TRANSPORT ACTIVITY
Domestic airline activity
The total hours flown and the number of aircraft departures by the major domestic and regional airlines are shown in graph 24.6. In 2006 there were 801 hours flown, while aircraft departures totalled 526.
24.6 Domestic airline activity, major and regional airlines
![Graph: 24.6 Domestic airline activity, major and regional airlines](/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/bb8db737e2af84b8ca2571780015701e/83370ca43c85ce6eca2573d20010be45/Body/0.36E!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
In addition to domestic and regional scheduled services, activities undertaken by the general aviation industry include business flying, aerial agriculture, charter, training and private flying (graph 24.7). Charter, flying training and private/business activity accounted for 76% of general aviation hours flown in 2005.
24.7 General aviation activity, hours flown
- 2005
![Graph: 24.7 General aviation activity, hours flown—2005](/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/bb8db737e2af84b8ca2571780015701e/83370ca43c85ce6eca2573d20010be45/Body/0.D6E!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)
Road transport activity
Motor vehicles travelled an estimated total distance of 206,383 million kilometres (km) in the year ended 31 October 2005, at an average of 15,500 km per vehicle (table 24.8). Business use accounted for an estimated 33% of aggregate distance travelled, and private use 67%. Of total private use travel, 35% consisted of travel to and from work, and 65% for personal and other use travel.
24.8 BUSINESS AND PRIVATE VEHICLE USE - Year ended 31 October 2005 |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Business | Private | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Type of vehicle | Laden | Unladen | Total(a) | To and from work | Personal and other use | Total | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED (mill. km) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Passenger vehicles | . . | . . | 31 039 | 42 542 | 81 488 | 155 068 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Motor cycles | . . | . . | *194 | *356 | 879 | 1 429 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Light commercial vehicles | 15 537 | 6 301 | 21 838 | 5 417 | 6 508 | 33 764 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Rigid trucks | 5 169 | 2 213 | 7 382 | *183 | *106 | 7 671 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Articulated trucks | 4 777 | 1 522 | 6 299 | *7 | *2 | 6 308 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Non-freight carrying trucks | . . | . . | *283 | **3 | . . | *286 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Buses | . . | . . | 1 783 | *28 | *45 | 1 856 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Total | 25 483 | 10 037 | 68 819 | 48 536 | 89 029 | 206 383 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
AVERAGE DISTANCE TRAVELLED (‘000 km)(b) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Passenger vehicles | . . | . . | 9.7 | 7.7 | 8.6 | 14.6 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Motor cycles | . . | . . | *3.7 | *3.3 | 3.0 | 4.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Light commercial vehicles | 13.5 | 8.2 | 17.7 | 8.3 | 6.7 | 17.8 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Rigid trucks | 16.8 | 9.2 | 23.7 | *5.6 | *3.6 | 23.0 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Articulated trucks | 75.9 | 29.3 | 99.1 | *4.5 | *2.0 | 97.9 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Non-freight carrying trucks | . . | . . | 15.2 | **6.3 | *0.9 | 15.2 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Buses | . . | . . | 31.5 | *6.3 | *7.3 | 30.4 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
All vehicles | 16.8 | 9.5 | 13.9 | 7.6 | 8.3 | 15.5 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use |
. . not applicable |
(a) Includes business travel of non-freight carrying vehicles. |
(b) Average distance travelled for registered vehicles which were used. |
Source: Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia (9208.0). |
The localities in which motor vehicles travelled are described in table 24.9. Only 5.0% of total distance travelled represented interstate trips, while 53% of trips were within the capital city of the state or territory in which the vehicle was registered.
