Jetstar and QantasLink Maintenance Issues Cause Delays and Disruptions at Hamilton Island and Mackay Airports This Week

It's been interesting to note that both Jetstar and QantasLink have had some maintenance issues that have caused various delays and cancellations to flights out of Hamilton Island and Mackay Airports over the last few days.

On Friday 28 June, Jetstar Airbus A320 VH-VGI - operating as JST846 - arrived into Hamilton Island from Sydney just after 2pm.  The scheduled departure time of 2.50pm came and went, with VH-VGI eventually departing Hamilton Island after 9pm that night.

VH-VGI on short final to Mackay Airport (File photo by Dave ©) 

It is unclear what the exact problem is, however it was reported to be a maintenance issue.  As a result, and as Jetstar usual practice dictates, an engineer was summoned from Cairns, and they arrived and departed Hamilton Island on Hinterland Aviation Cessna 402 VH-TFK operating as HND626.

A maintenance issue also arose for Jetstar on Monday 1 July, when A320 VH-VQM touched down at Mackay Airport as JST882 just before 10am.  VH-VQM eventually departed to Brisbane as JST883 just after 3pm.

Townsville Airlines / Cairns Heli Charters AeroCommander 500-S VH-YJI was noted flying into Mackay from Cairns on Monday 1 July, presumably carrying the required engineer to allow VH-VQM to depart Mackay.

Lastly, on Tuesday 2 July, QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXE arrived into Mackay Airport in the early morning as QJE1760.  It was due to turn around back to Brisbane, however failed to depart.  It later departed empty to Brisbane as QJE6200.

VH-NXE at Rockhampton Airport (File photo by 'IAD'  ©)

As a result, QantasLink substituted one of its usual afternoon Dash-8-Q400 services to Mackay from Brisbane with Alliance Airlines Fokker F-100 VH-XWQ which was noted operating UTY2516/2517.