Hundreds of cricket fans will miss the first session of the Boxing Day test after their flights to Melbourne were delayed more than two hours.
At least two flights, one from Adelaide and one from Hobart, did not leave on schedule with airline Jetstar citing safety issues.
JQ773 from Adelaide to Melbourne was supposed to leave at 7.30am, arriving well before the game’s 10.30am start time, but was delayed until 9.27am.
Hundreds of cricket fans will miss the first session of the Boxing Day test after their flights to Melbourne were delayed more than two hours
This meant fans on board were still in the air when the first ball was bowled and did not touch down at Tullamarine Airport until 11.21am.
Passengers vented their rage on social media, slamming the airline for making them miss the action without enough warning.
‘Booked on Jetstar JQ773 7.30 to Melb to take son to first Ashes Boxing Day. Up at 5.30. Very excited,’ Richard Hockney wrote.
‘Flight delayed 105 mins. Won’t get there until at least lunch. No announcements. Disgraceful!’
At least two flights, one from Adelaide and one from Hobart, did not leave on schedule with airline Jetstar citing safety issues
Passengers vented their rage on social media, slamming the airline for making them miss the action without enough warning
He wrote in a follow up tweet: ‘First ball bowled will happen while we’re in the air.’
‘This plane was supposed to get me back to Melbourne in time for the first ball of The Ashes today, but now I’ll miss most of the first session. I’m shattered,’ Timothy McCarthy complained.
‘Thanks Jetstar, didn’t fancy watching the 1st ball of the Boxing day test anyway,’ Leonard Watt wrote.
The delay appeared to be caused by the 6am JQ772 from Melbourne leaving two hours later than planned, as the same aircraft was to ferry passengers back.
‘Fine weather, first flight of the day. So how is it that JQ772 out of Melbourne has been delayed 90 minutes and counting?’ Mr McCarthy said.
The delays meant fans on board were still in the air when the first ball was bowled
Similarly, JQ700 was supposed to leave Hobart at 8am but was delayed until 10.10am, landing more than two hours late at 11.25am.
Similarly, JQ700 was supposed to leave Hobart at 8am but was delayed until 10.10am, landing more than two hours late at 11.25am.
‘Wonder if Jetstar will refund the tickets to over 150 Tasmanian fans who are being told they won’t get to Melbourne in time to watch the Boxing Day Test? Not a great Christmas present guys!’ Toby Smith wrote.
Jetstar said the delays were due to its ‘strict safety standards’ that it would not compromise to keep to its schedule, but didn’t explain the delay.
‘Punctuality is very important to Jetstar, Unfortunately, we do occasionally have delays to our service because of our strict safety standards,’ it said about JQ773.
‘While I understand the inconvenience this may cause, there is no compromise on safety.’
The delays were just a day after hundreds more passengers missed Christmas with their families when they were stuck on the tarmac for 10 hours in Dubai
Regarding JQ700 it said: ‘Delays and cancellations are a common challenge across the airline industry and happen for a number of reasons.
‘While we understand the inconvenience this may have caused, we will always follow the appropriate safety measures for our aircraft even if it means we need to change our schedule.’
The delays were just a day after hundreds more passengers missed Christmas with their families when they were stuck on the tarmac for 10 hours in Dubai.
Qantas blamed that delay on a mechanical fault and heavy fog hanging over the Emirate over the course of the day.
Qantas blamed that delay on a mechanical fault and heavy fog hanging over the Emirate over the course of the day