THE VOLCANIC ash cloud originating from Chile has returned to Australia, prompting airlines there to cancel or redirect their Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart services.
Qantas cancelled 73 domestic and six trans-Tasman flights today. The carrier halted domestic services to and from Adelaide throughout the day, suspended Canberra domestic operations from 12.00, and grounded Sydney domestic flights from 15.00.
Qantas’ international services to and from Australia are still in operation, with some flying alternative routes. For instance, its QF32 Singapore-Sydney service has been diverted to Brisbane, while Johannesburg-bound services will operate with a refuelling stop in Perth until further notice.
Jetstar cancelled all flights to and from Adelaide today, and all flights originating from Sydney and Newcastle after 15.00 were suspended for the remainder of the day.
Two of Jetstar’s domestic flights between Melbourne and Perth were also grounded. All other flights to and from Australia will run as planned.
Tiger Airways cancelled all domestic flights within Australia today, but all of its international services were operating as usual.
Unlike previously, flights to and from New Zealand were unaffected by the return of the ash cloud today.
Singapore-based travel agents with whom TTG Asia e-Daily spoke with said they were mostly unaffected by the disrupted air services, and that it was still too early to comment on the long-term impact of the ash cloud on bookings.
They had previously indicated there would likely be a short-term drop in bookings to Australia and New Zealand (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 16).
Julie Lim, general manager, Gulliver Associates, said: “We have nothing to report at the moment, but we will be monitoring the situation closely.”
She added: “There have not been any outright cancellations, although a small number of clients have rescheduled in view of the flight cancellations.”
Chan Brothers Travel spokesperson, Ivy Tan, said: “So far both our group and FIT pax are not affected by the flight cancellations this week in Australia, as most flights that have been grounded are domestic.”
“However, we are keeping our fingers crossed for the tour group that is scheduled to return from Sydney tomorrow on Qantas, as we have yet to receive any update from the airline.”
“With the mid-year school holidays coming to an end this week, the impact this round is lesser,” she added.
