Qantas cancels flights in and out of Canberra due to smoke haze
Qantas has cancelled all flights in and out of Canberra as thick smoke haze from the horrific east coast bushfires blankets the nation’s capital.
Canberra Star
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Qantas has cancelled all flights in and out of Canberra for the rest of the day as thick smoke from the NSW and Victorian bushfires inundates the nation’s capital.
Appalling photographs showed dense orange skies over Parliament House and Lake Burley Griffin hours before Qantas pulled the plug on all domestic and international flights in and out of Canberra Airport on Sunday.
Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines are currently still operating flights in and out of the airport, though Virgin Australia has tweeted to passengers travelling to and from Canberra acknowledging service disruptions.
One Qantas passenger tweeted she was on a flight from Melbourne to Canberra to start back at work on Monday before those on board were informed they were being diverted to Sydney.
“We’re stranded and unwilling to drive from Sydney to Canberra with changing conditions along the highway,” Sophie tweeted.
My partner and I were due back in cbr from Melb today and found out just before landing that cbr airport had closed. Due back to work tomorrow but having been diverted to Sydney we’re stranded and unwilling to drive from Syd to CBR with changing conditions along Hume hwy.
— Sophie (@_sophiered) January 5, 2020
Parents also tweeted their attempts to take their children out of Canberra in the extremely hazardous conditions were thwarted by the cancelled flights.
Was due to hop on a plane at 4pm to take the 10mo out of Canberra. Now all qantas planes to/from Canberra cancelled.
— Ellen Broad (@ellenbroad) January 5, 2020
Matt McIntyre, who was on a flight from Melbourne into Canberra, tweeted alarming images of black skies as the plane approached the nation’s capital.
These photos were taken minutes apart on a Melbourne to Canberra flight. Severe turbulence also pic.twitter.com/BngpxXjsQX
— Matt McIntyre (@McIntyreMack) January 4, 2020
Murray’s Bus Services between Sydney and Canberra continue to operate, but services between Canberra and Wollongong have been cancelled due to raging bushfires on the NSW south coast.
“Services between Sydney and Canberra are currently operating and departing to the timetable,” the company stated on their website.
“The Hume Hwy is currently open but expect delays due to the bushfires.”
Services between Canberra and Narooma have been cancelled until at least January 23 due to the severity of the conditions in the state’s south.
