Jetstar flights ‘return to service’ amid massive delays

Damaged Jetstar aircraft will return to service later this week, with some passengers still in limbo waiting for flights.

People who have made travel plans through Qantas’ budget airline Jetstar have been experiencing major delays in flights, with many aircraft grounded due to “engineering purposes”.

On Tuesday, NCA NewsWire journalist Carly Douglas shed light on major delays which were impacting thousands of people trying to travel home from Bali on-board Jetstar flights.

After travelling to the popular tourist destination for a girls’ trip, Ms Douglas and her friends found themselves stuck in a waiting game with Jetstar, which failed on multiple occasions to correctly notify them of delays.

They went on to join “180” other irritated and displaced Jetstar passengers, apparently down from 200 according to the airline, who were waiting for new flights out of Denpasar.

Travellers waiting for flights. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

A Jetstar spokesman on Tuesday told NCA NewsWire only four Boeing 787 aircraft were out of action for engineering purposes, with “another B787 returning to service later this week”.

“These aircraft have been impacted by issues including a lightening strike, a bird strike, damage from an item on the runway and delays sourcing a specific spare part from the US due to global supply chain challenges,” the spokesman said.

Two more planes are due to return to service next week, which will leave “only one aircraft temporarily out of action”.

Jetstar said its team is working hard to return the 787s to service as quickly as possible, but that safety remains the company’s first priority.

The airline revealed two “special” flights would operate on Tuesday to fly 300 stranded customers from Bali to Melbourne, as well as three scheduled flights from Denpasar to Melbourne and Sydney.

“Our customer team has been working hard to support customers in Bali, including reimbursing for accommodation, up to $150 per room, up to $30 per person for meals and covering other reasonable expenses,” Jetstar said.

“We sincerely apologise once again for the disruptions caused to our customers’ travel plans.”

Hundreds of Australians are stranded in Bali after multiple Jetstar flight cancellations left travellers scrambling to find emergency accommodation. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

While waiting for her flight, Ms Douglas spoke to people around the airport who were also waiting to board Jetstar aircraft for their journey home.

Meagan Mulder and her family, who had enjoyed a trip with 60 friends and family, say all had gone smoothly until it was time to fly home.

“We had 12 friends who were on the midnight flight last night. They had their flight cancelled; they can’t get another flight anywhere for seven people until Friday this week, so they’ve had to get more accommodation and everything,” she said, as her exhausted kids listened in.

“We have another three friends who were able to get a flight to Brisbane this Tuesday – a stop over in Brisbane and then fly to Melbourne the next day, so they’ll be home Wednesday.”

“A man sitting next to me on the flight tells me about an 80-year-old man who he had met at the airport,” Ms Douglas wrote.

“He was overwhelmed with emotion after not being notified about his flight changes.”

People enjoying the sunset at Kuta beach in Bali. Picture: Goh Chai Hin / AFP

Ms Douglas said even after touching down in Canberra after seemingly endless delays, passengers were instructed not to leave the aircraft, as a child had developed a rash during the flight which officials needed to be notified about.

“Arriving home at 5am this morning, I can’t say I’d be too inclined to jump on a Jetstar flight to Bali again,” she wrote.

Jetstar said flight credits or refunds would be made available to passengers who no longer wished to travel with the airline.

They are also reimbursing emergency accommodation for customers at up to $150 per night.