Fed: Virgin Blue flights delayed

AAP General News (Australia)
12-23-2005
Fed: Virgin Blue flights delayed

SYDNEY, Dec 23 AAP - Thousands of Virgin Blue passengers are stranded at airports around
Australia after flight schedules were disrupted at the height of the Christmas rush by
a mechanical problem in one aircraft.

Virgin Blue said many flights had been delayed and a handful cancelled across Australia
today because the plane needed unscheduled maintenance - less than 48 hours before Christmas.

"Unscheduled maintenance was required on one aircraft and we're waiting for a part,"

Virgin Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said.

Most passengers were being delayed by "a couple of hours" because of the flow-on impact,
she said.

Virgin Blue could not say how many flights or how many passengers had been affected
by the delays, but there are reports hundreds of passengers are cramming the terminal
at Sydney Airport.

A spare aircraft, which would normally be used to ferry passengers whose flights had
been delayed, was not available because it was being used in a charity flight.

"That aircraft would be our operational spare but we're using it today for this charity
flight," Ms Bolger said.

Passengers held up at airports around Australia were being placed on other flights
during what was the busiest time of the year, she said.

Virgin Blue assured customers they would get to their destinations in time for Christmas
and promised to rectify the delays "as soon as possible".

"Our priority is getting people where they're going in time for Christmas," Ms Bolger said.

AAP dcr/smb/jt/de

KEYWORD: VIRGIN

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