1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2004  
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Contents >> Transport >> Transport activity

General transport activity

Road transport activity

Motor vehicles travelled an estimated total distance of 190,152 million kilometres (km) in the year ended 31 October 2001, at an average of 16,000 km per vehicle (table 22.1). Business use accounted for an estimated 37% of aggregate distance travelled, while people's journeys to and from work accounted for a further 22%. Private use made up the remaining 41%.

22.1 BUSINESS AND PRIVATE VEHICLE USE - Year ended 31 October 2001(a)
Business
Type of vehicle
Laden
Unladen
Total(b)
To and
from work
Private
Total
TOTAL KILOMETRES TRAVELLED (million)
Passenger vehicles
-
-
36,357
37,261
70,307
143,925
Motor cycles
-
-
250
452
745
1,448
Light commercial vehicles
13,889
5,413
19,301
4,962
6,466
30,728
Rigid trucks
4,690
1,773
6,463
101
63
6,627
Articulated trucks
3,933
1,384
5,317
*3
*2
5,321
Non-freight carrying trucks
-
-
265
*1
**-
267
Buses
-
-
1,759
27
49
1,835
Total
22,512
8,569
69,713
42,807
77,632
190,152
AVERAGE KILOMETRES TRAVELLED(c) (’000)
Passenger vehicles
-
-
11.4
7.7
8.4
15.1
Motor cycles
-
-
4.8
4.3
3.4
5.2
Light commercial vehicles
15.3
8.6
19.5
7.7
7.5
18.8
Rigid trucks
16.3
8.2
22.3
4.5
3.2
21.9
Articulated trucks
69.6
29.9
93.6
2.3
*1.7
92.1
Non-freight carrying trucks
-
-
15.3
*2.3
**1.5
15.4
Buses
-
-
35.9
7.5
8.0
34.3
Total
18.0
9.6
15.0
7.6
8.2
16.0
(a) Because of changes to methodology, caution should be used when comparing these data with data from earlier surveys presented in previous editions of Year Book Australia.
(b) Includes business travel of non-freight carrying vehicles.
(c) Average distance travelled for registered vehicles which were used.
Source: Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia, 12 Months ended 31 October 2001 (9208.0).

The localities in which motor vehicles travelled are described in table 22.2. Only 4% of total distance travelled represented interstate trips, while 55% of trips were within the capital city of the state or territory in which the vehicle was registered.

22.2 AREA OF OPERATION - Year ended 31 October 2001(a)
Within state/territory of registration
Type of vehicle
Capital
city
Provincial
urban
Other areas of state/territory
Total
Interstate
Australia
TOTAL KILOMETRES TRAVELLED (million)
Passenger vehicles
84,502
19,666
35,094
139,262
4,663
143,925
Motor cycles
853
217
324
1,393
*55
1,448
Light commercial vehicles
13,773
4,594
11,272
29,639
1,090
30,728
Rigid trucks
3,548
922
1,891
6,362
265
6,627
Articulated trucks
1,073
308
2,538
3,919
1,402
5,321
Non-freight carrying trucks
156
34
71
261
*6
267
Buses
842
356
561
1,759
76
1,835
Total
104,747
26,097
51,750
182,595
7,557
190,152
AVERAGE KILOMETRES TRAVELLED(b) (’000)
Passenger vehicles
12.1
7.5
9.9
14.6
5.5
15.1
Motor cycles
5.5
3.1
2.8
5.0
3.1
5.2
Light commercial vehicles
16.7
10.1
14.4
18.3
9.2
18.8
Rigid trucks
22.4
14.3
13.9
21.1
15.5
21.9
Articulated trucks
32.3
17.0
62.4
69.9
82.6
92.1
Non-freight carrying trucks
19.5
10.5
8.5
15.4
*10.7
15.4
Buses
29.0
23.2
24.5
33.2
17.3
34.3
Total
12.8
8.1
11.1
15.4
7.3
16.0
(a) Because of changes to methodology caution must be taken when comparing these data with data from earlier surveys presented in previous editions of Year Book Australia.
(b) Average distance travelled for registered vehicles which were used.
Source: Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia, 12 months ended 31 October 2001 (9208.0).