24.9 LOCATION OF VEHICLE OPERATION - Year ended 31 October 2005 |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Within state/territory of registration | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Type of vehicle | Capital city | Provincial urban | Other areas of state/territory | Total | Interstate | Total | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED (mill. km) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Passenger vehicles | 85 400 | 28 438 | 33 796 | 147 635 | *7 433 | 155 068 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Motor cycles | *649 | *231 | *458 | 1 338 | *92 | 1 429 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Light commercial vehicles | 16 718 | 5 567 | 10 685 | 32 970 | *794 | 33 764 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Rigid trucks | 3 914 | 1 316 | 2 161 | 7 391 | *280 | 7 671 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Articulated trucks | 1 078 | 448 | 3 038 | 4 565 | 1 744 | 6 308 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Non-freight carrying trucks | *131 | *58 | *93 | *281 | **5 | *286 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Buses | 910 | *378 | *502 | 1 790 | *66 | 1 856 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Total | 108 801 | 36 435 | 50 733 | 195 969 | *10 414 | 206 383 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
AVERAGE DISTANCE TRAVELLED (’000 km)(a) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Passenger vehicles | 11.2 | 8.1 | 10.1 | 14.0 | *8.3 | 14.6 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Motor cycles | *3.6 | *2.3 | *3.5 | 3.9 | *4.2 | 4.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Light commercial vehicles | 16.2 | 10.9 | 14.3 | 17.5 | *7.8 | 17.8 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Rigid trucks | 23.0 | 15.9 | 15.5 | 22.3 | *14.5 | 23.0 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Articulated trucks | 31.0 | 24.8 | 67.6 | 72.7 | 85.6 | 97.9 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Non-freight carrying trucks | *15.1 | *15.0 | *11.1 | 15.1 | **14.5 | 15.2 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Buses | 27.3 | *24.7 | 22.4 | 29.6 | *17.8 | 30.4 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
All vehicles | 11.9 | 8.6 | 11.4 | 14.8 | 9.8 | 15.5 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use |
(a) Average distance travelled for registered vehicles which were used. |
Source: Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia (9208.0). |
Transport 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 ended 31 October 2005 Australia's 11 million (mill.) registered passenger vehicles travelled an estimated 155 billion km (table 24.10), each averaging 14,100 km per year. Just over 421,500 motor cycles travelled 1.4 billion km, while the fleet of just over 62,000 buses travelled 1.9 billion km.
24.10 MOTOR VEHICLE USE, By state/territory of registration - 2005(a) |
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![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Passenger vehicles | Motor cycles | Buses | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED (mill. km) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
New South Wales | 48 662 | *337 | 541 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Victoria | 40 398 | *401 | *406 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Queensland | 31 457 | *362 | *416 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
South Australia | 10 948 | *92 | 131 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Western Australia | 16 263 | *157 | *224 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Tasmania | 3 767 | *27 | 42 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Northern Territory | 923 | *18 | *65 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Australian Capital Territory | 2 651 | *35 | *30 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Australia | 155 068 | 1 429 | 1 856 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
NUMBER OF VEHICLES(b) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
New South Wales | 3 357 074 | 114 019 | 17 534 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Victoria | 2 980 353 | 107 613 | 13 146 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Queensland | 2 063 409 | 97 551 | 14 161 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
South Australia | 903 868 | 29 625 | 3 902 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Western Australia | 1 178 643 | 53 033 | 8 194 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Tasmania | 267 501 | 9 216 | 1 959 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Northern Territory | 71 801 | 3 436 | 2 561 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Australian Capital Territory | 187 857 | 7 055 | 893 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Australia | 11 010 506 | 421 549 | 62 350 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
* estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution |
(a) Year ended 31 October 2005. |
(b) The average number of vehicles registered for the 12 months. Includes registered vehicles that did not travel during the year. |
Source: Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia (9208.0). |
Rail passenger activity
The passenger operations of rail operators are shown in table 24.11. Between 2003-04 and 2004-05 urban heavy rail and tram/light rail passenger numbers increased by 0.4% and 4.0% respectively, while non-urban passenger numbers were unchanged. Heavy rail accounted for 79% of urban rail passenger operations in 2004-05.
24.11 RAIL PASSENGER OPERATIONS |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Urban | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Heavy rail | Tram and light rail | Total | Non-urban | Total | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | mill. passengers | mill. passengers | mill. passengers | mill. passengers | mill. passengers | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
2003-04 | 476 | 125 | 601 | 9 | 610 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
2004-05 | 478 | 130 | 607 | 9 | 616 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Source: Australasian Railway Association Inc. |
Domestic air passenger activity
At 30 June 2006 three major domestic airlines operated in Australia - Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar. Regional airlines provided connecting services to the regional airports. There are 256 regulated airports in Australia and its external territories.
Passenger departures were 7.2% higher in 2006, compared with 2005 (table 24.12), while the percentage of vacant seat-kilometres was steady at 21%. In 2006 domestic airlines accounted for 88% of total Australian domestic passenger departures, and regional airlines 12%.
