Thousands of Australians stranded in Bali after Jetstar ‘engineering’ problems

Multiple Jetstar flights cancelled from Denpasar leave travellers stressed and forced to fork out hundreds of extra dollars on accommodation and food.

Melbourne based Michelle Gill and her husband Brendon were due to return to Australia on September 1. In their unplanned five days in Bali the couple have spent an extra $700 on accommodation so far and up to $100 extra per day on food.

Thousands of Australians have been left stranded in Bali after multiple Jetstar flights from the popular tourist destination were cancelled, forcing travellers to pay hundreds of extra dollars on accommodation and food.

The airline’s chief pilot Jeremy Schmidt apologised after eight return flights between Sydney and Melbourne to Denpasar had to be cancelled since September 1 amid engineering issues.

While the majority of affected passengers — understood to have been about 4000 during the past week — have been placed on alternative flights, about 200 travellers remained stranded on Monday afternoon.

Melbourne based Michelle Gill was due to return from Legian, a beach area on the west coast of Bali, to Australia on September 1 but she received a message from Jetstar explaining the flight had been cancelled.

After she and her husband Brendon were booked on another one, Ms Gill said she got another cancellation message on September 3 stating her second flight home has been called off due to “engineering requirements”.

“It’s just been constant ringing, trying to get on their website. Then their website crashes,” she said.

“It’s been stressful and frustrating.”

Left to right, back row: Michelle and Brendon Gill on holiday in Legian Bali with their friend Peta Humphires. Left to right front row: Jonny Humpries, Putu, and John Humpries. Picture: Supplied

Ms Gill, who will run out of her epilepsy medication in a few days, said she had been talking with other Australians who are in a similar position and estimated at least 2500 are stranded at the tropical destination.

“There must be at least 2500. It’s snowballing. Everyone is stuck – people are arriving as well. We have been told there is a Jetstar flight cancelled everyday,” she said.

Ms Gill said in the unplanned five days, she has spent an extra $700 on accommodation so far and up to $100 extra per day on food.

Another stranded traveller, Dominic Buick, said he has had three flights cancelled after his family was due to leave Seminyak on August 31.

“My understanding is there are quite a few people in Seminyak. You hear people talking over the breakfast table — there are a lot of people in a similar situation,” he said.

Mr Buick said he had no choice but to spend an extra $3600 on flights with Virgin to get his wife and two sons home with work and school commitments.

Dominic Buick is stuck in Bali with his family. He is pictured with his son Aran. They have had three flights cancelled. Picture: Supplied

“(We are) forking out about $200 a day per room, we had to get two rooms. There is food on top of that. It’s quite a lot of money out of our own pocket,” he said.

“There has been no follow up, no general sympathies. The customer care support staff can only do so much.

“There could be worse places to be. I guess we are (trying) to take it as a blessing.”

Cancellations and delays were sparked by Jetstar’s Boeing 787 fleet was “impacted” by a number of issues requiring engineering work.

They included a lightning strike, a bird strike, damage from an item on the runway and delays sourcing a specific spare part due to global supply chain challenges.

Mr Schmidt said while the majority of Jetstar’s customers have now returned home, staff are working to resolve travel plans for the hundreds who remain.

“We would like to sincerely apologise for this disruption,” he said.

“For those no longer wishing to travel we are offering refunds and for those that require it, accommodation or meal vouchers.”