Tropical Cyclone Alfred is causing major headaches for travelers, with both Qantas and Virgin Australia announcing they’ll be suspending operations in Brisbane from this afternoon. The cyclone is expected to hit the Queensland and northern NSW coast late tomorrow or Saturday as a category 2 storm, bringing damaging winds and heavy rain.
Airlines are offering flexible options for rescheduling flights affected by the cyclone. Here’s what you need to know:
Qantas and Jetstar Cancellations
Qantas and Jetstar have cancelled several domestic flights to and from southeast Queensland and northern NSW. This includes the Gold Coast, Ballina, and Coffs Harbour airports. Flights to Lord Howe Island were already suspended earlier this week as the island braces for the worst of the storm.
A Qantas spokesperson said operations in Brisbane will be suspended from mid-afternoon Thursday. They emphasized the priority of keeping passengers, staff, and aircraft safe and offered flexible options like travel credits and fee-free date changes.
Cancelled Flights Include:
Brisbane: Qantas flights suspended from mid-afternoon and Jetstar from midday until at least midday Friday.
Gold Coast: Qantas suspended until 1:00 pm (AEST) Friday, Jetstar until 3:00 pm (AEST) Friday.
Coffs Harbour: Qantas suspended until midnight Thursday.
Ballina: Qantas and Jetstar suspended until midnight Thursday.
Sunshine Coast and Hervey Bay: Currently operating as scheduled.
Virgin Australia Cancellations
Virgin Australia is running a “limited schedule” to and from Brisbane until 4 pm today, after which operations will be suspended. They’re reaching out to affected passengers and offering updates as the situation evolves.
Cancelled Flights Include:
Gold Coast: Suspended from this afternoon through to midday Friday.
Brisbane: Limited schedule until 4:00 pm, then full suspension until further notice.
Ballina, NSW: Flights suspended until Friday.
What About REX?
For those flying with REX, the airline is offering flexibility for travelers with bookings before March 4 for travel between March 4 and March 8. You can rebook for free on the same route or region (travel must be completed by June 30) or request a travel credit valid for 12 months. No rebooking fees apply, but fare differences will if the original fare is unavailable.
Passengers will receive updates via text and email for any schedule changes.
What Should Travelers Do?
If you have a flight scheduled, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your airline’s updates and reach out to customer service if needed. Stay safe, and if you can delay non-essential travel, it might save you a lot of hassle!
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