Australia in Travel Shock as Qantas, Jetstar and more Suspends 25 Flights with 1142 Delays across Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and other Destinations, New Update
Published on
November 29, 2025
Australia faces a massive aviation headache today. A total of 25 flights were cancelled across five major airports. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane recorded the bulk of the disruption. Furthermore, 1,142 delays added significant chaos to travel schedules nationwide. Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar bore the brunt of these operational hurdles. Consequently, hundreds of passengers experienced unexpected setbacks. The airports in Adelaide and Perth also reported substantial delays. The combined figures expose serious strain on the national air traffic network.
The five major international and domestic airports in Australia were all impacted by the widespread scheduling issues, with the number of delayed services far outweighing the total cancellations at every location.
Melbourne:
The highest volume of delays was experienced at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, a key gateway for travel into and out of the state of Victoria. A total of 8 flight cancellations were registered, the highest number recorded among the five airports. However, the operational strain was most evident in the staggering number of delayed services, with 329 delays being logged.
Sydney:
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which serves as a major national and international hub in Australia, was impacted by a near-identical scale of delays to Melbourne. Six flights were cancelled in Sydney and 327 delays were reported. The consistent volume of disrupted services at both Melbourne and Sydney indicates the pressure faced by the operational capacity of the nation’s two largest airports.
Brisbane:
A similar pattern of suspension was noted at Brisbane Airport, where six flights were cancelled. The total number of delayed flights in Brisbane reached 268, confirming the severe nature of the issue across the eastern Australian network.
Adelaide:
Significant disruptions were also registered further south at Adelaide Airport. Three flights were cancelled and a total of 113 flights were reported as delayed. This data highlights that the problems were not isolated to the largest hubs but were also felt keenly in Adelaide.
Perth:
On the Western Australian coast, Perth Airport recorded the lowest figures but was still significantly affected. Two flights were cancelled and 105 delays were recorded in Perth.
AirportAffected AirlinesCancellations (#)Delays (#)Melbourne TullamarineQantasLink429Qantas276Jetstar265SydneyQantas397Jetstar350BrisbaneQantasLink244Jetstar236Qantas256Adelaide Int’lQantas225Air New Zealand11Perth Int’lQantas227
The data shows that Qantas flights were the most affected overall in terms of total delays, being impacted across all five airports: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. The largest number of Qantas delays (97) was registered at Sydney Airport.
Jetstar services were notably impacted across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, with 65 delays being recorded at Melbourne Tullamarine alone. The regional carrier QantasLink was affected primarily at the Melbourne and Brisbane airports, accounting for a total of 6 cancellations across these two hubs. Air New Zealand was also involved in the disruptions, with one cancellation and one delay being registered at Adelaide International Airport.
Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like Virgin Australia, Regional Express Airlines, Alliance Airlines and more.
Given the volume of disrupted services, it is inferred that the local tourism and business sectors in the affected cities will be navigating a complex period. With 327 delays recorded in Sydney and 329 in Melbourne, the movement of both international and domestic visitors into these major capitals is significantly constrained. This vast number of delayed arrivals means hotel check-ins are being postponed, local transport services are being burdened by schedule changes and pre-booked tours and events are likely being missed.
In Brisbane, the 268 reported delays indicate that tourist access to Queensland destinations is also being severely affected. Similarly, the more than 100 delays each in Adelaide and Perth suggest that regional travel plans from these international gateways are being complicated. The disruption to the major carriers like Qantas and Jetstar, who handle the bulk of leisure and business travel across Australia, directly translates to a reduced and delayed flow of tourists into the local economies of these cities.
Passengers whose travel plans have been compromised by the numerous flight cancellations and 1,142 delays are urged to take proactive steps immediately. Booking modifications and re-accommodation details should be requested directly from the operating carrier (Qantas, Jetstar, QantasLink or Air New Zealand).
All travelers intending to use the air network across Australia via hubs like Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are advised to continually monitor the status of their flights through the official channels of their respective airline. Given the scale of the disruption, further scheduling adjustments by the affected carriers may be introduced and passengers must be prepared for potential follow-on delays or route changes. Compensation options, if applicable, must also be explored directly with the airline responsible for the cancelled or delayed service.
-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.
