1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2005  
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Contents >> Transport >> Transport activity

General transport activity

Road transport activity

Motor vehicles travelled an estimated total distance of 192,209 million kilometres (km) in the year ended 31 October 2002, at an average of 15,600 km per vehicle (table 22.7). Business use accounted for an estimated 35% of aggregate distance travelled, while people's journeys to and from work accounted for a further 22%. Private use made up the remaining 43%.


22.7 BUSINESS AND PRIVATE VEHICLE USE - Year ended 31 October 2002
Business
Type of vehicle
Laden
Unladen
Total(a)
To and from work
Private
Total
TOTAL KILOMETRES TRAVELLED (million)
Passenger vehicles
n.a.
n.a.
33,712
36,151
74,813
144,676
Motor cycles
n.a.
n.a.
*321
*540
*819
1,681
Light commercial vehicles
14,054
5,624
19,677
5,527
6,145
31,349
Rigid trucks
4,830
2,049
6,879
*156
*45
7,080
Articulated trucks
4,012
1,405
5,417
*5
*2
5,425
Non-freight carrying trucks
n.a.
n.a.
221
**2
**2
224
Buses
n.a.
n.a.
1,641
*28
*106
1,775
Total
22,896
9,077
67,868
42,410
81,932
192,209
AVERAGE KILOMETRES TRAVELLED(b) (’000)
Passenger vehicles
-
-
11.6
7.1
8.5
14.7
Motor cycles
-
-
*6.5
*6.1
3.8
6.0
Light commercial vehicles
14.0
8.8
17.9
8.1
7.2
18.0
Rigid trucks
16.2
8.7
22.9
*5.4
*2.4
22.4
Articulated trucks
70.4
28.7
94.2
*4.8
*2.5
93.6
Non-freight carrying trucks
-
-
14.2
*3.3
**3.0
14.4
Buses
-
-
33.2
*7.1
*12.7
32.0
Total
16.8
9.9
15.2
7.2
8.3
15.6
(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, 12 months ended 31 October 2002 (9208.0).


The localities in which motor vehicles travelled are described in table 22.8. Only 5% 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.


22.8 AREA OF OPERATION - Year ended 31 October 2002
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
86,304
18,716
33,181
138,201
6,475
144,676
Motor cycles
846
285
424
1,554
126
1,681
Light commercial vehicles
13,601
4,518
11,702
29,822
1,528
31,349
Rigid trucks
3,767
980
2,089
6,835
244
7,080
Articulated trucks
1,007
396
2,524
3,927
1,497
5,425
Non-freight carrying trucks
118
44
54
216
8
224
Buses
832
314
544
1,689
86
1,775
Total
106,475
25,253
50,517
182,245
9,964
192,209
AVERAGE KILOMETRES TRAVELLED(a) (’000)
Passenger vehicles
11.9
6.6
9.5
14.1
6.9
14.7
Motor cycles
6.0
4.3
3.7
5.8
4.7
6.0
Light commercial vehicles
15.7
9.7
13.9
17.3
14.6
18.0
Rigid trucks
23.4
14.3
14.2
21.8
15.3
22.4
Articulated trucks
32.0
19.6
61.0
69.8
83.2
93.6
Non-freight carrying trucks
17.8
11.7
6.9
13.7
7.6
14.1
Buses
26.6
21.0
23.5
30.7
16.4
32.0
Total
12.5
7.3
10.8
14.9
9.0
15.6
(a) Average distance travelled for registered vehicles which were used.

Source: Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia, 12 months ended 31 October 2002 (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 22.9. Hours flown in 2003 were 4% more than in 2002, while aircraft departures were marginally lower compared with 2002.

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 22.10).


22.9 DOMESTIC AIRLINE ACTIVITY, Major and regional airlines
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
Hours flown
749
751
788
759
667
693
Aircraft departures
585
588
606
564
479
477
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.


