Calmer Conditions After Windy Airport Flight Chaos

Travelers wait in line to verify their Covid-19 vaccination status as they check-in for a flight to Sydney, Australia at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 1, 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon/ AFP via Getty Images)

Flights departing Australia’s busiest airport are mostly back on schedule after two chaotic days of cancellations and delays caused by poor weather and a lack of staff.

Strong winds forced the cancellation of dozens of flights out of Sydney Airport on Friday and Saturday, with pilots limited to a single runway due to the high winds.

The knock-on effect led to huge crowds spilling out of the terminal as the New South Wales school holidays began.

On Sunday morning, flight monitors showed most departures from domestic and international terminals at Sydney Airport leaving on time.

There are still some cancellations and delays, and passengers are urged to check with their airlines.

Arrival times are also mostly back on schedule.

Traffic controller Airservices Australia said it continues to closely monitor weather conditions to ensure safety.

The strong winds that caused two days of nationwide travel disruptions have abated, with the only wind warning in NSW on Sunday for the Eden coastline, south of Sydney.

The airport chaos caused thousands to scramble to find new flights, with 18 departures out of Sydney cancelled and dozens more delayed on Saturday due to wind gusts of up to 45 kilometres per hour, along with staffing issues.

More than 100 flights were cancelled on Friday and the disruption spread to airports across the country.

Staffing problems in Queensland airports are still leading to slower processing times for those flying into the Sunshine State, with no let-up in sight.

Travellers are urged to give themselves more time.

The Bureau of Meteorology recorded wind gusts of 30 kilometres per hour at Sydney Airport at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday as conditions eased slightly from 44 kilometres per hour gusts recorded at 1pm.

Southwesterly winds averaging 15 to 20 kilometres per hour—similar to those forecast for the airport on Saturday—are expected to continue on Sunday but will ease throughout the day and into the afternoon.

The ongoing impact of industry-wide disruptions is expected to cause more delays, a Virgin Australia spokesperson said.

Flight Centre Australia managing director Graham Turner told Nine’s Today program the delays and cancellations would probably continue for the next six months due to staff shortages.

“It’s a problem not only with air traffic controllers—you know, the airlines have a shortage of pilots,” he said.