Jetstar A320 VH-VQP Delayed at Hamilton Island Airport as Report Shows 35% of Jetstar Flights Depart Mackay Airport Late!

On Wednesday 30 November, Jetstar Airways Airbus A320 VH-VQP was noted departing Hamilton Island Airport some five-hours late as JST849 to Sydney.  It had earlier arrived on-time from the Harbour-city as JST846.

What seems to be Jetstar policy is that an engineering issue needs to be 'signed-off' by an engineer and it seems that GSL Aviation Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain was chartered to fly one from Cairns to Hamo and back during the evening  before VH-VQP could depart.

A Jetstar A320 arrives at Mackay Airport  (File photo)

The delay is rather timely as the local Daily Mercury newspaper reported this week that during October this year, the BITRE airline on-time report performance monthly report showed only 65% of Jetstar flights departed Mackay Airport on time.  This figure is some 15% worse than competitors Virgin Australia and Qantas/QantasLink.

Also, 22.4% of Jetstar flights into Mackay Airport failed to arrive on time.

Photo taken by 'AC'  ©