22.10 GENERAL AVIATION ACTIVITY, Hours flown
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
Charter
487
498
508
480
469
446
438
Agricultural
137
147
135
124
114
71
60
Flying training
455
484
454
419
411
411
424
Other aerial work
315
319
314
304
300
327
331
Private/business
446
430
432
388
409
412
386
Total
1,839
1,878
1,842
1,715
1,703
1,667
1,639
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.


International airline activity

The number of flights into and out of Australia rose in 2003 compared with 2002 (table 22.11). The share of total scheduled international airline traffic that was provided by Australian-owned airlines - Qantas and Australian Airlines - declined marginally from 32% in 2002 to 31% in 2003.


22.11 SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE TRAFFIC TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA(a)(b)(c)
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
TRAFFIC TO AUSTRALIA
Qantas Airways Limited
12,675
13,751
14,702
(d)13,953
12,995
Ansett International(e)
1,640
1,450
1,046
-
-
Australian Airlines(f)
-
-
-
-
1,262
Other airlines
27,219
30,633
30,536
29,863
31,894
All airlines
41,534
45,834
46,284
43,816
46,151
TRAFFIC FROM AUSTRALIA
Qantas Airways Limited
12,733
13,817
14,714
(d)13,989
12,996
Ansett International(e)
1,646
1,454
1,048
-
-
Australian Airlines(f)
-
-
-
-
1,263
Other airlines
26,713
30,083
30,101
29,609
31,758
All airlines
41,092
45,354
45,863
43,598
46,017
(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.
(f) Services commenced in October 2002.

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 22.12), 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.


22.12 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 22.13. 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.


22.13 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

Rail freight travelled 164.4 billion tonne-kilometres in 2002-03, an increase of 7% over the 153.1 billion tonne-kilometres travelled in 2001-02 (table 22.14).

In 2002-03, 598.6 million tonnes of freight was carried by rail, an increase of 6% on the 566.3 million tonnes carried in 2001-02.


22.14 RAIL FREIGHT, Tonne-kilometres and tonnes carried
2001-02
2002-03
Change from 2001-02 to 2002-03
million
million
%
Tonne-kilometres
153,146
164,437
7.4
Tonnes
566.3
598.6
5.7
Source: Rail Freight Movements, Australia, Summary - Electronic Delivery (9220.0.55.001).

The two commodity groups of Crude materials, inedible, except fuels, and Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials combined accounted for 89% (506.1 million) of tonnes carried in 2001-02 and 91% (543.0 million) in 2002-03 (table 22.15).

The tonnes carried for the commodity group Crude materials, inedible, except fuels increased by 13% (33.1 million) between 2001-02 and 2002-03. This commodity accounted for 49.5% (296.5 million) of the total tonnes carried in 2002-03 and 46.5% (263.5 million) in 2001-02.

Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials showed a small increase of 2% over the two periods rising from 242.6 million tonnes to 246.4 million tonnes carried.

The tonnage of Food and live animals carried fell 28% (7.8 million) from 27.8 million tonnes to 20.0 million tonnes between 2001-02 and 2002-03.


22.15 COMMODITIES MOVED BY RAIL, Tonnes carried
2001-02
2002-03
Commodity group
'000 tonnes
% of total
'000 tonnes
% of total
Food and live animals
27,793
4.9
20,019
3.3
Beverages and tobacco
56
-
72
-
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
263,509
46.5
296,588
49.5
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
242,559
42.8
246,404
41.2
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
-
-
-
-
Chemical and related products n.e.s.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials
11,089
2.0
12,313
2.1
Machinery and transport equipment
60
-
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
Miscellaneous manufactured articles
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
Commodities and transactions n.e.s.
18,355
3.2
19,919
3.3
Total
566,284
100.0
598,593
100.0
(a) Not available for publication, included in total.

Source: Rail Freight Movements, Australia, Summary - Electronic Delivery (9220.0.55.001).


