Super typhoon Zelia, with 29,095km/h of destructive winds, made landfall earlier than expected on 14 February, paralyzing traffic across Australia, leading to many flights being canceled and delayed, according to the TTW.
Thousands of passengers are stranded at Sydney and Melbourne airports. Vietnamese airlines such as Vietnam Airlines and VietJet Air are also affected due to flights to Australia.
Extreme weather has disrupted the chain of aviation operations. Hundreds of flights have been delayed at some of Australia's busiest airports, including Sydney Airport and Melbourne Tullamarine Airport.
256 flights were delayed at Sydney Airport, affecting major airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Emirates, Delta, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Korean Air.
Virgin Australia's operations were hit hardest, with the airline having to cancel 12% of its scheduled flights. Qantas and Jetstar are also facing major delays, with Qantas recording 69 delayed flights (38% of the airline's operations).
Flight operations at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport have also been paralyzed by storms and floods, causing passengers to face long waiting times and the risk of flight cancellations at the last minute.
172 flights were delayed, with Qantas, Virgin Australia, Jetstar, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Malaysia Airlines and Korean Air being the most affected.
Qantas was significantly affected, with 57 flights delayed (39% of its flights at this airport).
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued an emergency warning for strong winds, heavy rains and dangerous flooding in areas such as Port hedland, Wallal Downs, Whim Creek, Marble Bar and Tom Price.
Due to the possibility of extreme weather conditions getting worse after the super typhoon swept across the mainland, airlines were forced to cancel flights, affecting both domestic and international flights.
Zelia was initially classified as a Category 5 super typhoon, then downgraded to Category 4. However, the storm continues to pose significant threats after making landfall. The super typhoon has gusts of up to 290km/h, with rainfall expected to reach 500mm for three days until February 16 as the storm weakens into a tropical depression.
People and tourists are advised to stay indoors due to strong winds and prolonged risk of flooding. post-storm hazards include damaged buildings, damaged power lines and debris scattered on the streets.
Airlines recommend that passengers check flight status before arriving at the airport and be ready to face the risk of flight delays and cancellations due to the impact of natural disasters.
In the context of continued harsh weather conditions, passengers are encouraged to monitor updates from airlines and rearrange flights if necessary. Update information through official sources such as Emergency WA, BOM and airline websites.