Domestic airline activity

The total hours flown and the number of aircraft departures by the major domestic and regional airlines are shown in table 22.3. Hours flown in 2002 were 12% less than in 2001, while aircraft departures were 15% lower in 2002. Major events occurring during 2001 included the collapse of the Ansett Australia airline, and terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States of America on 11 September 2001.

In addition to the scheduled services of domestic and regional airlines, the range of activities undertaken by the general aviation industry includes business flying, aerial agriculture, charter, training and private flying (table 22.4).

22.3 DOMESTIC AIRLINE ACTIVITY, Major and regional airlines
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
Hours flown
749
751
788
759
667
Aircraft departures
585
588
606
564
479
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.

22.4 OTHER GENERAL AVIATION ACTIVITY, Hours flown
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002(a)
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
Charter
487
498
508
480
469
441
Agricultural
137
147
135
124
114
78
Flying training
455
484
454
419
411
419
Other aerial work
315
319
314
304
300
335
Private/business
446
430
432
388
409
417
Total
1,839
1,878
1,842
1,715
1,703
1,690
(a) 2002 figures are preliminary.
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.

International airline activity

The number of flights into and out of Australia fell in 2002 to below the levels in the previous two years (table 22.5). The share of total scheduled international airline traffic that was provided by Australian owned airlines, (i.e. Qantas and Ansett), declined from 34% in 2001 to 32% in 2002.

22.5 SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE TRAFFIC TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA(a)(b)(c)
1999
2000
2001
2002
TRAFFIC TO AUSTRALIA
Qantas Airways Limited
12,675
13,751
14,702
(d)13,953
Ansett International(e)
1,640
1,450
1,046
-
Other airlines
27,219
30,633
30,536
29,863
All airlines
41,534
45,834
46,284
43,816
TRAFFIC FROM AUSTRALIA
Qantas Airways Limited
12,733
13,817
14,714
(d)13,989
Ansett International(e)
1,646
1,454
1,048
-
Other airlines
26,713
30,083
30,101
29,609
All airlines
41,092
45,354
45,863
43,598
(a) Includes Norfolk Island.
(b) Includes Qantas flights using aircraft leased from other airlines and vice versa.
(c) The difference between to and from numbers arises because some outward flights are operated as non-scheduled, and so are not counted in the table.
(d) Includes Australian Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas Airways Ltd.
(e) Ansett International ceased operations on 14 September 2001.
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.

Domestic freight activity

Freight movement within Australia is a significant transport task. Goods are moved across vast distances because of the size of the country and the dispersed locations of agricultural, mining, production and population centres. Key freight transport task measures are tonnes carried and tonne-kilometres, which represents the summation of mass multiplied by the distance travelled by individual freight cargoes. The following sections provide information on the domestic freight task performed by each of the transport modes.

Road freight activity

In the 12 months ended 31 March 2001, the 62,000 articulated vehicles in Australia lifted an estimated 614 million tonnes of freight (table 22.6), and conducted over 88 billion tonne-kilometres of freight travel. Freight originating in New South Wales accounted for 30% of both the total tonne-kilometres travelled (26,440 million) and of the total tonnes carried by road (184 million).
Australia's 332 thousand rigid trucks provided 25 billion tonne-kilometres of freight travel, in the year to 31 March 2001.

22.6 ROAD FREIGHT, By articulated vehicles - Year ended 31 March 2001
State/territory of origin
million tonne-kilometres
million tonnes
New South Wales
26,440
184
Victoria
18,746
121
Queensland
19,174
127
South Australia
9,286
46
Western Australia
11,281
105
Tasmania
1,504
21
Northern Territory
1,728
8
Australian Capital Territory
216
1
Australia
88,374
614
Source: Freight Movements, Australia, Summary, Year ended 31 March 2001 (9220.0).

The major commodities moved by road, in the 12 months to 31 March 2001, are shown in table 22.7. Food accounted for 22% of the total tonne-kilometres travelled and 14% of the total tonnes carried by road. Stone, sand and gravel represented 14% of the tonnage carried by road transport, yet because of the typically shorter trip distances, this commodity group only accounted for 4% of the total tonne-kilometres travelled.

