Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket re-entry debris risk delays Qantas flights to South Africa

Qantas says it has no choice but to delay its direct flights to South Africa due to the potential impact of flying debris from Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets.

The re-entry of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets into the Southern Indian Ocean is heavily impacting Qantas’ Sydney to Johannesburg flight schedules causing delays of up to six hours.

Qantas said it has had no choice but to delay its direct, 14-hour flights to South Africa due to the potential impact of flying debris from the rocket re-entries.

The Indian Ocean was favoured for splashdowns and the disposal of spacecraft and satellites due to its remoteness, alongside Point Nemo in the South Pacific – the place on earth furthest from any land mass.

Qantas said it needed to delay its flights to Johannesburg at quite short notice with the airline at the mercy of SpaceX. Picture: David Clark

It is understood the South African flagship carrier South African Airways which also flies sectors across the Indian Ocean is also having its flight schedules impacted by the rocket re-entries.

In a statement to The Australian, Qantas said it needed to delay its flights to Johannesburg at quite short notice with the airline at the mercy of SpaceX.

It said the delays were only happening in the Indian Ocean and declined to comment on how long they would continue. Some scheduled rocket launches from the US are cancelled at the last minute, a ground handling staff member said.

Exterior view of the SpaceX headquarters with recovered Falcon 9 rocket booster on display in Hawthorne, California.

“Over the past few weeks we’ve had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to advice received from the US Government regarding the re-entry of SpaceX rockets over an extensive area of the Southern Indian Ocean,’’ the head of Qantas’ operations centre, Ben Holland said.

“While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches have moved around at late notice which has meant we’ve had to delay some flights just prior to departure. Our teams notify customers of changes to their flight as soon as we know it will be impacted.’’

“Customers generally understand this is outside of airlines’ control and that we can’t fly in the area when the rocket re-entry is taking place.

“We’re in contact with SpaceX to see if they can refine the areas and time windows for the rocket re-entries to minimise future disruption to our passengers on the route.”

SpaceX Starship spacecraft sits atop the Super Heavy rocket ahead of a planned launch in March, 2024. Picture: Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

“The impact on Qantas has been on our flights between Johannesburg and Sydney.

“We believe South African Airways also operates flights between Australia and South Africa. “The impact is caused by the rocket re-entry process in the Southern Indian Ocean – not the launch of rockets.

“Qantas has taken the conservative action to avoid the area as communicated. The coordinates for the location and timing of re-entry can change at short notice sometimes up to departure.”

Qantas says it is refunding some late check out hotel accommodation costs given Johannesburg is one of the world’s most violent cities.

Originally published as Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket re-entry debris risk delays Qantas flights to South Africa