In 2002-03 a total of 164.4 billion tonne-kilometres of freight was moved by rail, compared with 153.1 billion in 2001-02. Solid bulk as a method of freight transport accounted for a total of 123.1 billion tonne-kilometres in 2001-02 and 130.5 billion tonne-kilometres in 2002-03 (table 22.16). This represented approximately 80% of the total tonne-kilometres travelled in each of these periods.

Freight in containers accounted for 14.5% (22.2 billion) of all tonne-kilometres travelled in 2001-02 and 15.9% (26.2 billion) in 2002-03. This represents an increase of 18% between the two periods.


22.16 METHOD OF RAIL TRANSPORT, Tonne-kilometres
2001-02
2002-03
million tonne-kilometres
% of total
million tonne-kilometres
% of total
Solid bulk
123,116
80.4
130,503
79.4
Liquid bulk
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
Freight in containers
22,179
14.5
26,224
15.9
Other freight
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
(a)n.p.
Total
153,146
100.0
164,437
100.0
(a) Not available for publication, included in total.

Source: Rail Freight Movements, Australia, Summary - Electronic Delivery (9220.0.55.001).


For 2002-03, 562 million tonnes of freight was moved as solid bulk (table 22.17). This represents an increase of 5% on the 533 million tonnes carried by this method in 2001-02. Approximately 94% of all tonnes carried in both reference periods was in the form of solid bulk.

Freight in containers was the method of transport for approximately 4% of all the tonnes carried in both periods. The tonnage of freight transported in containers increased 5% between the two periods from 22 million tonnes to 23 million tonnes.

22.17 METHOD OF RAIL TRANSPORT, Tonnes
2001-02
2002-03
'000 tonnes
% of total
'000 tonnes
% of total
Solid bulk
532,790
94.1
561,519
93.8
Liquid bulk
2,663
0.5
3,331
0.6
Freight in containers
22,387
4.0
23,450
3.9
Other freight
8,444
1.5
10,293
1.7
Total
566,284
100.0
598,593
100.0
Source: Rail Freight Movements, Australia, Summary - Electronic Delivery (9220.0.55.001).


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 22.18). This domestic sea freight task amounted to 97.3 billion tonne-kilometres, representing 30% of the aggregate of freight tonne-kilometres travelled within Australia by all transport modes.


22.18 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 22.19).


22.19 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 22.20).


22.20 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 foreign 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 563 million tonnes in 2003-04, a 4% increase on the previous year, and 30% above the level in 1998-99 (table 22.21). Tonnages of food and live animal exports rose every year between 1998-99 and 2001-02, before falling by 26% to 23 million tonnes in 2002-03. The food and live animals tonnage recovered in 2003-04. The export of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials has risen from 187 million tonnes in 1998-99 to 238 million tonnes in 2003-04.

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 2003-04 (47%). Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials which includes coal and petroleum, accounted for 42%. Beverages and tobacco export tonnage increased every year between 1998-99 and 2002-03, then dropped by 10% in 2003-04.

The weight of total imports increased by 13% between 1998-99 and 2003-04, from 56 million tonnes to 63 million tonnes. Over this period the commodity group Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material rose by 57%.