22.7 MAJOR COMMODITIES MOVED BY ROAD(a) - Year ended 31 March 2001
Tonne-kilometres
Tonnes
million
% of total
million
% of total
Food (for human and animal consumption)
19,326
21.9
89
14.4
General freight(b)
15,408
17.4
46
7.5
Other manufactured goods
7,276
8.2
38
6.2
Petroleum and petroleum products
4,807
5.4
30
4.8
Machinery and transport equipment
4,207
4.8
22
3.5
Cork and wood
4,093
4.6
35
5.8
Cereal grains
4,031
4.6
42
6.9
Crude materials
3,895
4.4
35
5.7
Stone, sand and gravel
3,373
3.8
86
14.0
(a) Articulated vehicles only.
(b) Consignments not classified by commodity.
Source: Freight Movements, Australia, Summary, Year ended 31 March 2001 (9220.0).

Rail freight activity

An estimated 509 million tonnes of freight, representing a 134 billion tonne-kilometres transport task, were moved on the rail network in the 12 months ended 31 March 2001 (table 22.8). Freight originating in either Western Australia or Queensland together accounted for over three-quarters (77%) of the total tonne-kilometres travelled by rail freight. In these states, substantial tonnages of bulk commodities are moved over long trip distances.

22.8 RAIL FREIGHT(a) - Year ended 31 March 2001
State/territory of origin
million tonne-kilometres
million tonnes
New South Wales
19,621
112
Victoria
6,188
10
Queensland
42,458
172
South Australia
5,176
19
Western Australia
60,429
196
Tasmania
n.a.
n.a.
Northern Territory
234
-
Australian Capital Territory
3
-
Australia
134,109
509
(a) Excludes rail freight movements in Tasmania.
Source: Freight Movements, Australia, Summary, Year ended 31 March 2001 (9220.0).

Of the total tonne-kilometres travelled by rail, nearly three-quarters (74%) comprised transport of metalliferous ores, metal scrap, and coal (table 22.9). General freight, while accounting for only 3% of the total tonnes carried on the rail network, represented 12% of the tonne-kilometres travelled by this mode, indicating above average freight trip distances are associated with this type of freight.

22.9 MAJOR COMMODITIES MOVED BY RAIL(a) - Year ended 31 March 2001
Tonne-kilometres
Tonnes
million
% of total
million
% of total
Metalliferous ores and metal scrap
55,615
41.5
197
38.6
Coal
44,254
33.0
221
43.6
General freight(b)
16,018
11.9
15
2.9
Cereal grains
5,787
4.3
19
3.7
Iron and steel
3,993
3.0
6
1.2
Crude materials
2,334
1.7
33
6.4
(a) Excludes rail freight movements in Tasmania.
(b) Consignments not classified by commodity.
Source: Freight Movements, Australia, Summary, Year ended 31 March 2001 (9220.0).

Sea freight activity (domestic)

In the 12 months ended 31 March 2001, there were 47 million tonnes of sea freight carried between Australian ports (table 22.10). This domestic sea freight task amounted to 97 billion tonne-kilometres, representing 30% of the aggregate of freight tonne-kilometres travelled within Australia by all transport modes. Due to the long average distances travelled by domestic shipping, sea freight's percentage of total tonne-kilometres travelled exceeded its percentage of the total freight tonnages.

22.10 DOMESTIC SEA FREIGHT - Year ended 31 March 2001
State/territory of origin
million tonne-kilometres
million tonnes
New South Wales
6,808
5
Victoria
8,342
7
Queensland
31,736
16
South Australia
10,184
7
Western Australia
33,691
7
Tasmania
4,283
5
Northern Territory
2,307
1
Australian Capital Territory
-
-
Australia
97,349
47
Source: Freight Movements, Australia, Summary, Year Ended 31 March 2001 (9220.0).

Metalliferous ores and metal scrap accounted for the highest share of tonnes carried (42%), and of freight tonne-kilometres travelled (63%), by sea in the 12 months ended 31 March 2001 (table 22.11).

