Cyclone Alfred: Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia cancel all flights to holiday hotspots

Sweeping flight cancellations, airport closures and the suspension of bus routes have already begun as Tropical Cyclone Alfred moves closer to the coast.

• This is a fast moving situation and things have changed. Updates for Thursday can be found here.

Sweeping flight cancellations and airport closures have already begun due to the wild weather brought by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Millions are bracing for impact as the Bureau of Meteorology warns Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall between the Gold Coast and southern parts of the Wide Bay region as a category two cyclone late Thursday or early Friday.

Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia cancelled all flights in and out of Ballina Byron Gateway Airport on Wednesday and Thursday – a total of 22 flights that were scheduled to arrive or depart the holiday hotspot.

Qantas also cancelled flights to and from Lord Howe Island on Wednesday.

Airlines and airports are warning travellers to monitor their flight status. Picture: NCA NewsWire / James Gourley

Gold Coast Airport will close as of 4pm local time on Wednesday.

There will be no access to the terminal building, with people seeking shelter directed to the closest evacuation centre (Burleigh Waters Community Centre).

A reopening time has not been announced.

Qantas Group said its airlines, including Jetstar, will not operate any flights to and from the Gold Coast for at least 24 hours after the airport is closed.

From midnight on Wednesday, Qantas Group flights to and from Coffs Harbour will also be suspended until at least midday Thursday.

As of 1pm on Wednesday, no decisions had been made to suspend flights to and from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, with plans for flights to continue as scheduled. But it is warned further updates are expected.

“We have proactively cancelled a number of flights today from South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales,” a Qantas Group spokesperson said.

“The situation remains fluid and flight cancellations and delays will evolve over the coming days.”

Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin allow free flight changes

Australian airlines are warning those travelling to Ballina, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Gold Coast (Coolangatta) and Sunshine Coast (Maroochydore) this week to monitor their flight status. They have also announced flexible travel policies.

Qantas and Virgin are offering customers who booked flights before Monday, March 3 the option to move their flight date within 14 days of the original departure date for free or cancel for a travel credit instead.

Jetstar is offering customers a free date change up to seven days before and up to 14 days after their original travel date, or a voucher to the value of their untravelled flights.

“Where possible, we encourage customers to bring forward their flight to travel prior to the evening of Thursday, 6 March 2025,” Jetstar said.

Airservices Australia said airspace was not generally closed in response to weather conditions, but airlines can decide not to fly and airports can choose to close.

“There is also potential for airborne and ground delays if Airservices’ capacity is reduced due to staff or facilities becoming unavailable as a result of weather impacts,” the air navigation service provider said in a statement.

Airservices said contingency plans and emergency operational assets were in place, including backup power supplies, to help us provide necessary support to Australia’s aviation sector throughout the coming days.

Alfred is expected to cross the Queensland coast late Thursday or early Friday morning. This is the map issued by BOM just before 5am on Wednesday, March 5.

Greyhound cancels bus services

It is not just travellers who planned to fly that will be affected.

Greyhound Australia has cancelled all bus services entering and exiting Brisbane from 1pm on Thursday and throughout Friday.

“This decision does not come lightly, and we are aware this may impact people’s travel plans,” a company statement said.

It added: “Please be aware that as Tropical Cyclone Alfred moves closer to the coast and makes landfall, and its impacts are more clearly understood, we may be required to make further cancellations to our scheduled services.”

Affected passengers can rebook for free or request a travel credit.

Like the airlines, the bus company has acknowledged people who have booked may no longer wish to travel even if services are running.

Passengers booked on Greyhound services to or from the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and Gold Coast regions between Wednesday, March 5 and Sunday, March 9 can move their travel to a new date free of charge, or cancel and request a travel credit.

Digital weather charts are being monitored closely at SES HQ. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Why it’s too late to buy travel insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance policies help affected travellers claim out-of-pocket costs like prepaid accommodation or meals during long travel delays, but if you are planning to rush off and get cover now, it is unlikely to help.

Travellers generally need to have purchased a policy prior to a weather event being widely known in the media.

Natalie Ball, managing director for Comparetravelinsurance.com.au, said some travel insurers rely on specific media publication dates about a weather event, whereas others publish purchase cut-off dates on their website.

“It’s not uncommon to see a spike in policy sales once an event like this hits the media,” Ms Ball said.

“In essence, if you’re buying a policy because you expect you will be affected by a major weather event, you would likely not be covered”.

She said domestic travel insurance is often overlooked, but this type of unexpected event is exactly why it is useful.

However, travel insurance does not cover you for a change of mind.

“If Cyclone Alfred directly affects your trip, you’ll likely be covered,” Ms Ball said. “But if you’re outside the impact zone and just don’t want to go, you may not have a successful claim.”

Originally published as Cyclone Alfred: Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia cancel all flights to holiday hotspots