Taylor Swift fans in Queensland and Victoria have been left devastated after crucial flights were cancelled and delayed due to a ‘severe storm’ ahead of the artist’s first show in Sydney.
The flights were axed due to a severe thunderstorm bringing heavy rain, destructive winds and ‘giant’ hail that was forecast to hit Sydney Airport on Friday afternoon – just hours before Swift was set to take the stage.
The singer’s performance to a crowd of 80,000 at Accor Stadium will be the first of four consecutive sold-out shows from Friday to Monday.
Jetstar cancelled its 5pm and 7.30pm flights from Brisbane, while Virgin cancelled two flights – the 4.05pm and 7.35pm.
A further three flights from Brisbane to Sydney were cancelled, while passengers on another two flights were warned of massive delays.
Taylor Swift fans in Queensland and Victoria have been left devastated after crucial flights were cancelled and delayed due to a ‘severe storm’ ahead of the artist’s first show in Sydney
Three flights from the Gold Coast to Sydney were also cancelled after a second storm was forecast to roll across the city on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, Qantas cancelled four of its flights out of Melbourne which were bound for Sydney Airport.
The national airline, however, brought in its A380 to ensure its passengers would arrive in the harbour city in time for Swift’s concert.
‘The A380 will carry 485 passengers, the equivalent of almost three Boeing 737 flights which normally operate this route,’ Qantas said in a statement.
‘While this would normally be used to support our international network on flights to places like London and LA, given the incredibly high demand into Sydney today, it is being brought in to support the domestic operation.’
Qantas customers unable to board the Airbus were rebooked onto the airline’s other services.
The Airbus left Melbourne at 5pm and arrived at Sydney International Terminal at 6.40pm.
One fan told ABC Radio Brisbane Breakfast she spent $700 on last-minute flights after her Brisbane to Sydney flight was cancelled.
‘I woke up this morning to an email from Virgin saying that my flight this afternoon had been cancelled,’ Swift fan Megan said.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning at 1.57pm on Friday for destructive winds, heavy rainfall and ‘giant’ hail for Sydney and surrounding areas (pictured)
Swift’s first concert was delayed by about 20 minutes on Friday night, with fans having to be evacuated as lightning struck just 10 kilometres away
‘When I called them, they did say that [the storms] were the reason for the cancellation.’
Megan frantically booked a last minute flight after discovering the airline rebooked her on a trip to Sydney on Sunday – despite her holding tickets to Saturday night’s concert.
‘I’ve had to rebook flights with Qantas for tomorrow morning for pretty much double the price of what I originally paid for them. They were $700 one way for tomorrow,’ she said.
Swift’s first concert was delayed by about 20 minutes on Friday night, with fans having to be evacuated as lightning struck just 10 kilometres away.
Her support act Sabrina Carpenter was skipped, with Swift taking to the stage at about 7.50pm.
Fans sitting on the floor and lower bowl levels of Accor Stadium were asked to move inside after lightning struck shortly before 6pm.
Carpenter was due to begin at 6.20pm and Swift was supposed to start at 7.30pm.
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