Delays and Diversions at Rockhampton Due to Low Cloud and Strong Winds - And a Shortened Runway!

Passengers travelling into Rockhampton Airport on Thursday 30 April faced delays and diversions as inclement weather passed through the region bringing low cloud and strong winds.  Moreover, the continuing works on Runway 15 at Rockhampton Airport - causing a displaced threshold to be in place - also caused several problems with aircraft forced to land 'down-wind' on Runway 33.

File photo taken by 'IAD'  ©

QantasLink Dash-8-Q400 VH-QOC was first to experience a delay while operating the morning QLK2354 service from Brisbane, forced to go-around while approaching Runway 15 and eventually coming back around to land on Runway 33.

Virgin Australia flights seemed to be impacted the most with the morning VOZ1235 flight from Brisbane - operated by Boeing B737-800 VH-VUC - turning back to Brisbane not once but twice during Thursday.

While Embraer E-190s VH-ZPK (as VOZ1239) and VH-ZPD (as VOZ1243) also both returned to Brisbane after trying unsuccessfully to land at Rockhampton.

It seemed like the larger jets were most affected as highlighted with, as the day went on, both Virgin Australia Regional Airlines (VARA) ATR 72s and QantasLink Dash-8-Q400s successfully landing at Rocky, potentially clearing some of the backlog.

Finally, during the evening on Thursday 30 April, QantasLink (Cobham Aviation) Boeing B717-200 VH-NXG called into Rocky while operating as QJE1770 - the usual Brisbane to Mackay service.  After a short while at Rocky, it departed and continued up to Mackay.