The number of domestic passengers boarding airlines at the principal airports in Australia is shown in table 24.13. In 2006 all principal airports recorded increases in passenger movements compared with 2005. The strongest growth was recorded in Perth and Townsville (both 14%), followed by Launceston (9%). The lowest growth was recorded in Canberra (3%) and Hobart (1%).
24.13 DOMESTIC PASSENGER MOVEMENTS(a) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | 2005 | 2006 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Principal airport | '000 | '000 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Sydney | (b)18 940 | 20 119 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Melbourne | 16 505 | 17 277 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Brisbane | 12 103 | 12 943 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Adelaide | (b)5 262 | 5 592 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Perth | 4 755 | 5 430 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Canberra | 2 525 | 2 613 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Hobart | 1 600 | 1 618 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Darwin | (b)1 111 | 1 186 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Cairns | 2 843 | 2 967 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Coolangatta | 3 243 | 3 423 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Townsville | 1 151 | 1 308 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Launceston | 887 | 963 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
(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 air passenger activity
Passengers arriving or departing Australia primarily travel by air.
Of total international passengers (21.5 million) carried to and from Australia in 2006, 4.9 million travelled between Australia and New Zealand and 3.7 million travelled between Australia and Singapore (table 24.14).
24.14 SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA - 2006 |
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![](/icons/ecblank.gif) | Inbound | Outbound | Total | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Country to/from | '000 passengers | '000 passengers | '000 passengers | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Argentina | 20.2 | 19.0 | 39.2 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Austria | 89.5 | 97.0 | 186.6 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Bahrain | 51.7 | 49.3 | 101.0 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Brunei | 71.9 | 70.2 | 142.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Canada | 53.6 | 59.5 | 113.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Chile | 29.9 | 31.1 | 61.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
China (excl. SARs & Taiwan) | 298.8 | 273.0 | 571.8 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Cook Islands | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Fiji | 265.2 | 265.1 | 530.3 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Germany | 44.5 | 46.0 | 90.5 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Guam | 12.0 | 12.0 | 24.0 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Hong Kong (SAR of China) | 894.0 | 847.7 | 1 741.7 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
India | 32.3 | 30.0 | 62.3 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Indonesia | 236.3 | 243.1 | 479.4 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Japan | 784.1 | 785.8 | 1 569.9 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Korea, Republic of (South) | 212.5 | 206.2 | 418.7 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Malaysia | 554.1 | 547.0 | 1 101.0 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Mauritius | 27.0 | 25.1 | 52.0 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Nauru | 2.3 | 2.2 | 4.5 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
New Caledonia | 63.9 | 64.0 | 127.9 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
New Zealand | 2 445.2 | 2 469.9 | 4 915.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Papua New Guinea | 76.2 | 75.8 | 152.0 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Philippines | 76.5 | 69.6 | 146.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Singapore | 1 902.5 | 1 788.8 | 3 691.3 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Solomon Islands | 14.6 | 14.6 | 29.2 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
South Africa | 114.8 | 104.4 | 219.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Tahiti | 22.2 | 23.2 | 45.4 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Taiwan | 100.3 | 100.1 | 200.4 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Thailand | 499.7 | 490.5 | 990.2 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Tonga | 10.3 | 9.9 | 20.2 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
United Kingdom | 379.8 | 385.6 | 765.4 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
United Arab Emirates | 472.6 | 458.5 | 931.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
United States of America | 833.4 | 832.2 | 1 665.6 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Vanuatu | 46.0 | 45.2 | 91.2 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Vietnam | 80.5 | 84.8 | 165.4 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Western Samoa | 16.9 | 17.3 | 34.1 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Total | 10 835.7 | 10 644.3 | 21 480.0 | ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
| ![](/icons/ecblank.gif) |
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services. |
Graph 24.15 shows the number of international passengers who travelled through each of Australia's international airports in 2006. Sydney's share of total international passenger traffic was 46%, followed by Melbourne (20%) and Brisbane (18%).
24.15 International passengers, Australian international airports
- 2006
![Graph: 24.15 International passengers, Australian international airports—2006](/Ausstats/abs@.nsf/bb8db737e2af84b8ca2571780015701e/83370ca43c85ce6eca2573d20010be45/Body/1.4D4C!OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif)