Airlines and airports across Australia spent Sunday grappling with one of the worst operational days since pre-pandemic times. Data compiled by aviation analytics firm Cirium and confirmed by airport operators show at least 72 cancellations and 336 delays on 30 November, with Sydney and Melbourne hardest hit. Low-cloud ceilings over the east coast coupled with roster shortages triggered rolling schedule changes from dawn.
Jetstar took the biggest hit, scrubbing 25 services—about 3 % of its schedule—while Qantas grounded 12 flights and reported knock-on delays averaging 34 minutes. Virgin Australia and regional carrier QantasLink also trimmed frequencies. Air-traffic-control flow restrictions amplified the chaos, forcing airlines to re-assign crews and aircraft throughout the day.
![Weather and staffing woes cancel 70+ flights and delay 300+ more across Australia]()
Corporate travellers heading to Brisbane’s resources corridor and Canberra’s parliamentary sittings bore the brunt, with missed connections cascading into Monday. Travel-management companies said re-accommodation costs spiked as hotel inventory in airport precincts evaporated.
The disruptions come just a week before the start of the peak holiday period and reignite debate over aviation staffing resilience. Industry bodies are urging the federal government to expedite security-screening accreditation for foreign licence-holders to bolster the workforce ahead of Christmas.
Jetstar took the biggest hit, scrubbing 25 services—about 3 % of its schedule—while Qantas grounded 12 flights and reported knock-on delays averaging 34 minutes. Virgin Australia and regional carrier QantasLink also trimmed frequencies. Air-traffic-control flow restrictions amplified the chaos, forcing airlines to re-assign crews and aircraft throughout the day.
Corporate travellers heading to Brisbane’s resources corridor and Canberra’s parliamentary sittings bore the brunt, with missed connections cascading into Monday. Travel-management companies said re-accommodation costs spiked as hotel inventory in airport precincts evaporated.
The disruptions come just a week before the start of the peak holiday period and reignite debate over aviation staffing resilience. Industry bodies are urging the federal government to expedite security-screening accreditation for foreign licence-holders to bolster the workforce ahead of Christmas.
