Passengers travelling to Perth and Sydney, left in limbo after flight cancellations with Virgin Australia

Passengers headed for concerts and cruises in Perth and Sydney have had their travel plans left in limbo after a series of abrupt flight cancellations.

Passengers board a Virgin Australia flight to Sydney at the Adelaide Airport on Thursday. Picture: Mark Brake

Passengers travelling interstate with Virgin Australia for concerts and cruises have been left in limbo after several flight cancellations left them grounded in Adelaide.

Virgin Australia flight VA721 scheduled for Perth was cancelled after passengers began boarding the 6.20pm flight in Adelaide, while a flight bound for Sydney was also cancelled on Wednesday night.

Many of the passengers were on their way to see Robbie Williams in Sydney and were offered an alternate flight, however, were told their plane would land at 8pm as the singer took to the stage.

Others were heading to Perth to see Coldplay, who have shows on both Saturday and Sunday, and aren’t playing gigs in any other states.

The flights were cancelled due to resourcing and Sydney curfew restrictions, the airline confirmed.

Passengers travelling to Sydney are expected to be re-accommodated on flights Thursday, while guests headed to Perth have been placed on alternative flights leaving Adelaide in the next few days.

Jill Jones, of Ardrossan, had her flight cancelled on Thursday morning and is now waiting for a replacement flight to catch an Elvis cruise leaving Sydney on Friday. Picture: Mark Brake

John and Denise Anderson, of Ardrossan, are also hoping for a replacement flight to Sydney to make the Elvis cruise in Sydney. Picture: Mark Brake

A trio of friends from Ardrossan had eagerly packed their bags to head to Sydney for the Blue Suede Cruise, but have now had their flight rescheduled to 6.55pm Thursday.

Jill Jones and friends John and Denise Anderson arrived at the airport early Wednesday, and sat around most of the day before they heard the news.

“At 5.30pm they decided to say ‘flights cancelled’,” the 63-year-old said.

“The Virgin staff have been lovely but we are all disabled, and it’s going to be a long day.”

The seven night cruise is set to showcase the ‘Elvis Meets the Legends’ spectacular, departing Sydney on Friday.

“We were going to go to the meet and greet tonight, and meet some of the other passengers, but we’ll miss it,” Ms Jones said.

“It is a pain … they did say tonight’s flight could be cancelled, it’s not 100 per cent.”

Ms Jones estimated they would lose about $20,000 if they missed the cruise.

“I booked everything and I got here and kept thinking ‘I’ve probably done something wrong’, and then all of a sudden (the Virgin staff member) came over and she said ‘cancelled’.”

Another Virgin passenger Linda said the cancellation has left her “heartbroken”.

“We found that not only our flights have been cancelled but also one to Brisbane and one to Sydney,” Linda told FIVEaa on Wednesday morning.

The Virgin flight to Sydney showing as cancelled at the Adelaide airport on Thursday. Picture Mark Brake

In a statement to The Advertiser, a Virgin Australia spokesman apologised to those impacted by the flight cancellations.

“Due to a number of factors including resourcing and airport curfews, two Virgin Australia services were cancelled from Adelaide last night,” the spokesman said.

“Our team is working hard to re-accommodate them.”

Affected passengers have been offered compensation under Virgin’s airline policy – up to $220 per room per night to cover hotel accommodation costs and airport transfers, as well as $50 per person per night for meal costs and costs incurred for reasonable personal items, for those not at their home port.

Passengers heading to Perth were unable to reschedule their bookings – as all flight services are currently unavailable until Saturday.

Guests who were unable to be placed on a replacement flight were also offered a refund.

Originally published as Passengers travelling to Perth and Sydney, left in limbo after flight cancellations with Virgin Australia