Australia's worst airports for delays have been revealed, with some surprise culprits at the top of the list.

Comparison website Finder compiled the list from data collected by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics.

In 2017, Sunshine Coast Airport was the worst performer, with 30.9 percent of flights delayed.

The best- and worst-performing airports in Australia have been revealed. (AAP) (AAP)

Hobart was second with 26.7 percent, followed by the Gold Coast at 24.4 percent.

Sydney saw 19.7 percent of flights delayed, slotting in at fifth position, while Melbourne was ninth with 18.1 percent.

None of the other state capitals cracked the top 10.

Melbourne Airport had 18.1 percent of its flights delayed last year. (AAP) (AAP)

However, Sydney sat on top of the pile for cancellations, with near one quarter of last year's 21,600 cancelled flights coming from the harbour city.

The airport averaged 113 delays a day last year, an average of seven an hour.

Rockhampton Airport saw the biggest jump in delayed and cancelled flights, rising from 17th-most delayed airport in 2016 to fifth place last year.

Smaller airports were worse than major centres. (AAP) (AAP)

On the other end of the scale, Port Lincoln Airport was the best performer, with only eight percent of flights delayed throughout 2017.

Perth Airport was the best of the capitals, with 13 percent delays.

The 10 worst-performing airports in Australia. (Finder/BITRE) (Supplied)

Finder travel insurance expert Bessie Hassan said smaller airports tended to experience more problems with delays.

“Flight delays are never ideal, and even for a domestic trip a significant delay can put an inconvenienced traveller hundreds of dollars out of pocket," she said.