(SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA) Sydney Airport is facing heavy disruption on September 24, 2025, as a powerful bomb cyclone — a rapidly intensifying low‑pressure system — forces airlines to cancel flights and delay many others across the east coast. Airport operations shifted to a single runway for safety, and airlines including Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Cathay Pacific, and United have announced over 15 flight cancellations, with more delays expected through the evening.
The Bureau of Meteorology and Airservices Australia coordinated measures to reduce airborne traffic, with a Ground Delay Program limiting arrivals and departures while strong south‑westerly winds and driving rain batter Greater Sydney.
Safety warnings and expected conditions
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has warned residents and travelers to expect damaging gusts potentially exceeding 110 km/h and heavy rainfall up to 120 mm across parts of metropolitan Sydney over the next several hours. These conditions are creating hazardous surf, poor visibility, and crosswinds that make normal runway operations unsafe.
Air traffic managers are metering takeoffs and landings to maintain safe spacing — a standard response during severe weather — but one that causes queues both in the air and on the ground. Airlines are reworking schedules as conditions evolve, and further flight cancellations remain likely.
The storm is producing hazardous crosswinds and standing water on taxiways, which limit aircraft movement and force a slowdown in approach sequencing.
Operational impact at Sydney Airport
- Runway use: Sydney Airport is operating on one runway, a safety measure when winds and rain deteriorate.
- Air traffic management: A Ground Delay Program is in effect, reducing the hourly rate of arrivals and departures to match controller and pilot capability under low visibility and strong winds.
- Airlines affected: Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Cathay Pacific, and United have reported cancellations and delays on Sydney routes, including trunk domestic services and select international flights.
- Forecast: The storm is expected to build through the evening, with winds above 110 km/h possible and rain totals up to 120 mm.
- Emergency alerts: The SES has issued warnings for Greater Sydney, advising people to avoid coastal areas, secure loose items, and plan for transport disruption.
Why a bomb cyclone disrupts aviation
Weather specialists describe a bomb cyclone as a low‑pressure system that deepens very quickly, intensifying winds and rain over a short period. That rapid change can catch scheduled operations midstream, turning a normal afternoon into a challenging one for pilots and controllers.
- Hazardous crosswinds and standing water on taxiways limit how fast aircraft can move.
- Runway changes, turbulence, and rerouting slow approach sequencing.
- Crews must still work within duty‑time limits, which can trigger knock‑on cancellations later in the day.
- International rotations can ripple for days as aircraft and crews fall out of position.
Passenger impact and likely delays
The disruption is hitting both domestic and international services. Major trunk routes such as Sydney–Melbourne — already under pressure this winter — are seeing fresh bottlenecks. In August 2025, the Sydney–Melbourne corridor recorded a 6.2% cancellation rate, and today’s storm is pushing that performance lower.
Passengers with onward connections face added uncertainty, especially where minimum connection times are tight or where evening curfews constrain late arrivals. Travelers should expect:
- Packed customer service lines and limited seat availability as airlines rebook passengers.
- Scarcity of spare seats until weather improves and additional flights can be added.
- Some carriers waiving change fees, offering credits, or extending rebooking windows.
- Possible multi‑day recovery time — crews and aircraft need time to return to schedule, and curfew limits may restrict late operations.
What travelers should do now
- Check flight status often: Use your airline’s app or the Sydney Airport flight tracker for real‑time updates before leaving home. Plans can change minutes before departure.
- Rebook proactively: If your flight is cancelled, rebook through the app or website first to avoid long phone waits. Seats go quickly during weather events.
- Keep proof: Save emails, app alerts, and screenshots showing your flight cancellations or delays. These records help with refunds, insurance, or date‑sensitive immigration tasks.
- Contact schools and employers: If you’re an international student or a sponsored worker, tell your school or employer about the delay and ask about remote check‑in or revised start dates.
- Allow time for connections: If you have a separate ticket or tight minimum connection time, expect to misconnect. Ask your airline for protection on a later service.
- Stay across safety alerts: See the Bureau of Meteorology severe weather warnings for live hazard updates and advice: Bureau of Meteorology – Warnings.
Special considerations for visa holders and students
For travelers on tight timelines — including students starting term, temporary visa holders returning from trips, and new migrants settling in New South Wales — delays can be especially stressful. While weather is outside anyone’s control, most immigration milestones allow some flexibility if travelers keep records and act quickly.
- According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, severe weather events often push back travel plans tied to visa activation, arrival reporting, or course commencement.
- Authorities and institutions typically accept documented disruptions when travelers communicate early and provide proof such as airline notices.
- If you miss a reporting deadline because of a cancelled flight, document your attempts to travel and notify the relevant office as soon as you land.
- Immigration processing centers and test providers in Sydney may reschedule appointments affected by the storm without penalty when you provide proof of disruption.
Advice for families and those meeting arrivals
- Pack essentials: medication, chargers, snacks, and entertainment for children.
- Monitor flights closely if you’re meeting minors or elderly relatives and arrange backup pick‑up times.
- Expect high demand for ride‑hailing and slower road conditions to and from terminals.
Recovery timeline and final takeaway
Airlines will work through the backlog once winds ease and rain bands move offshore. However, even after conditions improve, crews and aircraft must be repositioned and curfew limits can restrict late operations. It may take 24–48 hours for rotations to stabilize fully.
The safest decision is the one that accounts for conditions in real time. Today that means fewer movements at Sydney Airport, careful spacing in the sky, and patience on the ground while the storm peaks.
If you must travel and have flexibility, consider shifting your trip by a day or two to save time and reduce stress.
This Article in a Nutshell
On September 24, 2025, a bomb cyclone disrupted operations at Sydney Airport, which shifted to a single runway for safety. Airservices Australia and the Bureau of Meteorology coordinated a Ground Delay Program to reduce airborne traffic while strong south‑westerly winds, heavy rain and hazardous crosswinds battered Greater Sydney. Major carriers including Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Cathay Pacific and United reported over 15 cancellations and many delays. The NSW SES warned of gusts potentially exceeding 110 km/h and rainfall up to 120 mm. Passenger impacts include missed connections, packed customer service channels and limited spare seats; airlines may waive fees or issue credits. Recovery of normal rotations could take 24–48 hours as aircraft and crews are repositioned and curfew limits restrict late operations.
