More than 30 million domestic airline passengers were affected by flight delays and cancellations across Australia in 2025, according to new analysis from iSelect, with Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane recording the highest number of disrupted journeys.
The Australian Airport Delay Index found Sydney Airport topped the list, with an estimated 6.7 million passengers impacted by delays or cancellations during the year, followed by Melbourne with 6.36 million and Brisbane with 4.65 million.
Sydney tops disruption rankings
The analysis found 23 per cent of flights departing Sydney and Melbourne were delayed in 2025, while Brisbane recorded a 24 per cent delay rate.
Sydney also recorded a cancellation rate of 3.21 per cent, contributing to more than 816,000 passengers being affected by cancelled services.
Among Australia’s busiest airports, Sunshine Coast recorded the highest proportion of delayed flights, with almost one in three departures (31 per cent) leaving late. Canberra had the highest cancellation rate, with 4.5 per cent of flights cancelled.
Planning ahead remains important
Perth ranked fourth nationally, with an estimated 2.17 million passengers affected by disruptions, followed by Adelaide, Gold Coast, Cairns, Hobart, Canberra and Sunshine Coast.
Adrian Bennett, General Manager – General Insurance at iSelect, said delays had become an unavoidable part of domestic air travel.
“Delays are unfortunately a reality of air travel, particularly at Australia’s busiest airports where even small disruptions can affect thousands of passengers,” Bennett said.
“Our analysis shows that millions of travellers were impacted by delayed departures last year alone, highlighting why it’s important to allow extra time when travelling, particularly during holiday and peak seasons.”
Bennett also encouraged travellers to consider travel insurance before departure, noting some policies may help cover additional accommodation, transport and other unexpected costs arising from significant delays or cancellations.
The Australian Airport Delay Index analysed departure performance, cancellation rates and passenger volumes across 37 domestic airports.
