Hundreds have been stranded after 34 flights were cancelled and 272 delayed. Disruption was recorded throughout aviation networks in Australia and New Zealand on Sunday (April 26).

Travellers were left stuck at major airports, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch. Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin Australia were responsible for the bulk of the cancellations, though the knock-on effect was felt throughout the broader travel network. New Zealand saw numerous flights fail to operate, while Australian passengers endured lengthy hold-ups. Melbourne's Tullamarine airport bore the brunt of the delays, with 84 flights failing to depart or arrive on time. A further seven flights from the Victoria airport were also axed throughout the day, all of which belonged to either Virgin Australia or Jetstar.

As Australia's busiest airport, Sydney recorded the highest number of cancellations, with 10 flights failing to take off and leaving scores of passengers stranded. A further 69 flights at the airport also faced significant delays. Brisbane was similarly affected, with 62 flights experiencing considerable hold-ups and lengthy waiting times.

Across New Zealand, Auckland was hit with eight cancelled flights and 44 delays, with the disruption particularly affecting long-haul connecting services from the country. Wellington experienced fewer disruptions overall, though four flights were still cancelled.

The travel disruption comes amid mounting concerns surrounding air travel as a result of the ongoing Middle East conflict and rising fuel costs.

While this is not considered the cause of the current chaos, New Zealand airlines have spoken out about the impact that soaring energy prices are having on the industry.

On April 7, Air New Zealand announced that it would reduce flights throughout May and June and increase ticket prices, noting it had been amongst the first carriers to introduce widespread fare hikes when the conflict erupted.

Passengers affected by the travel disruption have been advised to get in touch with their airlines to discuss compensation.