Hundreds of flights have been cancelled by some of Australia’s major airlines in response to high fuel prices. 

Virgin Australia and Qantas said the cutbacks, which impact regional Australia the most, will help manage costs as fuel prices soar from the impact of the Iran war.

On Wednesday, Virgin confirmed the indefinite suspension of the Adelaide to Cairns service from August 1, and the Alice Springs to Brisbane service from July 14.

It’s understood customers will be re-accommodated on alternative flights.

Virgin will also restrict seasonal flights between Darwin and Sydney from June 22 to October 25, and cut back the Uluru to Melbourne service from three to two flights a week, starting August 20.

From May 18 to June 30, Qantas plans to cut 88 flights out of its Melbourne to Sydney service, 50 flights from its Sydney to Brisbane operations and 31 flights from Brisbane to Melbourne.

Flights from Perth to Sydney will be cut from 334 flights to 307, Melbourne to Adelaide from 384 to 361 and Brisbane to Adelaide from 246 to 234.

Flights from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour and Melbourne to Hamilton Island will also be temporarily suspended along with Qantas’s Adelaide to Mt Gambier service.

Hundreds of key flight routes have been cancelled in worrying news for Aussie travellers

Qantas plans to cut 88 flights out of its Melbourne to Sydney service and 50 flights from its Sydney to Brisbane operations from May 18 to June 30

It’s low fares partner Jetstar will put on hold the Sydney to Busselton service and suspend the Darwin to Gold Coast flight. 

Qantas said the cuts will also likely coincide with increased airfares.

‘Given the continued volatility in fuel prices and the global economic conditions, (Qantas Group) has reduced domestic capacity in (the fourth quarter of the 2026 financial year) by around 5 percentage points,’ a statement on Tuesday said.

‘Affected Qantas and Jetstar customers are being contacted directly and offered alternative flights or a refund.’

Although around 90 per cent of its crude oil supply is hedged, jet refining margins have surged.

As a result, Qantas estimated that it could be paying between $3.1billion and $3.3b for the six months up to June 30, the second half of this financial year.

This is expected to cost the airline an additional $600million to $800m in their fuel bill for the second half of this year.

‘The group is working closely with the government and jet fuel suppliers, who continue to provide confidence in fuel supply for the remainder of April and well into May,’ the airline said.

Virgin has indefinitely suspended the Adelaide to Cairns service from August 1, and the Alice Springs to Brisbane service from July 14

‘We are closely monitoring the situation, given the ongoing uncertainty in global fuel supply chains.’

Aviation industry consultant Tony Webber warned the Australian Financial Review in March that Qantas’s earnings could drop to $544m if the conflict in the Middle East continues.

Mr Webber, who is a former chief economist for Qantas, also projected the cut to domestic flights.

‘They will cut capacity most on longer sectors where fuel costs are a higher percentage of total costs and where reducing capacity provides the strongest fare response – usually routes with more business and fewer leisure travellers,’ he said.