Bushfires affect flights, airports in NSW

Flights along the east coast have been cancelled and airports are reporting low visibility from smoke as bushfires rage through northern NSW.

Passengers travelling to and from northern NSW are being advised to check in with their airlines as smoke from bushfires threatens flights and airport operations.

As rising wind stokes bushfires burning across the state, Qantas has been forced to cancel about 10 services between Sydney and the northern NSW towns of Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour today.

The airline said later flights may be affected with southerly winds expected to pick up this afternoon.

A plane on the tarmac at Port Macquarie Airport, which has been impacted by low visibility due to bushfire smoke.

Virgin Australia has cancelled its Alliance Airlines-operated flights from Sydney and Brisbane to the northern NSW town of Port Macquarie due to low visibility caused by bushfire smoke.

It may also cancel its afternoon service from Sydney to Port Macquarie, a spokeswoman told news.com.au.

A view from the top. Twitter user James was flying from Grafton to Sydney but couldn't see land for more than 500km of his trip.

Port Macquarie Airport is operational but has warned of cancellations and delays as visibility worsens. The airport has recommended passengers contact their airlines for information on their flight status.

Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour from 30,000 ft. Ballina Airport. Lot’s of ash in the air in Ballina. #NSWfires pic.twitter.com/nOnZ8Cf9QI

— peeela (@peeela) November 10, 2019

4 planes, 6 helicopters on tarmac at Grafton airport
No planes in or out, smoke too thick for them to land. #bushfires pic.twitter.com/l6JapJuudx

— Katie Brown (@katiebrownaus) November 10, 2019

Monday morning at Grafton Airport #bushfires pic.twitter.com/uJrZbtmaFa https://t.co/UWBKbFA248

— 💧Jade & David for a Better Australia (@PerthWAustralia) November 10, 2019

Coffs Harbour Airport also remains open but flights have been affected this morning due to low visibility.

Regional Express has suspended all services to Grafton for a second day today and warns other airports on the NSW north and south coasts may be affected as fires develop.

There have been no reports of delays at Sydney Airport.

OK this freaked me out. Just flew from Coffs Harbour to SYD and planet Earth was MIA for 500km of smoke (not clouds)! This is when the plane levelled out, couldn't see any land! #Armageddon #bushfires #smoke #ClimateEmergency #auspol #innercitylunatic #climatechange pic.twitter.com/HB46QIqVB4

— James One (@james00000001) November 11, 2019

Yesterday, a passenger flying from Coffs Harbour to Sydney posted a video of the eerie scene through the plane window as he flew over bushfires.

“Planet Earth was MIA (missing in action) for 500km of smoke (not clouds)!” he said.

“This is when the plane levelled out, couldn’t see any land!”