Thousands of Passengers Stranded in Australia and New Zealand as Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar Face Over 64 Flight Cancellations and 926 Delays Across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, and Beyond

Published on December 12, 2025

Thousands of passengers are stranded in Australia and New Zealand as Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar face over 64 flight cancellations and 926 delays across major airports like Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Auckland, and Christchurch, causing widespread chaos. The disruptions have left travelers in limbo, with airports overwhelmed by delays and canceled flights. With severe weather conditions and operational challenges affecting several major carriers, passengers are facing unprecedented delays, while many flights are canceled altogether. This article takes a closer look at the current travel nightmare, the affected airlines, and the ongoing impact on airports across the region.

Flight Cancellations and Delays by Airlines in Oceania

Flight performance across Oceania reveals some key trends. QantasLink, a regional subsidiary of Qantas, has the highest cancellation rate at 2% and also experiences the most delays, with 28% of its flights delayed. Virgin Australia sees the highest delay percentage at 46%, although it maintains a relatively low cancellation rate of 2%. Jetstar, a low-cost carrier under Qantas, reports low cancellations at 1% but has 15% of its flights delayed. Solomon Airlines, from the Solomon Islands, has a high cancellation rate of 5%, while Air New Zealand and Qantas have moderate cancellations and delays, with Qantas facing 22% delays.

Flight Cancellations and Delays by Airports in Oceania (by Origin)

Oceania’s airports show varied cancellation and delay rates. Sydney (SYD), one of the busiest, faces a 3% cancellation rate, with 136 delayed flights (25%). Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) sees a lower cancellation rate at 1%, but a significant 30% of flights are delayed. Brisbane (BNE) and Auckland (AKL) have relatively moderate delays, with Brisbane showing 21% and Auckland 18%. Christchurch International (CHC) in New Zealand has a low delay rate of 13%, but Canberra International (CBR) reports 3% cancellations with 14% delays, indicating less severe operational issues compared to other major airports.

Flight Cancellations and Delays by Airports in Oceania (by Origin) (Repeated Data)

A closer look at flight operations at Oceania airports reveals Sydney (SYD) with the highest delay rate of 33%, followed by Melbourne Tullamarine (MEL) at 25%. Brisbane (BNE) has a lower delay rate of 19%, while Auckland (AKL) and Christchurch International (CHC) maintain relatively low delays (12% and 13%, respectively). The data highlights the operational challenges at Sydney, which continues to see significant delays, while smaller airports like Christchurch report more stable performance with fewer delays, making them more reliable options.

Thousands of passengers are stranded in Australia and New Zealand as Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar face over 64 flight cancellations and 926 delays across major airports like Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Auckland, and Christchurch, causing widespread chaos.

Conclusion

Thousands of passengers remain stranded across Australia and New Zealand as Air New Zealand, Virgin Australia, Qantas, QantasLink, and Jetstar continue to face over 64 flight cancellations and 926 delays. The ongoing disruptions at major airports in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, and beyond have left travelers in limbo, with delays and cancellations caused by operational challenges. While airlines and authorities work to manage the chaos, the situation continues to affect thousands, highlighting the severe impact of these widespread travel disruptions.