More than 100 flights have been cancelled out of Sydney Airport due to strong winds as thousands of Australian travellers suffer travel chaos.
Making matters worse is a severe shortage of air traffic controllers – due to staff illness – which led to the closure of airspace south of Brisbane airport on Friday morning.
Cancelled flights out of Sydney will be spread throughout the day as the airport tries to manage using its one east-west runway, rather than its twin north-south tarmacs.
The airport is being buffeted by strong westerly winds of up to 70km/h.
There were busy scenes at Sydney Airport early Friday (pictured), where a number of flights have already been cancelled
‘Sydney Airport has been advised by Airservices Australia that single runway operations will be in place today due to strong winds,’ a spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia.
‘As a result, there are some flight delays and cancellations. Airlines are working hard to re-accommodate passengers and get them on their way.
‘If passengers have questions regarding the status of their flight, we encourage them to contact their airline.’
Thousands of passengers have already streamed through Sydney Airport and formed lengthy queues at their gates as the NSW school holidays kick off.
‘It’s a long queue so we’re going to be here for a bit,’ one family told Sunrise.
Another traveller added: ‘Got here on time but they’re running late.’
One holidaymaker arrived at the airport to travel to the Gold Coast before learning his flight had been cancelled and rescheduled for Saturday afternoon.
Frustrated passengers have taken to social media to vent their anger on Friday after their flights were cancelled.
A shortage of air traffic controllers in Brisbane on Thursday caused widespread disruptions to flights along Australia’s east coast, which have had a flow-on effect
‘Cheers @VirginAustralia for the text as I’m travelling to the airport from the country saying my 9:30am flight melb>syd is now at 4:30pm. No seats left on any flight for the next 7hrs? Business must be good. It’s ok only 2 hours till the customer service line opens!’ one woman fumed.
Another traveller tweeted: @VirginAustralia cancelled a flight leaving us all trying to figure out what’s going on & they have not a single employee here to help.’
A third wrote: ‘Jetstar please stop cancelling flights to Sydney.’
Qantas told Daily Mail Australia a number of services will be delayed and cancelled in Sydney due to weather resulting in single runway operations.
Passengers will be moved onto the next available flight.
A Virgin spokeswoman said:
‘All guests impacted by cancellations today are being recovered onto the next available flights, with the majority recovered today,’ a Virgin Australia spokeswoman said.
‘We apologise to any guest impacted by delayed or cancelled services and we are working tirelessly to ensure all guests reach their final destination.’
Travellers at Sydney Airport faced lengthy delays on Friday morning as the NSW school holidays kicked off
Jetstar said working hard to reaccommodate passengers on alternative services as quickly as possible.
Airservices Australia said Friday’s delays and cancellations were not related to widespread disruptions.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a strong wind warning for much of NSW coast from Port Macquarie right down to Batemans Bay.
It added forecast winds of 20 knots posed ‘a hazard to the aircraft using N-S runways in landing or departing’.
Strong crosswinds – winds blowing from sideways of the aircraft – impact its ability to land or take off as planes require headwind.
The Qantas Group alone cancelled more than 100 flights.
Virgin Australia also felt the brunt with flights to and from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Ballina forced to operate around the uncontrolled airspace, which added time and distance.
The airline also cancelled 28 flights on Thursday.
Around 2.3million travellers are expected to go through Sydney Airport over the next two weeks making it one of the busiest school holiday periods since pre-Covid.
Qantas was forced to cancel 10 flights on Thursday because of airspace restrictions
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk