Dozens of flights at Sydney and Melbourne Airports have been cancelled, and travellers are advised to anticipate delays throughout the day.
In Brisbane, major airlines, including Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia, have been forced to cancel or delay numerous flights due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
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Strong winds and scattered storm cells temporarily limited Sydney Airport to single runway operations, resulting in flight cancellations and ongoing delays.
Airlines are encouraging passengers to check the status of their flights with their respective carriers.
Melbourne Airport also experienced single runway operations, causing outbound delays of 20 to 45 minutes. However, inbound flights are currently unaffected.
Virgin Australia said a combination of adverse weather conditions, air traffic controller shortages, and engineering requirements for flight cancellations across its network.
The airline apologised to passengers for any inconvenience and stressed the safety of guests and crew as their top priority.
“We sincerely apologise to our guests for the inconvenience,” a Virgin Australia spokesperson told SkyNews.
“In the event of disruption, we will endeavour to proactively communicate with guests in advance. We encourage guests travelling today to check the status of their flight prior to travel.”
Qantas and Jetstar confirmed that weather and air traffic control issues were affecting services at Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne airports.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that wind speeds in Sydney and Melbourne will gradually subside throughout the day, offering some relief to affected travellers.
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