More Wet Weather - More Diversions & Cancellations & then Extra Flights - at Hamilton Island Airport

With the threat of another Tropical Cyclone off the coast of the Whitsundays, there were more flight delays and diversions from Hamilton Island Airport, followed by a couple extra flights to clear the backlog.

Hamilton Island Airport on a much nicer day!  (File photo)

On Sunday 9 March, Virgin Australia Boeing B737-800 VH-YIS was operating as VOZ1281 from Sydney to Hamilton Island, but after circling near Hamo for over an hour, it eventually diverted into Rockhampton Airport.  After taking on fuel, it is believed that all the passengers were then returned to Sydney on VH-YIS, which departed Rocky back to Sydney operating as VOZ1281.

On Sunday 9 March, it appeared that all Jetstar flights into Hamilton Island were cancelled, and after its unsuccessful landing, Virgin Australia cancelled its other flight into Hamo from Brisbane.

There were no flights - nor ferry services - into Hamilton Island on Monday 10 March.

Flights (and ferry services) resumed on Tuesday 11 March, and like previous occassions, both Jetstar and Virgin operated additional flights into Hamilton Island Airport.  Virgin Boeing B737-800 VH-YIM was noted flying BNE-HTI-BNE as VOZ9501/9502, while Jetstar Airbus A320 VH-VQH also operated BNE-HTI-BNE but as JST7502/7503.