Thousands of Travellers Stranded at Airports in Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and more across Australia amid Heavy Rainfall as 720 Flights are Delayed and 74 Cancelled, Disrupting Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Qantas and Several other Carriers, New Update

Thousands of travellers are currently navigating a logistical crisis across Australia as major flight disruptions sweep through the nation’s busiest terminals. Data confirms that 720 flights are delayed and 74 are cancelled, leaving many passengers stranded. Heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms are currently moving across South Australia, with Adelaide expecting up to 80 mm of rain by Sunday. This tropical low is also bringing extreme UV levels and flash flooding risks to the region. The flight disruptions remains widespread, hitting Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane particularly hard. Major carriers like Qantas, Virgin Australia and Jetstar are managing the bulk of these scheduling setbacks. Even regional hubs like Canberra, Perth and the airport serving Geelong are reporting significant backlogs. Passengers should monitor their flight status closely as these weather conditions continue to evolve.

Major Airports Affected

The scale of the disruption is most visible at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, which has recorded the highest volume of interference. A total of 36 cancellations and 266 delays were reported today, making it the most heavily impacted gateway in Australia. The congestion in Sydney is being mirrored further south in Melbourne, where the Tullamarine hub faced 15 cancellations and 186 delays. Even the secondary terminal at Melbourne Avalon International Airport, which serves the Geelong region, was not spared, reporting 3 cancellations and 3 delays, all attributed to Jetstar.

In Queensland, Brisbane Airport saw 8 cancellations and 104 delays, while Western Australia’s Perth Int’l recorded 6 cancellations and 95 delays. Canberra Int’l and Adelaide Int’l each reported 3 cancellations, with 24 and 42 delays respectively. The situation in Adelaide is of particular concern to meteorologists, as the city is forecast to reach a maximum of 33 degrees today before a severe weather front arrives. A medium chance of showers is expected in Adelaide from late morning, with thunderstorms developing in the afternoon that could potentially lead to flash flooding.

Impacted Airlines

The cascading effect of these disruptions has been felt across the boards of all major domestic and international carriers.

Airline	Total Cancellations	Total Delays
Virgin Australia	28	165
Jetstar	20	125
Qantas	15	179
QantasLink	9	46
Network Aviation	1	13
United Airlines	1	2

Virgin Australia appears to be the most affected in terms of cancellations, with a total of 28 flights grounded and 165 delays recorded across the network. Jetstar followed closely, with 20 cancellations and 125 delays, including the total suspension of its services at the airport near Geelong.

The national carrier, Qantas, along with its regional subsidiary QantasLink, has also struggled to maintain its schedule. Qantas recorded 15 cancellations and 179 delays, while QantasLink saw 9 cancellations and 46 delays. Minor impacts were also noted for Network Aviation in Perth and United Airlines in Melbourne. In Sydney alone, Qantas faced 65 delays, illustrating the immense pressure placed on ground handling and gate management during such widespread weather events in Australia.

Beyond these specific figures, delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like Alliance Airlines, Regional Express Airlines, Air New Zealand, Airnorth Regional and more.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The timing of this tropical low, which is drawing widespread rain and thunderstorms across much of South Australia, is expected to dampen tourism activities. In Adelaide, where a 95 per cent chance of rain is forecast for Saturday with totals up to 35 mm, outdoor attractions and regional tours may see significant downturns. Sunday is predicted to be the wettest day for Adelaide, with rainfall totals ranging from 10 to 80 mm, further threatening local travel plans.

Across Australia, the ripple effect of 720 delayed flights means that hotel check-ins are being missed and local tours in cities like Brisbane, Perth and Canberra are being cancelled. In the pastoral and agricultural districts of South Australia, the impact is even more severe. Widespread falls of 50 to 100 mm are forecast, with isolated totals of up to 250 mm possible. A Flood Warning is currently active for the Inland Rivers, with the Cooper Creek at Innamincka experiencing significant flooding. These conditions have resulted in widespread road closures, preventing travellers from reaching local communities and impacting the movement of livestock.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For those currently caught in the congestion at terminals in Sydney, Melbourne, or Adelaide, immediate action is recommended. Aviation experts advise that passengers remain inside the terminals and monitor flight boards closely, as conditions in Australia can change rapidly. With UV levels expected to reach an extreme index of 11 in some areas despite the cloud cover, travellers are reminded to seek protection if they are required to move between outdoor terminal areas.

In Adelaide, residents and travellers are being urged by emergency authorities to monitor warnings closely and avoid all flooded roads. As the tropical system moves closer, periods of rain are likely to persist through Monday. Passengers scheduled to fly out of Canberra, Brisbane, or Perth should check the mobile apps of their respective airlines—Virgin Australia, Jetstar, or Qantas—for real-time updates before departing for the airport.

While the weather is expected to ease by early next week, with Adelaide returning to partly cloudy skies and 27 degrees by Tuesday, the backlog of 720 delayed flights will likely take several days to clear. Passengers are encouraged to exercise patience as airline staff work to re-accommodate the thousands of stranded travellers across the country.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.

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