8 Most Popular Operating Airlines In Australia: 2026 Updated List

Are you wondering who the top aviation players in Australia are? As of now, more than 20 airlines operating in Australian airspace are based in the country, and many more fly under an aviation partnership. Qantas and Virgin Australia dominate Australia's airspace, while Jetstar attracts savvy travelers by offering low-cost fares. If you are seeking to learn about some of the most popular operating airlines in 2026, then this page will provide an overview of some of the major international and regional carriers, including low-cost and full-service ones. Let's delve deeper and see who the top 2026 players are.

Top International Airlines in Australia

Qantas

Qantas is Australia's flag carrier, founded in 1920, operating the largest number of domestic and international flights and helping passengers fly to more than 100 cities across the nation and beyond. Qantas is a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance and is recognized for operating on all seven continents.  

• Qantas Code: QF
• Qantas Hub: Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Brisbane (BNE), and Perth (PER)
• Number of Daily Flights: 400+
• Popular Route: Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL)

Virgin Australia

Virgin Australia is a Brisbane-based airline offering flights to over 40 destinations and has become the second-largest carrier in Australia after Qantas. Virgin Australia was established in 2000 and currently serves over 30 Australian airports. 

• Virgin Australia Code: VA
• Virgin Australia Hub: Sydney (SYD), Brisbane (BNE), and Melbourne (MEL)
• Number of Daily Flights: 200+
• Popular Route: Brisbane (BNE) and Sydney (SYD)

Jetstar

Jetstar is a Qantas-owned carrier, founded in 2003, and one of the leading low-cost airlines in Australia. Jetstar is known for its extensive route network and offering pocket-friendly fares across both domestic and international gateways, with over 40. Jetstar itself carries more than 8% of Australia's passenger traffic. 

• Jetstar Code: JQ
• Jetstar Hub: Melbourne (MEL)
• Number of Daily Flights: 400+
• Popular Route: Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL)

Alliance Airlines

Alliance Airlines is a commercial flights and charter provider based in Brisbane, Queensland. The airline was established in 2002 and currently operates over 80 aircraft to 45+ cities worldwide, with the largest number of Embraer 190 and Fokker 100 aircraft in its fleet. Alliance Airlines is also recognized for attaining the Flight Safety Foundation BARS Gold status and the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) in Australia. 

• Alliance Airlines Code: QQ
• Alliance Airlines Operating Base: Adelaide (ADL), Brisbane (BNE), Darwin (DRW), and Cairns (CNS)
• Number of Daily Flights: 30+ 
• Popular Route: Olympic Dam (OLP) and Adelaide (ADL)

Top 4 Regional Carriers in Australia

QantasLink

QantasLink is the regional brand of Australia's flag carrier, Qantas. The airline offers a full-service model, operating to more than 60 global cities with its 90+ aircraft, including Airbus A320-200, A220-300, and Fokker 100. QantasLink is an Oneworld Alliance member founded in 2001 and based in Mascot. 

• QantasLink Code: QF
• QantasLink Hub: Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), Perth (PER), and Brisbane (BNE)
• Number of Daily Flights: 250+
• Popular Route: Melbourne (MEL) and Launceston (LST)

Regional Express

Rex Airlines, also known as Regional Airlines, is one of the most demanding Australian regional carriers, based in Mascot and serving over 50 destinations. The airline was founded in 2002 and currently operates all its flights on Saab 340 aircraft. Rex operates on a low-cost model, connecting Australia's regional cities. 

• Regional Express Code: ZL
• Regional Express Operating Base: Adelaide (ADL), Brisbane (BNE), Perth (PER), Sydney (SYD), among others.
• Number of Daily Flights: 40+
• Popular Route: Port Lincoln (PLO) and Adelaide (ADL)

Link Airways

Link Airways was founded in 2026 as a domestic regional carrier and is currently based in Brisbane. The link airways offer flight services across Australia's 15+ cities, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and more. The airline operates a fleet of Saab 30B Plus & Fairchild Metro 23 turboprop planes

• Link Airways Code: FC
• Link Airways Hub: Brisbane (BNE)
• Number of Daily Flights: 15+
• Popular Route:  Bundaberg (BDB) and Brisbane (BNE)

Airnorth

Based in Darwin, Airnorth has been a regional carrier since its establishment in 1978. Airnorth offers scheduled and charter flights to numerous Australian cities, including Western Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Timor-Leste. Its fleet includes Embraer EMB-120, 170 & 190 aircraft. 

• Airnorth Code: TL
• Airnorth Hub: Darwin (DRW)
• Number of Daily Flights: 7+
• Popular Route: Darwin (DRW) and Kununurra (KNX)

Conclusion

There are many other carriers not listed above, such as ASL Airlines Australia, Hinterland Aviation, FlyPelican, Eastern Air Services, and more. The provided airlines are the most popular in Australia in 2026, which you can consider for all your future trips. If you are residing in Australia and seeking budget flights to regional destinations, you should prefer regional carriers, as international carriers generally have higher fares unless you are in urgent need.   

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which US airlines operate in Australia?

Ans: There are several US airlines operating in Australia, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. 

Q2. Which airlines offer the best flight deals in Australia?

Ans: Jetstar and Qantas are widely known for offering budget-friendly flights across Australia. 

Q3. Which airline has the best performance in Australia?

Ans: According to the latest BITRE Aviation Statistics, Hinterland Aviation has the best performance, with the highest on-time departures and the fewest cancellations. 

Q4. Which airline has the most cancellations in Australia?

Ans: Per BITRE data for February 2026, Rex Airlines recorded the highest cancellation rate at 4% throughout the month. 

Q5. Which Australian airline operates the most international flights?

Ans: Qantas is an Australian airline that operates the most international flights.