Jetstar grounds flights from Cairns as global Airbus software glitch hits hundreds
A worldwide software glitch has stranded hundreds of Cairns travellers this weekend, with disruptions expected to continue into Sunday and families facing a later-than-expected start to their school holiday trips.
Flights for hundreds of Cairns Airport passengers have been cancelled as Jetstar works to fix a global software issue affecting some of its Airbus aircraft.
It’s understood hundreds of passengers have been left in long queues, hoping to be rebooked on alternative flights.
Jetstar Airways Chief Pilot and Head of Flying Operations, Tyrone Simes, said during a Melbourne Airport press conference that “thousands” of Jetstar passengers were affected across 90 flights.
He added the issue was impacting “many airlines around the world.”
Mr Simes also said Airbus notified airlines “promptly” of a software issue affecting some Airbus 320 and 321 aircraft, which required a two to three hour “reversal” of a software upgrade to fix, followed by flight control checks.
Edge Hill woman Rosalind Pulley was at the Cairns airport on Saturday morning, November 29, ready to travel to the Gold Coast to visit her daughter when she received news of the cancellation of her flight.
“Flights to Adelaide and Melbourne have also been affected and probably around 600 passengers altogether,” Ms Pulley said.
“It is more difficult for groups … there was a family of four behind me who were offered Monday flight to Brisbane or Tuesday flight to the Gold Coast.”
Ms Pulley said she was ‘lucky’ to be given a new seat on an alternative flight to Brisbane the following day, Sunday, November 30, and said she didn’t have the added expense of an extra night in a hotel.
“They (the family of four) are looking at buying Qantas seats to Brisbane which will cost $2300 and then get a refund on their Jetstar tickets,” Ms Pulley said.
With many flights already full out of Cairns, Ms Pulley said the cancellations came at a difficult time, with the start of the school holidays for families with children in private schools or in their senior years.
“As a solo traveller … I was lucky to get a flight offer for tomorrow, and my international flight to New Zealand is a week away, so now my six-day break on the Gold Coast just becomes five days,” she said.
A spokesman for Jetstar said “minor disruptions” could continue into Sunday, but the airline expected all affected aircraft would be managed and the software issue fixed on Saturday.
“Our teams are progressively resolving the Airbus A320/1 fleet software issue which is affecting operators globally,” said a spokesman.
“As of 3:30pm, 20 of the 34 affected aircraft are ready to return to service.”
He said teams of engineers were sent to airports where staff were not already on hand.
“We’re expecting the remaining to be ready overnight, allowing flights to resume as planned on Sunday 30 November.
“However, there may be some flow on delays or cancellations on Sunday as the network fully recovers.
“We will contact customers by SMS and email if there are any further disruptions.
“We thank customers for their understanding and patience.”
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Originally published as Jetstar grounds flights from Cairns as global Airbus software glitch hits hundreds