22.11 MAJOR COMMODITIES MOVED BY SEA (DOMESTIC) - Year ended 31 March 2001
Tonne-kilometres
Tonnes
million
% of total
million
% of total
Metalliferous ores and metal scrap
61,118
62.8
20
42.5
Petroleum and petroleum products
16,159
16.6
11
22.9
Crude materials
4,272
4.4
4
8.0
Cement
3,131
3.2
3
5.5
Coal
3,013
3.1
3
5.3
Iron and steel
1,929
2.0
2
3.5
Food (for human and animal consumption)
1,923
2.0
1
2.8
Source: Freight Movements, Australia, Summary, Year ended 31 March 2001 (9220.0).

Air freight activity (domestic)

Air freight accounted for less than 1% of the total domestic freight task in the year ended 31 March 2001. Freight originating from New South Wales and Victoria, together, accounted for over half (54%) of total air freight tonne-kilometres (table 22.12).

22.12 DOMESTIC AIR FREIGHT - Year ended 31 March 2001
State/territory of origin
million tonne-kilometres
million tonnes
New South Wales
74
0.1
Victoria
74
0.1
Queensland
48
-
South Australia
14
-
Western Australia
46
-
Tasmania
9
-
Northern Territory
10
Australian Capital Territory
2
-
Australia
276
0.2
Source: Freight Movements, Australia, Summary, Year ended 31 March 2001 (9220.0).

International freight activity

Sea freight activity (international)

The nature of Australia's trade means that the weight of exports (including coal, iron ore, and agricultural products) far exceeds the weight of the imports. Most of the tonnage of exports and imports is shipped by bulk carriers or tankers.

The weight of exports was 541 million tonnes in 2002, a 7% increase on the previous year, and 25% above the level in 1998-99 (table 22.13). Tonnages of food and live animal exports rose every year between 1998-99 and 2001-02, before falling by 27% in 2002-03 to 23 million tonnes. The export of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials has risen consistently in the five years to 2002-03 (from 187 million tonnes to 230 million tonnes).

The commodity group ‘Crude materials, inedible, except fuels’, which includes iron ore, alumina, zinc ores and wool, accounted for the greatest proportion of total exports by weight in 2002-03 (47%). ‘Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials’ which includes coal and petroleum, accounted for 43% of total exports by weight, in 2002-03. The ‘beverages and tobacco’ export tonnage has increased every year since 1998-99.

The weight of total imports increased by 11% between 1998-99 and 2002-03, from 56 million tonnes to 62 million tonnes. Over this period 'beverages and tobacco' imports by weight rose 76%, and the 'food and live animal' import tonnage rose by 99%.

22.13 INTERNATIONAL SEA FREIGHT, By commodity group
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
EXPORTS
Food and live animals
28,920
29,910
30,369
30,925
22,686
Beverages and tobacco
432
576
805
890
1,591
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
192,479
207,784
222,897
221,755
251,139
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
186,903
198,148
218,191
223,429
230,524
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
474
455
484
690
512
Chemicals and related products n.e.c.
1,336
1,423
1,949
1,718
2,116
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material
7,891
7,702
6,836
12,073
15,228
Machinery and transport equipment
573
629
941
801
847
Miscellaneous manufactured articles
152
202
301
297
593
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC(a)
13,392
15,861
13,431
13,739
15,334
Total
432,552
462,690
496,204
506,317
540,570
IMPORTS
Food and live animals
1,362
1,443
1,565
1,798
2,709
Beverages and tobacco
198
243
311
289
348
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
8,163
8,045
7,863
8,078
8,353
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
28,917
26,952
26,369
27,294
28,702
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
208
225
233
244
282
Chemicals and related products n.e.c.
8,289
9,196
8,929
9,209
9,218
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material
5,406
6,327
5,640
6,480
7,521
Machinery and transport equipment
2,352
2,654
2,372
2,512
2,893
Miscellaneous manufactured articles
1,090
1,204
1,221
1,391
1,611
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC(a)
246
73
77
746
822
Total
56,232
56,361
54,579
58,041
62,459
(a) Standard International Trade Classification.
Source: ABS data available on request, International Trade Special Data Service.

Air freight activity (international)

The total air cargo tonnage coming into Australia, in 2001, was 12% below the level in 2000 (table 22.14). Tonnage of outgoing freight exceeded that of incoming freight (by 21% in 2001).

