Travellers hoping for a smooth getaway on 5–6 December were met instead with what industry site VisaHQ dubbed “Flight Chaos.” Data compiled from airport movement logs show 31 cancelled departures and 730 delays across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns and Adelaide.
Melbourne bore the brunt, with ten cancellations and more than 250 delayed movements. Sydney followed with eight cancellations and 226 late departures. Aviation analysts tie the mess to a perfect storm: residual aircraft shortages after Jetstar’s A320 grounding, thunderstorms over the eastern seaboard, and chronic apron-staff vacancies.
![Weekend ‘Flight Chaos’: 31 Cancellations and 730 Delays Hit Five Major Airports]()
The disruption stretched average door-to-door journey times by 1–3 hours, according to travel-data firm OAG. For corporate programmes, that translates to overtime claims for travelling technicians, missed client meetings and extra hotel nights. Insurers warn that some policies exclude weather-related delays, so risk managers should audit coverage.
State tourism boards expressed concern about reputational damage just as the lucrative summer influx begins. Airports Australia says it will convene an “irregular-operations” working group this week to streamline communications between ground handlers and ride-share operators, aiming to prevent terminal gridlock when flights unload simultaneously.
Melbourne bore the brunt, with ten cancellations and more than 250 delayed movements. Sydney followed with eight cancellations and 226 late departures. Aviation analysts tie the mess to a perfect storm: residual aircraft shortages after Jetstar’s A320 grounding, thunderstorms over the eastern seaboard, and chronic apron-staff vacancies.
The disruption stretched average door-to-door journey times by 1–3 hours, according to travel-data firm OAG. For corporate programmes, that translates to overtime claims for travelling technicians, missed client meetings and extra hotel nights. Insurers warn that some policies exclude weather-related delays, so risk managers should audit coverage.
State tourism boards expressed concern about reputational damage just as the lucrative summer influx begins. Airports Australia says it will convene an “irregular-operations” working group this week to streamline communications between ground handlers and ride-share operators, aiming to prevent terminal gridlock when flights unload simultaneously.
