Christmas travel chaos looms as three more Adelaide flights cut

Three more Adelaide flights have been abandoned as the weekend’s airport turbulence looks set to rock holiday plans.

More flights to and from Adelaide have been cancelled on Monday after a weekend where travellers were left in limbo.

The 6am Jetstar flight JQ960 from Adelaide to Cairns was canned while a 12.45 return route flight, JQ691 was also cancelled.

A Qantas flight from Brisbane to Adelaide, QF1927, set to arrive at 9.15am was also cancelled.

The cancellations come after three flights to and from Adelaide were cancelled on Sunday morning, December 17, after passengers were told of “crewing requirement” issues.

On Sunday, passengers received last-minute notice and an offer to rebook their flight.

Jetstar Airways Airbus A320-232 airliner taking off from Adelaide Airport.

“I was supposed to arrive in Adelaide around 11, my flight from Sydney was 9.30am and I got a message this morning at 4.48am,” a Jetstar passenger told The Advertiser.

“The email came first then the text a minute later … it said it was cancelled because of crewing requirements.”

Nine Virgin flights were cancelled on Saturday

An Adelaide Airport spokesman said the stormy weather interstate was causing a “residual effect” for flights.

The Advertiser can reveal Virgin Airlines was headed for a disappointing report card when the federal government releases its monthly airline performance data on Thursday.

It is believed last month Virgin had its largest number of cancelled flights in 2023, surpassing the July mark of 5.6 per cent.

The concerning findings have prompted the airline to apologise to customers and admit their “performance was below our standards and did not meet some customers’ expectations in November”.

“A combination of factors, including aircraft maintenance, crew resourcing, weather and air traffic controller shortages impacted our performance last month,” a spokesman said.

It is also understood the airline’s arrival and departure times have significantly increased.

Although performances were disappointing across the board, Qantas and Jetstar had a lower cancellation rate and a higher rate of arriving on time.

Airport chaos to continue to Christmas and the New Year

Airlineratings.com expert Geoffrey Thomas said tourists should prepare for the chaos to continue into the Christmas and New Year period.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Catherine King said “we expect airlines to be doing better because too many flights have been delayed or cancelled”.

Mr Thomas said airline spare parts were still in short supply and an escalation in Covid cases in November had wiped out cabin crew and staff.

“There are several dynamics. The weather was a major factor in October, only six days out of the whole month were weather impact-free. I know that Sydney airport was down to one runway several times (in November) due to cross winds,” he said. “But the other issue is the industry is still under strain. We have had a big wave of Covid through November, it’s starting to recede now. A lot of Covid illness – you only need one crew member to be knocked out with Covid and the flight can fall over.

“The other dynamic is the industry is still short of spare parts and Boeing and Airbus say the supply line of building aeroplanes is still a year away from being restored back to normal.”

Mr Thomas said Virgin had particularly struggled with a lack of flexibility and its cheaper fares had meant planes were booked out.

“I don’t think Virgin has the flexibility that Qantas has. Virgin is offering cheaper fares than Qantas so people are naturally gravitating to Virgin,” he said. “One of the problems then is that if a flight is cancelled, putting people on other flights is impossible because all the other flights are full.”

Mr Thomas said those going on a holiday “need to cross your fingers”.

Tourism & Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said this summer marked “the busiest summer travel season since the pandemic”.

“While we hope everyone jetting off this summer gets to their destination with ease, patience will be critical during this period, just like it always has been during the peak summer season pre-Covid,” she said.

Cairns Airport closed due to flooding

Major, record-breaking flooding of the Barron River is occurring at the Cairns Airport, submerging aircraft and inundating parts of surrounding suburbs.

The Bureau of Meteorology said major flooding is occurring and will continue Cairns Airport and Kamerunga Bridge over the weekend and into the Monday.

Operations ceased at Cairns Airport as of 2.20pm on Saturday.

Daintree village is experiencing record breaking flood levels, metres above 2019 levels, as heavy rain and flash flooding are predicted to continue across the Far North Coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

A coastal trough linked to Ex-Cyclone Jasper is inundating Far North Queensland between Hope Vale and Cairns with heavy rain and potential thunderstorms predicted for Monday morning, easing into the afternoon.

AFP to crack down on anti-social and illegal behaviour over holiday season

Over 500 Australian Federal Police members will be conducting high visibility patrols during the December and January period across all designated airports in an aim to stamp out unruly behaviour, intoxication and prohibited items travelling through the airports.

Of those members, a number of national police dogs who are trained to detect cash, weapons, firearms, explosives and technology will be deployed to assist in searching bags to ensure air travel is not used for criminality.

“Bad behaviour whether it be on the ground or in the air can cause delays to flights, involve people being banned from the airlines and can also involve criminal charges,” AFP inspector Dan Finley said.

“The AFP has a zero tolerance to bad behaviour while either in the airport or in the air.”

Mr Finley said the AFP encourages people to plan ahead, to be prepared and be polite while travelling through the airport.

“The AFP also reminds people that if they see any suspicious behaviour at airports, to report it to the AFP’s airport watch – see it, hear it, report it,” Mr Finely said.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Alison Wegg said 179 alleged offenders had been charged with 248 offences at nine designated airports across the country during the current financial year.

“We are seeing an increased frustration by passengers at airports. Some of that is due to bad behaviour from intoxication, passengers who are not being patient or tolerant, and some is attributable to some travellers who are stressed because they are running late or ill-prepared,” Assistant Commissioner Wegg said.

“While holidays can be exciting, they can also be stressful.

“Bad behaviour can let down the ones we love, including families and children. So this festive season – be prepared, patient and polite at airports.”