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Mass flight disruption as hundreds stranded as 34 departures cancelled and over 272 delayed

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at major airports after aviation networks cancelled numerous departures causing havoc across the region

[Operations At Melbourne Airport As Fuel Costs Bite]

Virgin Australia was one of many airlines that cancelled flights on Sunday(Image: Getty)

Hundreds of passengers have been left stranded after 34 flights were cancelled and a further 272 delayed this morning.

Widespread disruption was recorded throughout aviation networks across Australia and New Zealand on Sunday, April 26. Travellers were left stuck at major airports, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch.

Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia were responsible for the bulk of the cancellations, though the knock-on effect was felt throughout the broader travel network. New Zealand saw numerous flights fail to operate, while Australian passengers endured lengthy hold-ups. Melbourne's Tullamarine airport bore the brunt of the delays, with 84 flights failing to depart or arrive on time.

[An Airbus aircraft operated by Qantas Airways Ltd.'s low-cost unit Jetstar Airways lands as an aircraft operated by Virgin Australia Holdings Pty Ltd. taxis at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Qantas Airways is scheduled to release earnings figures on Feb. 25. Photographer: Brendon Thorne/Bloomberg via Getty Images]

Flights across Australia and New Zealand were cancelled(Image: Bloomberg, Bloomberg via Getty Images)

A further seven flights from the Victoria airport were also scrapped throughout the day, all of which belonged to either Virgin Australia or Jetstar, reports the Mirror.

As Australia's busiest airport, Sydney recorded the highest number of cancellations, with 10 flights failing to take off and leaving scores of passengers stranded. A further 69 flights at the airport also faced significant delays. Brisbane was similarly affected, with 62 flights experiencing considerable hold-ups and lengthy waiting times.

Across New Zealand, Auckland was hit with eight cancelled flights and 44 delays, with the disruption particularly affecting long-haul connecting services from the country. Wellington saw fewer overall disruptions, though four flights were still cancelled. The travel chaos comes during growing concerns about air travel due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and escalating fuel costs.

While this is not considered the cause of the current mayhem, New Zealand airlines have voiced their concerns about the impact of skyrocketing energy prices are having on the industry. On 7 April, Air New Zealand announced it would cut back flights throughout May and June and hike ticket prices. The firm noted it had been amongst the first carriers to introduce widespread fare increases when the conflict broke out.

[SOUTHEND, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: An EasyJet plane comes in to land at Southend Airport on April 17, 2026 in Southend, England. Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, estimated this week that Europe has "maybe six weeks or so" of jet fuel left, due to the disruption caused by the Iran war and oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. British Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK is not facing an immediate shortage of jet fuel, but that the government was monitoring the situation very closely. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)]

EasyJet have confirmed they won't be hitting passengers with additional fees(Image: Getty Images)

Passengers affected by the travel chaos have been advised to contact their airlines to discuss compensation. The development comes after numerous airlines released statements for passengers worried about being slapped with additional charges for holidays they've already reserved as the conflict in the Middle East has sparked fears of a jet fuel shortage.

It has also meant fuel costs have rocketed, with individuals who have already secured holidays, and those planning to, anxious they'll be demanded to pay extra to cover the escalating expenses affecting airlines.

Jet2 and easyJet this weekend confirmed that they will not be passing on any rise to passengers through surcharges. Now this afternoon airline and tour operator TUI has announced it will not charge passengers more.

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