Annual performance statement

Airservices continues to support the long-term growth of the aviation industry in the national interest.

On behalf of the Airservices Board, I present Airservices’ 2023–24 Annual Performance Statement, prepared in accordance with section 39(1)(a) of the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). It is our opinion that the statement accurately presents Airservices’ performance in the reporting period and complies with subsection 39(2) of the PGPA Act.

John Weber
Airservices Australia Board Chair

Our performance

This section provides a detailed assessment of our 2023–24 performance against our key performance indicators (KPIs) and initiatives across our performance areas.

Performance summary

During the year we achieved 17 of our 25 key performance indicators (68%), including our key operational safety and environment metrics, along with the majority of our service performance metrics.

While we did not achieve the overall level of performance we strived for during the year, our efforts to prioritise safety and service performance ensured we maintained our ‘safe always’ focus across our air traffic management and ARFF services.

We recognise we have more work to do to achieve a balanced outcome for all our stakeholders.

Factors influencing performance and key achievements include:

  • We regard safety as our highest priority as required by our Act. There were no significant attributable safety occurrences recorded.
  • Traffic volatility continued to shape our industry. We saw significant growth in international traffic particularly from China contrasted by operations suspending for Air Vanuatu, Bonza and Rex Airlines jet operations.
  • We are engaged with our customers and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) on the need for a modest price increase in the national interest.
  • During the year we reset our focus to prioritise service performance, including organisational change, while negotiating 3 enterprise agreements (Corporate, ATC and ARFF services).
  • Adverse weather impacted our operations. Following Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December, our Cairns ARFF operations has been negatively impacted by the effects of major flooding, operating in a limited capacity and resulting in service variations to industry.
  • Throughout the year we targeted improved levels of injury reporting and access to early intervention treatment programs. This reflects a positive reporting culture and is likely to be a contributing factor to the elevated injury rates experienced.
  • The increasing traffic combined with concerns about the flightpath associated with Brisbane Airport made up a significant portion of monthly complainants. We have continued to proactively engage the Brisbane community, progressing with our Noise Action Plan for Brisbane.

Summary of performance areas

Performance areaKey performance indicators2023–24
Target1
2023–24
Actual
Assessment
Significant attributable
safety occurrences
Significant attributable safety occurrences00Met
Planned aerodrome
capacity
Planned capacity delivered as
percentage of time²
>82%83%Met
Sydney>78%81%Met
Melbourne>79%79%Met
Perth>82%83%Met
Brisbane>93%89%Not Met
Airservices attributable
cancellations – Top 4 airports²
<2414Met
Sydney<179
Met
Melbourne00Met
Perth<11Met
Brisbane<64Met
Airservices attributable ground delay (hours) – Top 4 airports²<10967Met
Sydney<7036Met
Melbourne01Not Met
Perth<17Not Met
Brisbane<3823Met
Reduction in
Cost to Serve
Real price growth (5-year trend)<0%<0%Met
Return on assets> −7.0%−8.1%Not Met
People engagementPeople engagement7059Not Met
Fostering the drive
towards zero harm
Total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR)<1010.4Not Met
Lost time injury
frequency rate (LTIFR)
<45.0Not Met
Net zero
emissions
by 2050
Net carbon emissions<221,746tCO2e150,596tCO2e³Met
Significant
environmental events
00Met
Community
acceptance
of the value
of aviation
Total annual change
in movements
vs complainants
To reduce number
of complainants
relative to
movements
2.7% increase in
movements,
4.1% increase in
complainants
Not Met
Aircraft Noise
Ombudsman complaints
investigations initiated
To reduce number
of complaints
investigated
22% decrease in ANO complaintsMet
  1. Source: Airservices 2023–24 Corporate Plan, page 21.
  2. Monthly average result
  3. The 2022–23 result is the latest available at the time of publication. These emissions do not include those of the aviation industry resulting from adjustments and efficiencies in flightpath design, or operational changes of Airservices. The result for the 2023–24 period will be available in late 2024.