Mass cancellations hit Sydney Airport amid strong winds

At least 59 flights have been cancelled at Sydney Airport today due to strong winds making it unsuitable for flying as it transitions to one runway.

A Sydney Airport spokesperson told the Sydney Morning Herald that the cancellations were due to strong winds.

“Yesterday evening, Airservices Australia advised airlines of the possibility of single runway operations today due to potential strong winds at the airport,” she said.

“As a result, a number of airlines have decided to consolidate services. Passengers who are travelling today are advised to get in touch with their airline to check the status of their flights.”

Speaking on 2GB with Ben Fordham, Sydney Airport general manager of communications Josh Clements said that the single runway operations will mean that almost half of flights won’t be able to run.

“What the airlines try to do is get ahead of any disruption on the day so that they can get in touch with passengers and send them messages and get them onto different flights the day before,” he said.

Qantas confirmed that some of its services were delated and cancelled due to the winds and that it will contact customers if there flight was impacted.

The winds impacted flight delays and cancellations last night as well. Kristina Yanakieva, who flew from Brisbane to Sydney with Jetstar last night, said her flight was delayed several times and, once up in the air, was rife with turbulence.

“I’ve never heard so many adults screaming in my life,” Yanakieva said.

Following the dramatic journey, she arrived unscathed in Sydney two hours later than originally scheduled.

(Featured Image: Commercial Airplane taxiing down the Sydney Airport runway – iStock/Boeing746)