Travel across Australia in Disarray as Airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth Experiences 25 Cancellations and over 700 Delays by Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and others, New Update

Published on November 22, 2025

Travel plans for hundreds of passengers across Australia were abruptly halted today. Four of the nation’s key airports— Sydney, Melbourne Tullamarine, Adelaide International and Perth International —faced widespread operational failures. Consequently, 25 flights were cancelled and over 700 services suffered extensive delays. This chaos directly impacted the networks of major carriers. For instance, Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia bore the brunt of the disruption. These carriers registered a significant number of both cancelled and delayed flights. The sheer scale of the hold-ups points to a serious strain on the entire aviation system. Therefore, passengers must quickly assess their travel options and understand their rights. This unprecedented situation warrants an in-depth look at the affected cities and airlines. This article provides a comprehensive report on the day’s events.

Major Airports Affected

The disruption was broadly distributed across the four surveyed hubs, with the highest volume of delays concentrated in the eastern states of Australia.

Sydney Airport recorded the largest total number of delayed flights, with 300 services experiencing hold-ups. Nine total cancellations were registered at this facility, placing it as the hub with the highest number of grounded flights. The sheer volume of delayed services indicates a significant strain on the scheduling and flow of air traffic at Australia’s busiest gateway.

Melbourne Tullamarine followed closely behind, with 275 delays being logged and a total of 7 flights cancelled. The density of delays reported in Melbourne suggests considerable congestion and backlog that would have challenged airport management and passenger processing capabilities.

The disruption was less pronounced in the remaining two surveyed ports, yet still significant. Perth Airport recorded 83 delays and 3 cancellations, while Adelaide Airport registered 79 delays and 6 cancellations. The high percentage of cancellations relative to total delays in Adelaide and the impact on long-haul domestic travel through Perth, are both noteworthy aspects of the day’s operational challenge.

Impacted Airlines

The operational challenges were predominantly shouldered by the major domestic carriers, with both cancellation and delay statistics underscoring the strain placed on their networks. The figures demonstrate that no single airline was insulated from the disruption.

The Qantas Group, including its regional arm, was heavily affected across multiple airports. Qantas mainline services experienced a total of 3 cancellations, split between Sydney (3) and Melbourne (3), accumulating 68 delays in Sydney and 44 in Melbourne, as well as 13 delays in Perth. QantasLink was also impacted with 1 cancellation and 10 delays at Adelaide Int’l, alongside 50 delays in Sydney.

Low-cost carrier Jetstar recorded a total of 10 cancellations and was responsible for a high number of delays across the East Coast. Six cancellations and 46 delays were recorded in Sydney, 2 cancellations and 74 delays in Melbourne Tullamarine and 2 cancellations and 18 delays in Adelaide. Furthermore, 12 delays were logged at Perth.

Virgin Australia services were subject to 3 cancellations and numerous delays. Two cancellations and 78 delays were recorded in Melbourne, with one cancellation and 27 delays registered in Perth. Additionally, 81 delays were logged at Sydney and 19 delays in Adelaide.

Minor disruptions were also recorded for other carriers. Regional Express Airlines services were delayed 25 times in Sydney, while Air New Zealand logged 9 delays in Melbourne. In Western Australia, Network Aviation recorded 2 cancellations and 5 delays in Perth, underscoring the localized impact on regional air travel.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The dual strain of high cancellations and extensive delays is known to generate inevitable and direct commercial consequences for the local tourism and hospitality sectors in the impacted cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The 25 flights that were cancelled represent a direct halt of passenger arrivals, leading to immediate and quantifiable losses for pre-booked accommodation, tour operators and various ground transport services.

When over 700 travelers’ itineraries are significantly disrupted, the effective duration of their planned trips is often reduced. This reduction in time spent in destinations like Australia’s vibrant capital cities translates directly to a decrease in discretionary spending on restaurants, retail and attractions. Furthermore, the high volume of delayed flights, especially at major hubs like Sydney and Melbourne Tullamarine, suggests that connecting services for both international and domestic travellers were heavily impacted, potentially causing missed connections and subsequent frustration that can negatively affect destination perception.

The cancellation of services by regional carriers operating through hubs like Adelaide and Perth also indicates that regional tourism access within Australia was constrained. This may lead to difficulties for visitors looking to reach smaller, highly tourism-dependent communities outside of the capital cities, magnifying the economic impact beyond the immediate airport precincts. The cumulative effect of these delays across the main tourist entry points of Australia represents a significant logistical challenge for the sector.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

Passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted are strongly advised to take immediate action to manage the impact. The priority for any affected passenger is to be proactively in contact with the operating airline—whether it be Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia or any of the other carriers—prior to travelling to the airport. Confirmation of the current flight status and the next available rebooking option must be secured directly from the airline’s customer service channels.

Under the Australian Consumer Law, consumers are provided with basic rights known as consumer guarantees. This includes the guarantee that services will be provided within a reasonable time, even after being delayed or cancelled. Depending on the length of the delay and whether the disruption was within the airline’s control, a consumer may be entitled to a replacement travel service or a refund. If an acceptable replacement service cannot be provided within a reasonable time, the customer must be offered their choice of a different replacement service or a full refund.

Many airlines operating in Australia also maintain compensation policies which set out the assistance provided for delays within their control, which may include meal vouchers, accommodation and transport. Passengers are encouraged to review the specific compensation policies of their carrier and retain all receipts for any reasonable, resulting out-of-pocket expenses to facilitate any later claim for reimbursement. It is crucial that passengers are informed of their rights to ensure appropriate assistance is obtained during this period of extensive operational instability.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.