Australia 'bomb cyclone': 900 flights delayed or cancelled due to freak weather
'Bomb cyclone' alongside heavy rain, gusty winds trigger travel chaos in Australia
More than 900 flights were delayed or cancelled across Australia on Tuesday (July 1), as adverse weather conditions disrupted operations at major airports including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.
Airlines affected include Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines, and others, straining travel plans for thousands of passengers nationwide, Travel and Tour World reported.
While not officially classified as “severe weather,” a combination of heavy rain, gusty winds, low visibility, and airspace congestion created widespread operational challenges.
Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne experienced the most significant disruptions, particularly impacting domestic carriers and international connections.
Key contributing factors:
Heavy rain and low visibility: These conditions were most pronounced in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, significantly reducing runway visibility and slowing down arrivals and departures.
Gusty winds: Strong crosswinds in Brisbane and Sydney disrupted safe landing conditions, forcing delays in both take-offs and landings.
Flight path congestion: Even airports with clearer weather — such as Perth and Cairns — experienced delays due to crowded airspace and re-routed flights.
Impact on passengers and airline response
Airlines across the board moved swiftly to accommodate affected travellers.
Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Jetstar issued travel advisories, allowing free rebookings and flexible travel dates. Many customers were rebooked on alternate flights at no additional charge.
Customer service teams have been providing live updates through mobile apps, websites, and hotlines.
Local media warned residents of a "dangerous weather system".
“While the weather hasn't reached emergency classification, the ripple effect across the network has been significant,” a Qantas spokesperson said.
“We’re working around the clock to get customers to their destinations as quickly and safely as possible.”
Airport-by-airport breakdown:
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport: 178 delays and 29 cancellations reported. Qantas and Jetstar bore the brunt, with international carriers such as Malaysia Airlines and Emirates also affected.
Brisbane Airport: Reported the most severe disruption with 253 delays and 17 cancellations. Virgin Australia and Jetstar flights were heavily impacted.
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport: 147 delays and 15 cancellations, mainly affecting domestic operations by Jetstar, Qantas, and regional services.
Perth International Airport: 81 delays and 1 cancellation, largely due to congestion and crosswinds despite relatively calm local weather.
Adelaide, Gold Coast, and Cairns Airports: Reported dozens of delays and a few cancellations each, impacting both regional and international services.
Other affected airports: Canberra (27 delays), Hobart (11 delays), Launceston (17 delays), Newcastle (27 delays), Sunshine Coast (19 delays), and others also experienced delays of varying severity.
Airlines with the highest reported delays:
Jetstar: Over 170 delays across the country, particularly in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
Qantas & QantasLink: Over 100 combined delays, with widespread impacts on domestic routes.
Virgin Australia: Experienced high delay and cancellation rates in Brisbane, Sydney, and Gold Coast.
International carriers including Air New Zealand, VietJet Air, Malindo Air, and Malaysia Airlines also saw multiple delays, particularly out of Sydney and Brisbane.
Travel advisory
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has urged passengers to monitor airline advisories closely and allow extra time for travel and check-in.
“Weather-related air traffic disruptions remain fluid,” the agency said in a statement.
“We advise travellers to check with their airline before heading to the airport.”
While no major safety incidents have been reported, the large-scale delays underscore the vulnerability of airline operations to weather fluctuations — even when conditions are not classified as extreme.
Authorities and airlines continue working to stabilize operations and minimise further disruption.
As recovery efforts continue, passengers are advised to expect delays and rescheduling over the coming days, particularly for connecting international flights.
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