22.21 INTERNATIONAL SEA FREIGHT, By commodity group
1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
'000 tonnes
EXPORTS
Food and live animals
28,920
29,910
30,369
30,925
22,763
30,236
Beverages and tobacco
432
576
805
890
1,593
1,432
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
192,479
207,784
222,897
221,755
251,545
266,031
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
186,903
198,148
218,191
223,429
230,785
237,541
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
474
455
484
690
487
528
Chemicals and related products n.e.c.
1,336
1,423
1,949
1,718
2,086
2,036
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material
7,891
7,702
6,836
12,073
15,606
8,310
Machinery and transport equipment
573
629
941
801
848
963
Miscellaneous manufactured articles
152
202
301
297
593
213
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC(a)
13,392
15,861
13,431
13,739
15,166
15,414
Total
432,552
462,690
496,204
506,316
541,474
562,704
IMPORTS
Food and live animals
1,362
1,443
1,565
1,798
2,708
2,176
Beverages and tobacco
198
243
311
289
348
345
Crude materials, inedible, except fuels
8,163
8,045
7,863
8,078
8,366
8,155
Mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials
28,917
26,952
26,369
27,294
28,661
29,225
Animal and vegetable oils, fats and waxes
208
225
233
244
282
290
Chemicals and related products n.e.c.
8,289
9,196
8,929
9,209
9,213
9,436
Manufactured goods classified chiefly by material
5,406
6,327
5,640
6,480
7,519
8,496
Machinery and transport equipment
2,352
2,654
2,372
2,512
2,893
3,321
Miscellaneous manufactured articles
1,090
1,204
1,221
1,391
1,611
1,810
Commodities and transactions not classified elsewhere in the SITC(a)
246
73
77
746
823
200
Total
56,232
56,361
54,579
58,041
62,422
63,455
(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 2003 was 3% more than in 2002 (table 22.22). Tonnage of incoming freight exceeded outgoing freight by 5%.

The total tonnage of mail moved out of Australia in 2003 was almost identical to the tonnage of incoming mail. The two operating Australian airlines carried 22% of total incoming cargo and 27% of total outgoing cargo in 2003.


22.22 SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE TRAFFIC TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA(a)
2002
2003
Freight
Mail
Total cargo
Freight
Mail
Total cargo
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
INCOMING TRAFFIC
Qantas Airways Limited
66,226
5,724
71,950
63,987
5,243
69,230
Australian Airlines(b)
263
-
263
3,447
16
3,463
Other airlines
238,606
8,354
246,960
246,185
8,890
255,075
All airlines
305,095
14,078
319,173
313,619
14,149
327,768
OUTGOING TRAFFIC
Qantas Airways Limited
80,084
13,621
93,705
66,263
12,843
79,106
Australian Airlines(b)
1,230
-
1,230
5,551
36
5,587
Other airlines
259,517
1,013
260,530
225,735
1,286
227,021
All airlines
340,831
14,634
355,465
297,549
14,165
311,714
(a) Includes Norfolk Island.
(b) Services commenced in October 2002.

Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.


The combined tonnage of incoming and outgoing air freight (excluding mail) fell by 5% between 2002 and 2003. Table 22.23 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 Los Angeles/Sydney and Singapore/Sydney routes recorded the largest decreases in freight carried between 2002 and 2003 (20% and 11% respectively).


22.23 INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT CARRIED (EXCLUDING MAIL), By city pairs(a)
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
tonnes
Auckland/Sydney
54,849
54,047
50,090
49,142
47,930
51,466
Singapore/Melbourne
34,935
51,096
48,574
48,457
51,012
51,210
Singapore/Sydney
38,758
43,689
46,313
48,164
48,540
43,279
Hong Kong/Sydney
36,789
34,252
33,976
30,658
30,170
29,970
Los Angeles/Sydney
26,500
36,061
32,721
27,672
27,753
22,218
Auckland/Melbourne
32,199
34,722
29,559
30,355
32,961
32,668
Singapore/Perth
26,160
27,436
27,822
30,073
25,436
26,129
Hong Kong/Melbourne
23,821
26,031
25,879
23,632
23,929
23,817
Seoul/Sydney
11,399
12,316
18,792
16,973
-
-
Kuala Lumpur/Melbourne
-
-
-
12,943
21,121
19,976
Singapore/Brisbane
11,823
14,988
18,337
18,293
18,734
18,633
Other city pairs
334,674
346,878
347,887
320,734
318,340
291,802
All city pairs
631,908
681,515
679,948
640,121
645,926
611,168
(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 2002 Australia's 10.2 million passenger vehicles travelled an estimated 144.7 billion km (table 22.24), each averaging 14,200 km per year. Just over 367,000 motor cycles travelled 1.7 billion km, while the fleet of almost 57,000 buses travelled 1.8 billion km.