The tonnage of mail moved out of Australia in 2001 was 6% less than the tonnage of incoming mail. Australian airlines carried 25% of incoming cargo, and 29% of outgoing cargo in 2001.

22.14 SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE TRAFFIC TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA(a)
2000
2001
Freight
Mail
Total cargo
Freight
Mail
Total cargo
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
TRAFFIC TO AUSTRALIA
Qantas Airways Limited
76,526
5,476
82,002
63,724
5,762
69,486
Ansett International(b)
7,597
306
7,903
5,361
143
5,504
Other airlines
247,972
9,760
257,732
220,638
8,917
229,555
All airlines
332,095
15,542
347,637
289,723
14,822
304,545
TRAFFIC FROM AUSTRALIA
Qantas Airways Limited
83,426
11,560
94,986
88,034
12,430
100,464
Ansett International(b)
8,499
12
8,511
6,256
9
6,265
Other airlines
255,927
1,850
257,777
256,088
1,508
257,596
All airlines
347,852
13,422
361,274
350,379
13,946
364,325
(a) Includes Norfolk Island.
(b) Ansett International ceased operations on 14 September 2001.
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.

The combined tonnage of incoming and outgoing air freight (excluding mail) fell by 6% between 2000 and 2001. Table 22.15 shows the main origin/destination pairs for freight moving into and out of Australia. The Auckland/Sydney route was the busiest, accounting for 8% of the total freight carried. The Singapore/Perth and Singapore/Sydney routes recorded the largest increases in 2001 (8% and 4% respectively).

22.15 INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT CARRIED (EXCLUDING MAIL), By city pairs(a)
1998
1999
2000
2001
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
Auckland/Sydney
54,849
54,047
50,090
49,142
Singapore/Melbourne
34,935
51,096
48,574
48,457
Singapore/Sydney
38,758
43,689
46,313
48,164
Hong Kong/Sydney
36,789
34,252
33,976
30,658
Los Angeles/Sydney
26,500
36,061
32,721
27,672
Auckland/Melbourne
32,199
34,722
29,559
30,355
Singapore/Perth
26,160
27,436
27,822
30,073
Hong Kong/Melbourne
23,821
26,031
25,879
23,632
Seoul/Sydney
11,399
12,316
18,792
16,973
Singapore/Brisbane
11,823
14,988
18,337
18,293
Other city pairs
334,674
346,878
347,887
316,684
All city pairs
631,908
681,515
679,948
640,102
(a) The table does not necessarily show the final origin/destination of freight. For example, all freight going to or coming from Europe would require a stopover, generally in Asia.
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.

Domestic road, rail and air passenger activity

Personal travel occurs for many reasons, including school, business, recreation and travel to and from work. While road transport accounts for the majority of domestic passenger trips undertaken, rail services are used by a considerable number of urban commuters. Air services provide for a large proportion of long distance passenger travel.

Road passenger vehicle activity

In the year ending 31 October 2001 Australia's 9.9 million passenger vehicles travelled an estimated total of 143.9 billion kilometres (table 22.16), averaging 14,600 kilometres each per year. The fleet of 55,000 buses travelled a total of 1.8 billion kilometres, while the 349,000 motor cycles travelled a total of 1.4 billion kilometres. Of total passenger vehicle travel, 59% took place within capital cities, while only 46% of bus kilometres were travelled within capital cities.

22.16 MOTOR VEHICLE USE, By state/territory of registration - 2001
Passenger vehicles
Motor cycles
Buses
TOTAL KILOMETRES TRAVELLED (million)
New South Wales
44,480
389
492
Victoria
39,643
352
364
Queensland
28,051
387
468
South Australia
11,977
118
121
Western Australia
13,539
132
259
Tasmania
2,708
25
43
Northern Territory
953
16
55
Australian Capital Territory
2,575
27
34
Australia
143,925
1,448
1,835
NUMBER OF VEHICLES(a) (no.)
New South Wales
3,041,251
91,753
14,407
Victoria
2,637,201
93,780
12,686
Queensland
1,778,871
73,758
12,628
South Australia
865,419
27,234
3,519
Western Australia
1,051,496
44,599
7,279
Tasmania
244,631
8,422
1,735
Northern Territory
67,215
3,537
1,965
Australian Capital Territory
175,723
6,383
859
Australia
9,861,807
349,465
55,078
(a) The average number of vehicles registered for the 12 months. Includes registered vehicles that did not travel during the reference period.
Source: Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia, 12 months ended 31 October 2001 (9208.0).

