Flights between Canberra and Sydney have the highest cancellation rates in the country, according to new figures from the federal transport bureau.
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The 2012 Airline On Time Performance Report from the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics shows Canberra Airport recorded above-average results for departures, with 84.6 per cent leaving on time, but below average for arrivals, with 19.3 per cent of flights coming in to the capital late.
The Canberra-Sydney route had the highest level of cancellations in the country, at 4.7 per cent, followed by Sydney-Canberra, at 4 per cent.
Of the capital cities, Adelaide’s airport had the best on-time performance for both arrivals and departures, with the Canberra-Adelaide route scoring highly in both categories.
Sydney Airport’s on-time performance dipped slightly in 2012, which federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said illustrated the growing need for a second Sydney airport.
“The reality is that without extra aviation capacity through a second airport, delays at Sydney Airport are set to grow,” he said in a statement.
“If a second airport is not built, our national economy will suffer as congestion grows and flights and economic investment are turned away.”
NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has previously joined a push for Canberra to serve as Sydney’s second airport, linked by high speed rail.
However a study commissioned by Mr Albanese recommends building a second airport at Wilton, about 80 kilometres south west of Sydney’s CBD.