22.24 MOTOR VEHICLE USE, By state/territory of registration - 2002
Passenger vehicles
Motor cycles
Buses
TOTAL KILOMETRES TRAVELLED (million)
New South Wales
46,263
601
565
Victoria
40,273
323
329
Queensland
25,320
479
363
South Australia
11,802
72
144
Western Australia
14,183
114
226
Tasmania
3,123
32
46
Northern Territory
1,077
*20
71
Australian Capital Territory
2,635
39
31
Australia
144,676
1,681
1,775
NUMBER OF VEHICLES(a)
New South Wales
3,124,190
95,196
16,424
Victoria
2,795,305
100,702
11,703
Queensland
1,854,506
79,586
13,084
South Australia
859,417
26,793
3,783
Western Australia
1,068,105
46,435
7,000
Tasmania
246,632
8,131
1,794
Northern Territory
69,044
3,511
2,206
Australian Capital Territory
177,436
6,902
759
Australia
10,194,637
367,258
56,754
(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 2002 (9208.0).


Rail passenger activity

The passenger operations of rail operators are shown in table 22.25. The number of urban passengers increased by 28% over the period 1992-93 to 2001-02, but fell to 586 million in 2002-03. Total rail passengers also fell from 648 million in 2001-02 to 595 million in 2002-03. Heavy rail has consistently accounted for more than three-quarters of urban rail passenger operations.


22.25 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
493
143
636
12
648
2002-03
466
120
586
9
595
(a) Excludes tourist services.
Source: Australasian Railway Association Inc.


Air passenger activity

At 30 June 2003 there were two major domestic airlines operating in Australia - Qantas and Virgin Blue - providing scheduled services to the 34 major airports. Another carrier, Jetstar Airways, commenced operation in May 2004. Regional airlines provided connecting services to an additional 133 regional airports.

Passenger departures were 10% higher in 2003, compared with 2002 (table 22.26), while the percentage of vacant seat kilometres fell. In 2003 the major domestic airlines accounted for 87% of total Australian domestic passenger departures. The regional airlines share of passenger departures has decreased from 17% in 1998 to 13% in 2003.


22.26 DOMESTIC AIRLINE ACTIVITY
Units
1998
1999
2000(a)
2001(a)
2002(a)
2003(a)
Passenger departures(b)
Domestic airlines
'000
23,575
24,392
25,660
26,152
25,808
28,949
Regional airlines
'000
4,851
5,039
5,929
5,668
4,354
4,165
Total
'000
28,426
29,431
31,590
31,820
30,162
33,114
Other activity (domestic airlines only)
Passenger kilometres performed(c)
million
26,774
27,853
29,601
30,410
30,565
34,643
Seat kilometres available(d)
million
35,467
36,119
38,232
39,739
38,640
43,202
Percentage of vacant seat kilometres
%
24.5
22.9
22.6
23.5
20.9
19.8
(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 domestic passengers boarding airlines at the principal airports is shown in table 22.27. In 2003 all principal airports recorded increases in passenger movements compared with 2002. The strongest growth was recorded in Hobart (16%), followed by Perth (15%), Townsville (14%), and Coolangatta (12%). Darwin recorded the lowest level of growth (3%).