Rail passenger activity

The number of passengers carried by rail operators is shown in table 22.17. Rail passenger numbers have trended upwards with the number of urban passengers increasing by 28% over the period 1992-93 to 2001-02. Heavy rail has consistently accounted for more than three-quarters of urban rail passenger operations. The 2.8% average annual growth in passenger numbers was above Australia's 1.2% rate of population growth over the period.

22.17 RAIL PASSENGER OPERATIONS(a)
Urban
Heavy rail
Tram and light rail
Total
Non-urban
Total
million persons
million persons
million persons
million persons
million persons
1992-93
396
103
498
7
505
1993-94
402
106
507
8
516
1994-95
420
111
530
9
539
1995-96
441
116
556
9
566
1996-97
456
118
574
10
584
1997-98
457
121
578
10
588
1998-99
463
123
585
10
595
1999-2000
482
137
619
11
629
2000-01
498
137
634
12
646
2001-02(b)
493
143
636
12
648
(a) Excludes tourist services.
(b) 2001-02 data is from the 2003 Yearbook and Industry Directory.
Source: Australasian Railway Association Inc.

Air passenger activity

As at 30 June 2002 there were two major domestic airlines operating in Australia, Qantas and Virgin Blue, providing scheduled services to the 34 major airports. Regional airlines provided connecting services to an additional 133 regional airports.

Following growth in the previous two years, passenger numbers fell in 2002 (table 22.18), while the percentage of vacant seat kilometres also fell in 2002. In 2002, the major domestic airlines accounted for almost 86% of total Australian domestic passenger departures. The regional airlines share of passenger departures has decreased from 17% in 1998 to 15% in 2002.

22.18 DOMESTIC AIRLINE ACTIVITY
Units
1998
1999
2000(a)
2001(a)
2002(a)
Passenger departures(b)
Domestic airlines
'000
23,575
24,392
25,660
26,152
25,808
Regional airlines
'000
4,851
5,039
5,929
5,668
4,390
Total
'000
28,426
29,431
31,590
31,820
30,198
Other activity (domestic airlines only)
Passenger kilometres performed(c)
million
26,774
27,853
29,601
30,410
30,565
Seat kilometres available(d)
million
35,467
36,119
38,232
39,739
38,640
Percentage of vacant seat kilometres
%
24.5
22.9
22.6
23.5
20.9
(a) Includes estimates for regional airlines data.
(b) The unit of measurement is traffic on board (which includes transit traffic). Includes revenue passengers only.
(c) The sum for all flights of the number of passengers on each flight multiplied by the distance travelled.
(d) The sum for all flights of the number of seats on a flight multiplied by distance travelled.
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.

The number of passengers boarding domestic airlines at the principal airports is shown in table 22.19. In 2002, all principal airports except Perth, Darwin, Cairns, Coolangatta, and Launceston recorded decreases in passenger movements compared with 2001. Launceston recorded the strongest growth (12%), Darwin (5%), Coolangatta (4%), and Cairns (3%).

22.19 DOMESTIC PASSENGER MOVEMENTS(a)
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
Principal airport
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
Sydney
(b)14,276
(b)14,879
16,265
(b)16,590
(b)15,192
Melbourne
11,429
(b)11,902
12,939
(b)13,308
(b)12,895
Brisbane
(b)7,438
(b)7,833
8,811
(b)9,946
(b)9,164
Adelaide
(b)3,789
(b)3,869
3,982
(b)4,212
(b)3,999
Perth
3,236
3,258
3,463
3,342
3,371
Canberra
1,805
1,901
2,041
(b)1,970
(b)1,886
Hobart
(b)856
(b)878
928
(b)996
(b)948
Darwin
854
(b)879
907
(b)848
(b)894
Cairns
1,916
(b)2,023
2,133
(b)2,025
(b)2,088
Coolangatta
1,889
(b)1,938
1,918
(b)1,832
(b)1,912
Townsville
(b)704
(b)740
772
(b)955
(b)729
Launceston
536
(b)545
532
(b)509
(b)570
(a) The number of passengers on board arriving at or departing from each airport. Includes passengers in transit who are counted as both arrivals and departures at airports through which they transit.
(b) Includes estimates for unreported data.
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.

