QANTAS: Flights delayed by Space X rocket debris

According to a story in The Guardian, Qantas flights between Sydney and Johannesburg have faced last-minute delays following warnings from the US government about falling debris from SpaceX rocket re-entries in the Southern Indian Ocean.

Disruptions caused by Space X rocket re-entry

Ben Holland, head of Qantas’s operations centre, explained that limited notice of rocket re-entry timing over the southern Indian Ocean has led to flight schedule adjustments. The remote ocean area is SpaceX’s designated re-entry zone for spent rockets.

“Over the past few weeks, we’ve had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to advice received from the US Government regarding SpaceX rocket re-entries.”

Ben Holland, head of Qantas operations Centre

Short-Notice Warnings

Flight disruptions can arise when airlines receive warnings at short notice, with geographical coordinates and timing provided by authorities. These warnings can change unexpectedly, sometimes just before scheduled departures.

“While we try to adjust our schedule in advance, recent launch timings have shifted at short notice. Our teams notify customers of any changes as soon as possible.”

Ben Holland, head of Qantas operations Centre

Qantas remains in discussions with SpaceX to refine the timing and re-entry zones to reduce future disruptions.

Passenger understanding

Qantas reports that most passengers accept the delays as necessary for safety. They generally understand that this is beyond an airlines control, and that for safety, areas with falling debris are best avoided.

Other airlines impacted by Space X debris

Qantas is not the only airline affected. South African Airways flights are also understood to have experienced similar disruptions from SpaceX rocket operations.

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