22.27 DOMESTIC PASSENGER MOVEMENTS(a)
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Principal airport
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
Sydney
(b)14,276
(b)14,882
16,241
(b)16,565
(b)15,195
(b)16,546
Melbourne
11,429
(b)11,901
12,934
(b)13,266
(b)12,883
(b)14,021
Brisbane
(b)7,438
(b)7,833
8,811
(b)9,946
(b)9,164
(b)10,105
Adelaide
(b)3,789
(b)3,861
3,963
(b)4,182
(b)3,994
(b)4,384
Perth
3,236
3,258
3,463
3,342
3,371
3,893
Canberra
1,805
1,901
2,041
(b)1,973
(b)1,886
(b)2,074
Hobart
(b)856
(b)878
928
(b)996
(b)948
(b)1,102
Darwin
854
(b)879
907
(b)848
(b)894
(b)924
Cairns
1,916
(b)2,023
2,133
(b)2,025
(b)2,088
(b)2,245
Coolangatta
1,889
(b)1,938
1,918
(b)1,832
(b)1,912
(b)2,143
Townsville
(b)704
(b)740
772
(b)806
(b)781
(b)889
Launceston
536
(b)545
532
(b)509
(b)570
(b)608
(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.

Of total international passengers (16.4 million) carried to and from Australia in 2003 (table 22.28), 3.9 million travelled between Australia and New Zealand and 2.9 million travelled between Australia and Singapore.


22.28 SCHEDULED INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC TO AND FROM AUSTRALIA - 2003
Inbound
Outbound
Total
Country to/from
'000
'000
'000
Argentina
14.5
14.8
29.2
Austria
78.4
83.1
161.5
Bahrain
3.0
4.9
7.9
Brunei
47.1
50.7
97.8
Canada
44.0
49.1
93.1
China (excl. SARs & Taiwan Prov.)
125.2
119.4
244.6
Fiji
190.3
189.4
379.7
France
9.6
7.0
16.6
Germany
42.9
38.5
81.4
Guam
12.4
12.8
25.2
Hong Kong (SAR of China)
518.6
487.9
1,006.5
Indonesia
252.6
264.3
516.9
Italy
8.2
5.8
14.0
Japan
771.8
773.0
1,544.8
Korea, Republic of (South)
201.6
190.1
391.7
Malaysia
466.6
442.3
908.9
Mauritius
14.7
14.7
29.4
Nauru
5.7
5.3
11.0
New Caledonia
57.9
56.7
114.6
New Zealand
1,913.5
1,956.7
3,870.2
Papua New Guinea
63.0
64.2
127.1
Philippines
69.4
68.1
137.5
Singapore
1,513.1
1,440.5
2,953.6
Solomon Islands
9.0
9.1
18.1
South Africa
117.9
104.0
221.9
Tahiti
-
0.4
0.4
Taiwan
87.8
87.3
175.1
Thailand
387.0
388.7
775.7
Tonga
2.1
2.3
4.4
United Kingdom
291.3
294.3
585.6
United Arab Emirates
217.7
211.7
429.4
United States of America
651.7
655.1
1,306.8
Vanuatu
28.5
28.3
56.8
Vietnam
22.2
36.7
58.9
Western Samoa
5.1
6.1
11.2
Total
8,263.1
8,182.4
16,445.5
Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.


Table 22.29 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 2003, followed by Melbourne with 19%, and Brisbane with 15%. In 2003 the Gold Coast/Coolangatta's international passenger numbers were 23% higher than in the previous year. International passenger numbers at Darwin airport were 25% lower in 2003 compared with 2002.


22.29 INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER TRAFFIC THROUGH AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS
2001
2002
2003
Airport
'000 passengers
'000 passengers
'000 passengers
Sydney
8,229
8,007
7,925
Melbourne
3,316
3,314
3,199
Brisbane
2,548
2,493
2,549
Perth
1,587
1,636
1,587
Cairns
665
766
747
Adelaide
242
224
207
Darwin
152
103
77.7
Gold Coast/Coolangatta
41.6
113.1
138.9
Norfolk Island
16.4
15.9
15.3
Newcastle(a)
1.1
9.5
-
Broome(b)
2.3
-
-
Townsville(c)
0.1
-
-
Total
16,799.7
16,682.4
16,445.5
(a) International operations commenced December 2001 and ceased September 2002.
(b) International operations recommenced April 2000 and ceased again in July 2001.
(c) International operations recommenced October 2001 and ceased again in March 2002.

Source: Department of Transport and Regional Services.



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