025. While Perth recorded one of the lower disruption rates among Australia’s major airports, more than 22% of flights departed late, with an estimated 2.03 million travellers impacted. A further 137,049 passengers were estimated to have been impacted by cancelled flights. 

Hobart ranked eighth nationally, with an estimated 816,667 passengers impacted by domestic delays or cancellations in 2025. More than a quarter (27%) of departing flights were delayed, one of the highest rates among Australia’s major airports. A further 46,009 passengers were estimated to have been affected by cancellations. 

Despite recording one of the lower delay rates among the top 10 airports (21%), Canberra stood out for having the highest cancellation rate in the ranking at 4.5%. As a result, an estimated 714,390 passengers were impacted by flight disruptions, including 124,459 travellers affected by cancellations.

Sunshine Coast Airport recorded the highest delay rate among the top 10 airports, with almost one in three flights (31%) departing late. While the airport has fewer passengers than most of Australia’s capitals, the high proportion of delayed services meant an estimated 539,275 passengers were impacted by delays or cancellations in 2025, including 518,905 travellers affected by delayed departures. The findings suggest Sunshine Coast travellers were among the most likely in Australia to experience a disrupted journey.