‘Uncomfortable night’: Qantas apologises after travellers left stranded at regional airport and forced to sleep on the floor

Qantas has apologised to angry travellers who were left stranded at a regional airport and forced to sleep on the floor.

Qantas has apologised after more than 100 passengers were forced to sleep on the floor at the regional Geraldton airport overnight instead of flying to Perth.

Heavy fog interfered with several flights, two of which were forced to land at Geraldton, in Western Australia’s Mid West region, but then could not leave because the crew had racked up too many hours.

At least three other flights were also redirected to other airports but eventually made it to Perth.

Many of the people affected were fly-in fly-out workers as well as holidaymakers.

Images show people lying on cardboard boxes and on the floor during the uncomfortable night.

One passenger told 6PR radio that she only slept for about one hour.

“Six degrees with people dressed in their (sunny) Broome clothes,” she said.

“There was nothing from Qantas.”

People were forced to sleep on the floor at the airport. Picture: Supplied

The woman said travellers were only made aware that they would have to sleep at the airport about 2am and the announcement came from the airport rather than Qantas.

Qantas apologised and said travellers would arrive in Perth on Wednesday.

“A number of flights were diverted away from Perth overnight due to fog around the airport making it unsafe to land,” a spokesperson said.

“The crew on two flights that had diverted to Geraldton were unable to continue to Perth due to reaching the limit on the hours they can work.

“We attempted to find last-minute accommodation for all customers of these flights, but unfortunately due to a shortage of available hotel rooms, customers stayed in the airport terminal overnight.

“We apologise to these customers and we thank them for their understanding.

“We know this would have been an uncomfortable night, but the conditions were not safe to land in Perth and our crew couldn’t safely continue once the fog had lifted.”