Tropical Cyclone Alfred: Impacted flights, what airlines are offering travellers
Airlines have cancelled some flights ahead of .
Here’s what flights are affected — and what airlines are offering customers.
Qantas
Flights to or from the Gold Coast will be suspended from 4pm Wednesday — when Gold Coast Airport will close — for 24 hours minimum, with Lord Howe Island flights already suspended for the day. Flights to or from Coffs Harbour and Ballina have been suspended until midday and midnight Thursday respectively.
Flights to or from Brisbane and Sunshine Coast are continuing as scheduled at present.
For flights to or from Ballina, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Lord Howe Island and Maroochydore between 4 and 9 March, Qantas is offering customers a travel credit or a fee-free date change for up to two weeks from the original date subject to availability.
They are directing customers to use the online ‘manage booking’ page or to call their customer line.
“Our teams continue to closely monitor the cyclone and we are contacting customers directly with any changes to their flights,” a Qantas Group spokesperson said.
“We have proactively cancelled a number of flights today from south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales.”
The airline said they will update impacted customers via text message.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia said a Wednesday and Thursday flight from Ballina Gateway Airport have been cancelled.
Virgin Australia’s ticket range is one day shorter than Qantas and Jetstar’s policies, with flights from 4 to 8 March going in or out of Ballina, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Gold Cost and Sunshine Coast airports included.
Customers are advised to contact Virgin’s Guest Contact Centre or their travel agent to get a travel credit or move their flight fee-free to a date within 14 days, according to the Virgin Australia website.
The policy is limited to tickets issued on or before 3 March 2025.
“Virgin Australia’s meteorologists are closely monitoring Tropical Cyclone Alfred,” a spokesperson said.
Jetstar
For customers flying to or out of Ballina Byron, Brisbane, Coolangatta, Hervey Bay and Maroochydore airports, Jetstar is offering a voucher or free date change for up to two weeks after their original flight date.
Customers can access these options through the ‘manage booking portal’ on the Jetstar website or via their travel agent, according to the airline’s website.
Jetstar has cancelled flights in and out of Ballina Byron Gateway Airport on 5 and 6 March.
They are advising customers to move their travel plans to before Thursday evening.
Rex
For flights to or from Brisbane Airport between 4 and 8 March, Rex passengers can rebook fee-free for a flight before 30 June or request a travel credit.
Rex has cancelled nine flights scheduled to depart from or arrive at Brisbane Airport on Wednesday 5 March and suspended all flights to and from the airport for the next two days.
Further delays remain possible
While individual flight cancellations vary for each airline, government-owned air traffic provider Airservices Australia has said: “There is also potential for airborne and ground delays if Airservices’ capacity is reduced due to staff or facilities becoming unavailable as a result of weather impacts.
“Airservices has put staff contingency plans and emergency operational assets in place, including backup power supplies, to help us provide necessary support to Australia’s aviation sector throughout the coming days.”
