Adelaide to Sydney Qantas flight cancelled as Power fans flock east for AFL preliminary final

Port fans heading to Sydney for tonight’s preliminary final are hoping to make it in time for first bounce after a Qantas flight was cancelled.

Power fans have been left fuming and scrambling after a Qantas flight from Adelaide to Sydney was cancelled ahead of Port Adelaide’s preliminary final against the Swans.

Flight 734, due to depart at 10am, was scrapped just over an hour before takeoff on Friday as thousands of South Australians prepared to flock to the Harbour City for the Power’s clash at the SCG.

Of all days to cancel a flight to Sydney, @qantas does it today, after fleecing Port fans for seats in the first place. #AFL#Finals#AFLSwansPower

— Michael Smyth (@MichaelSmyth_) September 19, 2024

Power supporters were left frustrated in airport queues after the flight cancellation, leaving them scrambling to get other flights to the preliminary final.

Power fan Adrian Gatto was on his way to Adelaide Airport for the 10am flight he paid about $1000 for when he learnt it had been scrapped without explanation.

Some supporters, including Mr Gatto, were re-booked on flights to Sydney via Canberra, that were scheduled to arrive in the Harbour City just two hours before the first bounce.

Qantas initially said some passengers on the cancelled flights would arrive in Sydney as late as 6.45pm but are now expected to fly in by 5.55pm.

The game starts at 7.40pm (EST).

Power fan Adrian Gatto was left very disappointed after his Qantas flight to Sydney to watch Port's preliminary final was cancelled at short notice on Friday morning. Picture: Matt Turner

The departures board at Adelaide Airport tells the story. Picture: Matt Turner

“I’m annoyed, pissed off, disappointed,” Mr Gatto said of learning about his flight.

“They’ve made us pay through our nose. Hopefully there’s a good reason behind why it’s cancelled.

“It’s not ideal to go to Canberra but it’s out of my control.”

Mr Gatto said hoped the cancellation was not a bad omen for the match.

Qantas only added the now-cancelled flight to its schedule this week as a one-off to help Power fans to the game.

“To help more fans cheer on Port Adelaide in the preliminary final, Qantas has added an additional flight between Adelaide and Sydney this Friday,” the airline said on Sunday.

Also at the airport on Friday morning, but in a stroke of luck avoiding the Qantas chaos, was Sue Rozee – mum of Power captain Connor Rozee.

Flying Virgin, she avoided any flight cancellations and said she was excited to watch the preliminary final clash.

Power fans Regina Phillips and Sue Ellershaw were on the cancelled Qantas flight and ended up being redirected via Melbourne. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

“I’m super excited. Very proud. Connor’s grown up with a lot of expectation on his shoulders from a young age, so he actually thrives on a little bit of excitement and pressure, so I’m confident he’ll lead the boys well,” Ms Rozee said.

“Win, lose or draw, it’s been an amazing season to get this far. They’ve done very well. Hopefully we’re coming home with a smile on our faces.”

Some passengers were fortunate to be rebooked on a flight an hour later but many would be landing in Sydney two to three hours before kick off.

West Lakes Shore resident Regina Phillips rushed to get to the Friday morning flight only to get a text saying it had been cancelled just minutes before she arrived at the airport.

“I was devastated,” she said.

“I always felt they would do something to get us there but as to how they would go through it, you don’t know.”

Ms Phillips paid $1200 for plane tickets and had been rescheduled on a flight to Sydney via Melbourne but she will landing in Harbour City at 5.30pm and battling peak hour traffic to get to the game.

She called on the national carrier to give passengers more notice for cancelled flights in the future.

“There was a lineup as long as your arm in that queue and they’re all anxious and they’re all upset,” she said.

Port fan Kerry Coleman said she was also devastated to get a message from Qantas saying that her 10am flight had been cancelled after the aircraft did not land in Adelaide.

“(Qantas) said that we’ll either rebook or refund the flight, and we certainly didn’t want a refund on the flight, because we want to get to Sydney to watch our boys win,” she said.

Ms Coleman spent $800 on flights and more than $300 on accommodation in Sydney.

She was travelling with her friends, couple Maggie and Marco D’Argenio, who have all since been re-booked on another Qantas flight with a connection through Brisbane.

Kerry Coleman and Maggie and Marco D’Argenio at Adelaide Airport on Friday morning after QF734 to Sydney was cancelled. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

But the flight doesn’t touch down in Sydney until 4.30pm, with the trio nervous they could be cutting it close to the start of the game.

“Hopefully there’s no more delays and hopefully we get there just in time,” she said.

Despite being scheduled to land in Sydney just three hours before the game, the friends are among the lucky ones, with others telling The Advertiser they have been left in limbo after Qantas simply asked them to stand by.

Some Port fans had called in sick to work to make the game only to have their flight cancelled and be left scrambling to find another flight.

Many supporters were rebooked on alternative flights with Virgin.

Fellow Port supporter Andrew McCrae only learnt the news when he got to the airport.

Qantas had just one customer service attendant at the desk dealing with the chaos.

“People are speculating as to the reasons why but there’s been no one from Qantas here to explain it,” said Mr McCrae, who was heading to the game with his Sydney-based daughter.

“I’m really disappointed. Qantas has shot themselves in the foot.

“It’s a ridiculous day to do it, especially when they advertised this flight as ‘we’ll get you there’ and they don’t. It’s appalling stuff.”

Another Power supporter, Joy Higgins, said the situation added unnecessary stress before a massive match.

“Wait until I get to the game, I’m only just getting my voice back from last week,” Ms Higgins said.

“If we make the grand final, I’m driving.”

Ms Higgins and her friend Kylie Walsh ended up booking a Virgin flight scheduled to land about 4pm.

“It’s disgraceful they had one customer service person on at Qantas trying to get through a whole plane and Virgin had five ready to help you straight away,” Ms Walsh said.

“Virgin were amazing.”

Another Qantas flight departed from Adelaide for Sydney at 11am.

A Virgin flight for Sydney scheduled to depart at 11.25am was delayed until 11.50am and a Jetstar flight is also set to depart for Sydney from Adelaide at 12pm.

Adelaide Airport was unsure as to what caused the cancellation and was seeking confirmation from Qantas.

A Qantas spokesperson confirmed QF734 from Adelaide to Sydney was cancelled due to an engineering issue.

The spokesperson said all customers were accommodated onto the earliest possible services into Sydney, with some passengers travelling to Sydney via Canberra and Melbourne.

“Majority of customers impacted are due to arrive into Sydney before 3.30pm, with the remaining customers arriving by 6.45pm,” the spokesperson said.

“We understand this disruption is frustrating and apologise to passengers for the inconvenience.

“Our teams have worked hard to get footy fans on their way as soon as possible and all customers impacted are due to arrive into Sydney in time for the game.”

Originally published as Adelaide to Sydney Qantas flight cancelled as Power fans flock east for AFL preliminary final