Australia Amid Travel Chaos as Passengers across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and more Faces 46 Flight Cancellations with 841 Delays by Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and others, New Update is Here

Published on December 12, 2025

Australia’s domestic air travel system faced a day of immense disruption. Operations became severely challenged as a wave of cancellations and delays swept across the country’s major airports today. This widespread travel chaos hit hundreds of passengers planning to fly through Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. Furthermore, significant delays were also registered in Perth, Canberra, Hobart and Ballina. Airlines like Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia bore the brunt of the operational fallout. Consequently, a staggering 46 flights were cancelled and 841 flights were delayed in total. The numbers confirm a significant setback for the national aviation network. This report dissects the widespread impact and identifies the airlines and cities most affected by today’s operational failures in Australia.

Major Airports Affected

The total number of operational incidents today has been quantified across the primary air transport hubs, revealing the extent of the impact on scheduled services in each region:

• Sydney: Sydney Airport experienced the highest volume of disruption, with 18 cancellations being reported and an additional 268 delays being registered. This total represents the most substantial operational challenge recorded at a single location today.
• Brisbane: At Brisbane, a considerable impact was also felt, where 11 total cancellations were recorded. Furthermore, 164 delays were logged at this key Queensland hub, placing notable strain on the airport’s scheduled movements.
• Melbourne: Significant disturbances were measured at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, which accounted for 9 cancellations. The highest number of delays today was nearly registered here, with 227 incidents recorded, illustrating a pervasive issue with scheduled on-time performance.
• Perth: Operations at Perth International Airport were subjected to 3 cancellations and a further 141 delays. While the number of outright cancellations was lower compared to the east coast, the substantial delay figure suggests widespread time-based issues for Western Australian travelers.
• Canberra: Canberra International Airport, which serves the nation’s capital, recorded a smaller but still significant impact. Here, 2 cancellations were reported, accompanied by 21 delays to services.
• Hobart: In Tasmania, Hobart International Airport recorded 2 cancellations. Notably, 19 delays were also recorded, contributing to the broader disruption footprint.
• Ballina: Finally, the regional hub of Ballina / Byron Gateway Airport was affected by 1 cancellation and 1 delay, confirming that operational strain extended beyond the major capital city ports.

Impacted Airlines

The disruption was broadly shared among the major domestic carriers, with various airlines registering substantial numbers of cancelled and delayed flights across the affected airports.

The most numerous cancellations and delays overall were attributed to QantasLink, the regional carrier, which recorded the highest total cancellations across the network. Specifically, QantasLink was responsible for 8 cancellations and 21 delays at Sydney, 4 cancellations and 20 delays at Brisbane and 5 cancellations and 16 delays at Melbourne Tullamarine. Its services were also exclusively impacted at Canberra Int’l (2 cancellations, 11 delays), Hobart Int’l (2 cancellations, 0 delays) and Ballina/Byron Gateway (1 cancellation, 1 delay).

The mainline carrier, Qantas, was also significantly affected, registering 7 cancellations and 56 delays at Sydney. Further operational difficulties for Qantas included 5 cancellations and 33 delays at Brisbane, 3 cancellations and 37 delays at Melbourne Tullamarine and 1 cancellation and 19 delays at Perth Int’l.

Virgin Australia services were responsible for notable delays in the eastern capitals, with 3 cancellations and 58 delays logged at Sydney, 2 cancellations and 43 delays at Brisbane and 1 cancellation and 38 delays at Perth Int’l.

The low-cost carrier, Jetstar, recorded 1 cancellation and 51 delays, with all these incidents being registered solely at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. The only other operator specifically identified in the Perth data was Network Aviation, which was responsible for 1 cancellation and 31 delays at Perth Int’l. The combined effect of these operational challenges by all carriers has created a complex web of travel difficulties across Australia.

Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like Regional Express Airlines, Air New Zealand, Alliance Airlines and more.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The substantial operational disruption is observed to have immediately curtailed passenger mobility into and out of critical tourism and business centers. When flights are cancelled or delayed in this volume, the transportation network connecting these locations is functionally slowed. Travel capacity into Sydney, which recorded the highest number of overall incidents, was immediately reduced. Similarly, movement into Brisbane and Melbourne was demonstrably hindered by the sheer volume of delayed and cancelled services.

The flow of regional travelers, crucial for local economies, was directly interrupted by the incidents reported at Canberra, Hobart and Ballina. The fact that a regional access point like Ballina/Byron Gateway Airport was included in the day’s total further confirms that both major city and feeder tourism markets were affected. Any passengers with time-sensitive connections or engagements in Perth would have had their arrival times fundamentally altered by the 141 delays recorded there. The recorded figures serve as clear documentation of the immediate adverse effect on planned travel itineraries across Australia.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose journeys were affected by the 46 cancellations and 841 delays are strongly advised to take immediate steps to manage their revised travel plans. Firstly, the status of all flights should be re-verified using the official channels provided by the operating carrier (QantasLink, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, or Network Aviation).

It is incumbent upon the operating airline to communicate the available options to affected passengers. Communication regarding re-booking, re-routing or alternative transport arrangements is expected to be managed directly through the carriers’ official platforms or dedicated disruption teams. Travelers affected at major airports like Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne are also advised that terminal congestion is likely in the wake of such significant operational backlog. Passengers should ensure that all contact details associated with their booking are current so that communications can be received promptly. This approach ensures that the resolution process for the disruption across Australia is initiated as quickly as possible.