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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Elias Visontay

One in 10 flights between Sydney and Melbourne are cancelled. Is slot hoarding to blame?

Qantas Group – which together with budget carrier Jetstar operates 66% of domestic aviation – and Virgin Australia vehemently deny they hoard slots at Sydney.
Qantas Group and Virgin Australia vehemently deny they hoard slots at Sydney airport. Government data shows larger airlines have higher flight cancellation rates between Sydney and Melbourne than smaller operators. Photograph: Tim Wimborne/Reuters

The air route between Sydney and Melbourne has long been one of the busiest in the world, and while ticketing systems will show more than 150 flights a day, picking one that doesn’t get cancelled can be like playing Russian roulette.

Statistics show that just under one in 10 flights on the route will be cancelled and there’s a bitter dispute within aviation circles with some claiming major airlines are selling tickets to Sydney services they never intend to fly.

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