Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and other Airlines Experience Travel Disruption in Australia as Passengers across Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and more Face 34 Flight Cancellations and 645 Delays, New Update

Published on December 15, 2025

A massive operational challenge swept across Australia’s major air travel hubs today. Authorities confirm 34 flights were cancelled. Furthermore, 645 flights experienced significant delays across the national network. Melbourne Tullamarine recorded the highest total disruptions, closely followed by Brisbane and Sydney airports. Carriers like Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia absorbed the bulk of the service interruptions. Lesser, yet notable, impacts also hit Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast and Canberra International Airports. This widespread turbulence immediately created major issues for thousands of passengers. Therefore, travelers must now urgently check their flight status and reconfirm their onward arrangements. This report details the full extent of this complex travel disruption.

Major Airports Affected

The operational turbulence was not uniformly distributed, with major capital city airports in Australia bearing the bulk of the reported service failures. Melbourne Tullamarine Airport recorded the highest volume of total disruption, serving as the most strained hub across the monitored locations.

• Melbourne Tullamarine Airport was subjected to the highest number of overall flight interruptions, with 11 cancellations and 208 delays. This total of 219 incidents highlights the considerable strain placed on the primary aviation gateway for Victoria.
• Brisbane Airport also faced significant operational challenges, logging 8 cancellations and 120 delays. The total of 128 incidents at this Queensland hub marks a substantial impediment to the day’s scheduled services.
• Sydney Airport, a critical aviation hub for Australia, recorded 6 cancellations and 150 delays, contributing 156 incidents to the day’s total.
• On the western coast, Perth Airport experienced 5 cancellations and 89 delays, indicating that operational issues spanned the breadth of Australia.
• Adelaide Airport recorded 2 cancellations and 44 delays, confirming that every major capital city airport across the provided data set was subject to service disruption.
• Smaller, yet still significant, disruptions were documented at Gold Coast Airport, which registered 1 cancellation and 18 delays and Canberra International Airport, where 1 cancellation and 16 delays were reported. The figures from Canberra and the Gold Coast further illustrate the broad, national scope of the disruption across Australia.

Impacted Airlines

The widespread operational strain impacted a number of domestic and international carriers operating services across Australia. Major domestic airline groups were responsible for the vast majority of the cancellations and delays reported today across the affected airports, including Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

• QantasLink was recorded as one of the most heavily impacted carriers, with 4 cancellations and 16 delays at Melbourne Tullamarine, 4 cancellations and 13 delays at Brisbane, 2 cancellations and 7 delays at Sydney and 1 cancellation and 10 delays at Canberra.
• Jetstar also experienced considerable disruption across Australia, reporting 3 cancellations and 68 delays at Melbourne Tullamarine, 2 cancellations and 34 delays at Brisbane, 1 cancellation and 48 delays at Sydney and 1 cancellation and 11 delays at Gold Coast Airport.
• Virgin Australia services were demonstrably affected, with 2 cancellations and 45 delays at Melbourne Tullamarine, 2 cancellations and 17 delays at Perth Int’l and 2 cancellations and 12 delays at Adelaide.
• The mainline carrier Qantas was also subjected to service interruptions, logging 2 cancellations and 31 delays at Melbourne Tullamarine, 2 cancellations and 15 delays at Brisbane and 2 cancellations and 38 delays at Sydney Airport.
• Other carriers affected included Network Aviation, which registered 2 cancellations and 14 delays at Perth and international airlines United Airlines and Air New Zealand, which each recorded 1 cancellation at Sydney and Perth Int’l, respectively. The involvement of both domestic and international operators confirms that the operational failure was system-wide, affecting services across the entire Australia network.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The high volume of travel interruptions across critical gateways like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane is understood to have a probable effect on the efficiency of local tourism movements throughout Australia. The cumulative total of 34 cancellations and 645 delays suggests that a substantial number of traveler arrivals and departures were subject to unexpected changes, directly interrupting planned itineraries.

In major destinations such as Melbourne and Sydney, the volume of delays recorded would have significantly impacted connecting ground transport, accommodation check-in times and organized tour schedules for inbound visitors. This alteration of visitor flow, particularly during peak travel times, indirectly strains the operations of local hospitality and travel-related businesses in Australia.

Similarly, in ports like Perth and Adelaide, where travel often relies on punctual air service for connecting regional and interstate tourism, the reported delays and cancellations would have necessitated immediate and often costly adjustments for tourists. The recorded disruptions at Canberra and the Gold Coast further confirm that both capital city and regional tourism markets across Australia were affected by the aviation network’s struggle to maintain scheduled performance. An efficient transportation system is vital for the tourism economy and when this many delays are recorded, the seamless flow of visitors through popular Australian destinations is inevitably constrained.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose travel plans have been impacted by these widespread cancellations and delays are advised to take immediate steps to manage the disruption. It is important that affected travelers, particularly those flying through Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, verify the status of their flights directly with their respective airline.

• Consult the Airline: Passengers are strongly recommended to check the official airline websites or mobile applications—specifically for Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and others—for the most up-to-date information regarding re-accommodation options.
• Review Entitlements: Passengers should review their specific airline’s compensation policies, which may detail assistance for meal costs and accommodation in cases of extended, controllable delays or cancellations. These policies, however, operate in conjunction with the basic consumer guarantees afforded under Australian Consumer Law.
• Rebooking and Refunds: Where a flight has been cancelled, passengers are entitled to a refund or an alternative flight service provided within a reasonable time, depending on the circumstances. If an alternative flight is not acceptable or is unavailable, the option of a full refund should be pursued. For those connecting through hubs like Perth or Adelaide, time is of the essence in securing a new booking.
• Contact Customer Service: Given the high volume of disruptions in cities like Melbourne and Sydney, phone lines are likely to be heavily congested. Digital communication channels, such as airline messaging services or social media support, may provide quicker alternatives for passengers seeking assistance across Australia.