Jetstar, Qantas flights cancelled and delayed amid major problem

Travellers have been warned to expect major delays and flight cancellations as chaos strikes Australia’s busiest airports for a second consecutive day.

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia have already cancelled at least 20 flights on Friday morning, a day after many were either delayed or cancelled along Australia’s east coast.

The widespread delays and cancellations were caused by a severe shortage of air traffic controllers calling in sick, which led to the closure of airspace to south of Brisbane.

The disruptions impacted on thousands of travellers and continue to have a knock-on effect across the country on Friday morning.

Strong westerly winds forecast for Sydney has added to the chaos.

There were busy scenes at Sydney Airport early Friday (pictured), where a number of flights have already been cancelled

Thousands of passengers have already streamed through Sydney Airport and formed lengthy queues as the NSW school holidays kick off.

‘It’s a long queue so we’re going to be here for a bit,’ one family told Sunrise. 

One woman added: ‘Got here on time but they’re running late.’ 

Frustrated passengers have taken to social media to vent their anger on Friday after their flights were cancelled.

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‘Cheers @VirginAustralia for the text as I’m travelling to the airport from the country saying my 9:30am flight melb>syd is now at 4:30pm. No seats left on any flight for the next 7hrs? Business must be good. It’s ok only 2 hours till the customer service line opens!’ one woman fumed.

Another traveller tweeted: @VirginAustralia cancelled a flight leaving us all trying to figure out what’s going on & they have not a single employee here to help.’

A third wrote: ‘Jetstar please stop cancelling flights to Sydney on smash weekend.’

A shortage of air traffic controllers in Brisbane on Thursday caused widespread disruptions to flights along Australia’s east coast, which have had a flow-on effect

Qantas told Daily Mail Australia a number of services will be delayed and cancelled in Sydney due to weather resulting in single runway operations. 

Passengers will be moved onto the next available flight. 

Jetstar and Virgin Australia has also been contacted for comment.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a a strong wind warning for much of NSW coast from Port Macquarie right down to Batemans Bay.

Qantas said 100 flights had been delayed across the group on Thursday while 10 services were cancelled because of the airspace restrictions.

Virgin Australia also felt the brunt with flights to and from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ballina forced to operate around the uncontrolled airspace, which added time and distance.

Around 2.3million travellers are expected to go through Sydney Airport over the next two weeks making it one of the busiest school holiday periods since pre-Covid. 

Qantas was forced to cancel 10 flights on Thursday because of airspace restrictions