Footy fans left fuming as airlines cause travel chaos ahead of AFL Grand Final weekend

Brisbane Lions fans travelling to the AFL Grand Final have been left seething after multiple flights from Brisbane to Melbourne were cancelled on Thursday and Friday. 

Brisbane Airport is expecting around 119,000 passengers to travel through the airport over the next two days as fans of the reigning premiers make their way down to Victoria for the AFL's showpiece event, which will kick off at 2.30pm on Saturday.

Airlines have already been criticised for the cost of flights to travel to Melbourne on Grand Final weekend, but one individual has slammed Jetstar, after the airline cancelled its 6.30am flight on Thursday from Brisbane to Melbourne.

‘Jetstar has cancelled a flight (6.30am) to Melbourne this morning which was due to carry a plane full of Brisbane Lions supporters!!’ the passenger told The Courier Mail.

The passenger alleged that those booked onto the flight only received a text message at 10.30pm, the evening before the flight, adding: ‘when most passengers would be asleep before the early morning flight.’

Jetstar had allegedly told those passengers that the next flight available to Melbourne from Brisbane would be at 9.30am on Saturday, leaving them little time to get to the Grand Final before it’s scheduled 2.30pm kick-off time. 

‘Absolute joke!!’

A spokesperson for Jetstar claimed that the cancellation had been made because of ‘engineering issues’.

Qantas also cancelled its 6.00am flight from Brisbane to Melbourne on Thursday morning as well as its 12.15pm flight. 

Meanwhile, its 1.20pm flight on Friday has also been axed, with the airline having informed customers of the cancellation on Thursday afternoon.

‘The aircraft scheduled to operate your flight is undergoing additional engineering maintenance,’ a statement read.

‘Our engineers are working through a complex issue, and it’s taking longer than expected. As a result, the aircraft won’t be able to operate as planned.’

A spokesperson for Qantas added that those booked onto that flight were being moved onto other flights, adding that they would land in Melbourne on Friday, ahead of the Grand Final.

The airline spokesperson added to The Courier Mail that the flight had been ‘proactively cancelled due to unscheduled maintenance required on the aircraft.’

Jetstar has, meanwhile, issued a statement on their cancelled services, stating: ‘We know how incredibly important this weekend is for Lions fans.’

‘All impacted customers were offered alternative flights to Melbourne departing within six hours of their original flight time.

‘We never want to cancel a flight, especially one heading to the Grand Final, but safety is always our number one priority.

'We thank customers for their patience and understanding.’