We are seeking feedback on:
- requiring airlines to report reasons for delays and cancellations
- publishing additional data on airline performance and aviation competition
These initiatives were previously outlined in the Aviation White Paper—Towards 2050.
Why we want your input
The government is seeking your feedback to ensure changes to airline reporting will increase transparency, public accountability, and competition outcomes in the Australian aviation market.How you can voice your opinion
You can read the consultation paper and provide a submission using the “Have your Say” button below or email your response to AVPOL@infrastructure.gov.au. The consultation closes on 10 February 2026.What will be the outcome of this consultation?
Your input will inform changes to reporting on the aviation industry by the government’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), including related amendments to the Air Navigation Regulation 2016.The Issue
The government wants a safe, sustainable and efficient aviation sector that provides a high standard of service and good prices for Australians. Its vision includes a fairer aviation sector that delivers a better passenger experience and a more competitive airline sector.
Under the Air Navigation Regulation 2016, the government (through BITRE) collects extensive data from airlines which it uses to conduct economic analysis and research and produce regular statistical publications.
Currently:
- The regulation limits publication of information that would allow individual airline responses to be identified.
- BITRE monitors the punctuality and reliability of major domestic airline but if a flight is delayed or cancelled, it does not currently record the cause.
The Aviation White Paper, released in August 2024, stated that it will consider collecting and reporting additional airline data, including:
- requiring airlines to report reasons for delays and cancellations (Initiative 3)
- publishing additional data on airline performance and aviation competition (Initiative 16).
Regular reporting of additional data about industry performance and conduct will increase transparency and public accountability for on time performance. It would also support the government to identify if and where further regulatory action is required.
The supporting consultation outlines the government's proposed approach, including:
- amending the 'confidential information' clause in the Air Navigation Regulation, to permit increased disclosure of statistical information—particularly individual responses from airlines
- adding a new provision to the regulation requiring airlines to provide to the department / BITRE the reasons for delays and cancellations
- BITRE reporting on aviation competition indicators such as average number of airlines operating on routes and share of seats operated by low cost carriers.
Feedback is being sought from travellers, airline operators and other interested parties to inform the final steps toward implementation, to ensure reporting requirements are fit for purpose.
Further information on the Aviation White Paper is available here: www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-white-paper.
Note: This is a separate consultation process to the recently concluded:
- review of the Air Navigation Regulation 2016, which focused on compliance with bilateral air services agreements and the 'sunsetting' of that regulation on 1 April 2026. You can find more information on that closed consultation at www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/review-air-navigation-regulation-2016
- consultation on:
- Aviation Consumer Protections—primary legislation
- Aviation Consumer Protections—subordinate legislation (including the Aviation Consumer Protections Charter)
- The Have Your Say pages for these consultation processes can be found at https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/aviation/aviation-consumer-protections
Documents
Participate
13 Jan 2026 09:00 AEDT
10 Feb 2026 23:59 AEDT
Open
days
remaining 24 of 29
We invite you to tell us your views on this topic.
Please include:
- contact name
- organisation name, if applicable
- contact details, including telephone number, postal and email addresses
- confirmation whether or not your submission can be made public—published—or kept confidential.
All submissions to be made public need to meet the Digital Service Standard for accessibility. Any submission that does not meet this standard may be modified before being made public.
If your submission is to be made public, please ensure you do not include any personal information that you don't want to be published.
If your submission is confidential, please ensure each page of the submission is marked as confidential.
Please click on the 'Have your say now' button below to upload your submission.
Alternatively please email your completed template submission to AVPOL@infrastructure.gov.au or send it to:
Privacy Collection Notice
Improving data on airline performance and competition
Your submission, including any personal information supplied, is being collected by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts ("the department") in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
Use
The department may use your submission to develop and implement new policy.
Disclosure
The department may disclose information contained in your submission to other government entities. The department may publish your submission as explained below. Otherwise your submission will not be disclosed unless authorised or required by law.
Contacting you
The department may use your contact information to make further contact with you about your submission and the consultation process.
Publication
Unless marked confidential (see below) submissions (including the author's name) may be published in part or full on the department's website or in any public response by the department. When publishing, the department will redact any personal contact details of the author.
Confidentiality
Confidential submissions will not be published and will only be disclosed in the following circumstances:
- in response to a request by a Commonwealth Minister
- where required by a House or a Committee of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia
- where necessary in the public interest or
- where authorised or required by law.
Submissions will only be treated as confidential if they are expressly stated to be confidential. Automatically generated confidentiality statements or disclaimers appended to an email do not suffice for this purpose. If you wish you make a confidential submission, you must indicate this by ensuring your submission is clearly marked confidential. Even if a submission is not marked confidential, the department may choose not to publish it, or any part of it, in the department's discretion (for example where it includes personal information or opinions about a third party).
Access
The department will securely store your personal information and the department's privacy policy contains information regarding complaint handling processes and how to access and/or seek correction of personal information held by the department. Further information is available at Privacy | Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.