Hobart-to-Sydney Jetstar flight delayed at Hobart airport due to staffing issues

ANGRY Jetstar customers at Hobart Airport have been left fuming after their flight was delayed for several hours because of staffing issues.

A Jetstar flight on the tarmac at Hobart Airport. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

ANGRY Jetstar customers at Hobart Airport have been left fuming after their flight was delayed for several hours because of staffing issues.

Travellers this morning blasted the airline for a lack of information, with many missing connecting school holiday flights because of the delay.

Flight JQ718 to Sydney was scheduled to depart at 8.25am, but passengers had to wait until about 11am to board the flight.

Business owner Sue Clothier said Jetstar staff had told them the delay was caused by “crewing issues” but people were becoming really “pissed off”.

Travellers have been stuck in the airport departure lounge for several hours. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

“The trouble is there’s no communication about what’s going on and no reliability, a number of families lost their connections to the Gold Coast and Thailand,” she said.

She said she had missed a meeting in Sydney which had taken her three weeks to organise.

She even paid to change to an earlier flight so she could make it in time.

Ms Clothier said the plane had been sitting on the tarmac for more than two hours.

Passengers were allowed to board just after 11am.

A Jetstar spokesman said: “The reason for the 2h40m delay on our JQ718 Hobart to Sydney this morning was that one of our cabin crew members was unwell, and so we had to find a replacement for that person.

“The captain explained that to all customers and apologised for the inconveniences.

“We understand delays are frustrating … our teams worked as quickly as they could to find replacement crew so we could help our customers get on their way as quickly as possible.”

The flight was due to arrive at 10.15am but landed in Sydney at 12.55pm.

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Originally published as Hobart-to-Sydney Jetstar flight delayed at Hobart airport due to staffing issues