Low Cloud - As well as Limited Aircraft Parking - Causes Diversions and Delays at Hamilton Island Airport on Sunday

The run of delays and diversions as a result of the inclement weather passing through Central Queensland - coupled with low cloud and fog - continued on Sunday 17 July with two Qantas mainline services to Hamilton Island Airport unable to land and diverting to Townsville.

The two Qantas Boeing B737-800 services into Hamo - QFA866 from Sydney operating by VH-XZH and QFA870 from Melbourne (Tullamarine) operated by VH-VXQ (Retro Roo II) - both diverted to Townsville after holding and subsequently being unable to land.

VH-VXQ arrives at Townsville  (Photo taken by 'Shinpow16'  ©)

Around the same time, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-VUF also flew North from Melbourne to Hamilton Island Airport and spent some time holding before successfully landing at Hamo.

This 'late' arrival - plus the arrivals of the other scheduled Virgin (2), QantasLink (1) and Jetstar (1) services on Sunday 17 July - then caused problems for aircraft parking with QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 Next Gen VH-LQL broken down at still parked on the Hamilton Island Airport apron after arriving from Cairns as QLK2503 on Saturday 16 July.

All inbound services to Hamo held nearby and overhead Hamilton Island Airport until parking bays became available.

Also eventually, the two Qantas aircraft returned to Hamo from Townsville before departing to Sydney and Melbourne respectively.

Meanwhile, a couple of other movements at Hamilton Island Airport worth mentioning included the departure of Shortstop Jet Charter British Aerospace BAe-125-1000B bizjet VH-LMP to Melbourne (Essendon) on Friday 15 July.  While after visiting Hervey Bay (Fraser Coast) Airport the previous day (see Blog post below) BAS Aviation Raytheon B300 Super King Air VH-KJD was believed to have called into Hamo from Hervey Bay and the Balina / Byron Gateway Airport.  It is due to depart back to Balina on Monday 18 July.