Flight delay compensation in Australia
Australia has no compensation scheme of its own
A flight departing Australia is not covered by any statutory delay compensation. What you are owed comes from the airline's own conditions of carriage — which are usually far less generous, and vary by carrier.
What you can still do
A cancellation almost always entitles you to a refund of the unused portion under the airline's own conditions of carriage, whatever the reason. Ask for it in the original form of payment rather than accepting a voucher.
If your journey ends in the EU or UK on a European carrier, or connects through one, the European rules may still reach your flight even though Australia has none of its own. It is worth checking the whole itinerary rather than only the leg that went wrong.
Which airlines cancel most on Australia departures
Cancellation is the event that triggers a claim, so this is the number worth knowing before you book. January 2025 – August 2026.
| Airline | Flights | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|
| QantasLink | 60,060 | 3.35% |
| Virgin Australia | 91,731 | 1.73% |
| Qantas | 56,057 | 2.63% |
| Jetstar | 51,116 | 1.83% |
| Rex Airlines | 10,587 | 2.69% |
| Virgin Australia Regional Airlines | 1,234 | 1.7% |
| British Airways | 210 | 1.9% |
This page explains published rules and is not legal advice. Confirm current thresholds with the relevant regulator before relying on them. The full guide →