CNS closed for TC Jasper

docjames

docjames

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CNS closed from 2000hrs this evening.

Closed tomorrow. Potentially longer as TC Jasper meanders along coastline. Hopefully all those up north stay safe.

Last flight out appears to have been VA1298 to MEL. A number of cancellations in and out this afternoon. A QLink DHC8-400 direct to BNE left at 1713 - looonnngggg 2h40min flight time for them. Bit hard to tell but a lot of cancellations today as presumably flights were rationalised with no inbound and many having left already. A number of unusual flight numbers - presumably as aircraft were re-positioned to safety away from the TC (presumably with a mix of pax and no-pax flights).

Air Niugini cancelled inbound PX98 this afternoon as unable to operate tomorrow’s PX91 and unable to turn around this evening.

Will be interesting what JQ25 does (or rather, whether or how pax are re-routed), and similar for JQ15 (? Direct from MEL, or not run at all) and similarly how VA approach VA77/78 (? onto ANA direct from SYD - and whether there is capacity for that)?
 
Potentially also some significant diversions required for eg. QF87/88 SYD-ICN and eg. SYD-HND Or MEL-NRT depending on progress of TC Jasper.
 
JQ 25 cancelled on 13/12 but has run normally from 14/12. JQ15 similar.

VA77 cancelled 13/12, 14/12 then running from 15/12.
VA78 cancelled 12/12 and 13/12 but then ran on 14/12 (arrival early 15/12).

Seems to have all settled down fairly quickly - fortunate the TC didnt intensify, and also for CNS airport it crossed north of port douglas so less damage.

Surrounding areas still pretty affected by rain and floodwaters but the airport seems to have normalised operations fairly rapidly.


QF87 stayed very easterly routed but similar in flight time to normal on 14/12, similarly for QF88 same date.

Similar easterly routings for the ex-SYD. Interestingly no such diversion for MEL-NRT (JL774 and QF79) which seemed to follow a fairly normal routing this week.

QF80 slightly more easterly routing the last couple of days whereas JL773 seemed to have followed it’s “usual” routing on it’s operating days.
 
A friend who is a Cairns native who was supposed to fly to AKL (cns-bne-akl) ended up having to catch a Greyhound bus 7am Tues to Townsville, then flying to BNE to ensure they made their international flight.

Hopefully clean-up goes well.
 
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Cairns Airport due to flood this afternoon with a predicted flood level over 3.8 metres from the Barron River at the end of the runway.

Currently (Sun 17/12 13:15) all roads into Cairns are closed due to flooding, fallen trees or land slips. :(

Sounds like it‘s going to get worse before it gets better.
 
Now shut up shop for the day, maybe until tomorrow??

2.20pm 17/12/2023: Operations have now ceased at Cairns Airport. A further assessment will take place at 6pm. This decision has been made as we continue to work closely with authorities and stakeholders, including our airline partners.
 
Rain expected until lunchtime tomorrow, then I’d imagine some repair and assessment work required, would likely be closed until Tuesday, likely later.

Not sure what SQ is doing SIN-CNS. Thought they would have gone back to Darwin, flew right over it even though the closure was announced a while back, still tracking CNS
 
Unconfirmed word is Council is turning tap water off in Cairns. Problems with storm fallout blockages feeding the inlets to the dam(s) reported 3 days ago, not sure if this is related or something different.


Media reporting the airport will be closed for at least two days.
 
Saab34 said:
Not sure what SQ is doing SIN-CNS. Thought they would have gone back to Darwin, flew right over it even though the closure was announced a while back, still tracking CNS
Click to expand...
SQ203 has done a U turn, most likely heading to Darwin.

Flight # SQ203.jpeg
 
Saab34 said:
Planes are going for a swim on the General Aviation side.

View attachment 358771

Airlines might get getting nervous. Jetstar has 2 aircraft on the apron plus a E190, and 2 Dash 8. Virgin lucky they just got the MAX out in time by a matter of minutes alongside the Jetstar 787
Click to expand...
Looks like some of those birds are ready to take off !

Downstream.
 
New problem as 400 cows swept downstream wandering around as well...some might find their way into the airport.

The main runways and aprons are higher than this general aviation side but.
 
UPDATE:

7.40pm 17/12/2023: Operations will not recommence at Cairns Airport tonight. At first light tomorrow morning, our teams will inspect the runway and assess its serviceability. This assessment will determine when or if operations may recommence on Monday. However, we can confirm that flights will not be operating in the morning.

We will provide an update on the outlook for Monday afternoon at approximately 8am tomorrow. We will continue to liaise closely with our airline partners, authorities and other key stakeholders this evening and throughout tomorrow.

A number of flights scheduled for Monday have been cancelled or delayed. Please contact your airline directly for information about specific flights.

This is an unprecedented flooding event at Cairns Airport, related to major and rapid flooding at the nearby Barron River, which led to a spillover at our levy wall. This has never happened before. We are grateful for your cooperation. Please stay safe.
 
Last edited:
ksthommo said:
UPDATE:

7.40pm 17/12/2023: Operations will not recommence at Cairns Airport tonight. At first light tomorrow morning, our teams will inspect the runway and assess its serviceability. This assessment will determine when or if operations may recommence on Monday. However, we can confirm that flights will not be operating in the morning.



We will provide an update on the outlook for Monday afternoon at approximately 8am tomorrow. We will continue to liaise closely with our airline partners, authorities and other key stakeholders this evening and throughout tomorrow.



A number of flights scheduled for Monday have been cancelled or delayed. Please contact your airline directly for information about specific flights.



This is an unprecedented flooding event at Cairns Airport, related to major and rapid flooding at the nearby Barron River, which led to a spillover at our levy wall. This has never happened before. We are grateful for your cooperation. Please stay safe.
Click to expand...
The other impact not stated here is workforce. Being able to get all of the people involved in operation of a reasonably large domestic airport (by AU standards) to the airport safely through residual floodwater and damaged roads, especially when some of them may have had damage to their own vehicles or houses will be quite a challenge.
 
Yes many businesses, not just the airport, have little or no staff available to work, it was bad enough before Xmas and the cyclone. Long waits everywhere.

There will quite a few people with damaged houses after this flood, there were no rentals here before.

Also there will be no trucks for food/fuel in for a few days either.
 

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