International passenger activity

Passengers arriving, or departing, Australia, primarily travel by air.

In 2002 there were 50 international scheduled airlines operating air services to and from Australia.

Of total international passengers (16.4 million) carried to and from Australia in 2001-02 (table 22.20), 3.5 million travelled between Australia and New Zealand and 2.9 million travelled between Australia and Singapore.

22.20 SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA - 2001-02
Inbound
Outbound
Total
Country to/from
'000
'000
'000

Argentina
28.3
29.5
57.9
Austria
58.0
66.1
124.1
Bahrain
21.8
19.2
41.1
Brunei
51.2
54.2
105.5
Canada
39.4
41.7
81.1
China (excl. SARs & Taiwan Prov.)
131.5
118.2
249.7
Egypt
14.2
14.6
28.8
Fiji
157.9
158.3
316.2
France
28.4
32.2
60.7
Germany
61.0
68.6
129.7
Greece
25.0
24.6
49.6
Guam
10.7
10.7
21.4
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
569.4
549.3
1,118.7
India
13.8
11.3
25.0
Indonesia
366.9
369.7
736.6
Italy
43.4
40.6
84.0
Japan
771.1
772.3
1,543.4
Korea, Republic of (South)
183.2
178.3
361.5
Malaysia
457.6
451.2
908.8
Mauritius
13.8
13.3
27.1
Nauru
5.9
5.6
11.5
New Caledonia
58.3
58.9
117.3
New Zealand
1,733.7
1,765.0
3,498.7
Papua New Guinea
72.1
71.5
143.6
Philippines
66.1
64.9
131.0
Singapore
1,487.1
1,433.1
2,920.1
South Africa
111.7
98.9
210.6
Sri Lanka(a)
2.0
1.7
3.8
Tahiti
0.3
3.5
3.8
Taiwan
87.6
84.8
172.4
Thailand
422.0
406.5
828.6
Tonga
2.0
1.7
3.6
United Kingdom
309.9
317.1
627.0
United Arab Emirates
100.0
104.3
204.3
United States of America
671.4
677.6
1,349.0
Vanuatu
30.4
30.1
60.5
Vietnam
42.7
41.6
84.4
Western Samoa
4.2
3.9
8.1
Total
8,254.1
8,194.9
16,449.0
(a) Service by SriLankan Airlines ceased July 2001.
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.

Table 22.21 shows the number of international passengers who travelled through each of Australia's international airports. Sydney's share of total international passenger traffic was 48% in 2001-02 (down 7% from 2000-01), followed by Melbourne with 20% (up 1%), and Brisbane with 15% (down 3%). In 2002, Coolangatta's international passenger numbers were 98% higher than in the previous year. International passenger numbers at Darwin airport were 26% lower in 2002. International operations ceased at Broome airport in 2001.

22.21 INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC THROUGH AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
Airport
'000 passengers
'000 passengers
'000 passengers
Sydney
7,703
8,538
7,959
Melbourne
2,833
3,252
3,297
Brisbane
2,430
2,539
2,457
Perth
1,517
1,607
1,596
Cairns
656
701
691
Adelaide
254
264
230
Darwin
153
172
128
Coolangatta
21
34
67
Norfolk Island
15
15
17
Newcastle(a)
-
-
9
Townsville(b)
-
-
0.4
Broome(c)
0.7
4
0.3
Port Hedland(d)
1
-
-
Total
15,584
17,127
16,449
(a) International operations commenced December 2001.
(b) International operations recommenced October 2001 and ceased again in March 2002.
(c) International operations recommenced April 2000 and ceased July 2001.
(d) International operations ceased January 2000.
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.



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