Disgruntled Qantas passengers who were stuck in transit in Dubai on New Year's Eve have finally landed in Sydney, after spending their first hours of 2017 in the sky.
Two Qantas flights experienced lengthy delays in Dubai while travelling from London to Sydney - a technical problem grounded an A380, flight QF2 at Dubai International Airport.
More than 800 passengers were affected by the technical problem, with some delayed up to 72 hours. About 80 passengers who were planning to spend the new year in Sydney remain stranded in Dubai.
@karenlfield Hi Karen, we know this is frustrating. Our team are doing all possible to get your sister on her way ASAP. Zen— Qantas (@Qantas) January 1, 2017
@Qantas complete chaos still waiting to see if we can fly delayed 60 hours no answers— Liz Gordon (@lizandnick1) December 31, 2016
Passenger Jayne Blake, who managed to get on an earlier flight home because she was short on medication, arrived in Sydney on Sunday morning.
"I'm on blood thinners and ran out, thank God for medication," Ms Blake said.
"We were on a QF2 flight, and the QF2 the previous day was delayed so we got offloaded off our QF2 to let them go on it, so we missed New Year's Eve and were told nothing."
"There was no communication from Qantas whatsoever, we were eventually put into a hotel – after 10-and-a-half hours. Some of us had luggage, some of us without and didn't know where our luggage was."
"I had three bags but they only know where one is, they still don't even know where the other two are."
Ms Blake said she was upset about missing New Year's Eve plans with family and friends, but said other passengers "had it worse".
"There were a young couple who saved up to go to fireworks in Sydney ... there was a lot of people worse off than me."
Henry Field, who spent Christmas overseas with his wife and two baby daughters, said it took him three days to get home and described the situation as a "debacle".
"The sign of a great company is one that can deal with adversity. Qantas were incompetent. I'd say we'd probably won't be flying with Qantas for too much longer."
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was also caught up in the delay, but was put on one of the first available flights to Sydney along with other passengers who were stranded, making it back in time for new year celebrations.
"Passengers on Qantas flight QF2 from Dubai to Sydney have been put up in hotels due to an engineering issue with the aircraft," a Qantas spokesperson said. "Where possible, passengers affected by the delay have been re-accommodated on alternative flights."
Qantas said the passengers affected by the delay were accommodated in hotels and were given meal vouchers.
Fairfax Media understands engineers are still working on the aircraft and it appears to be a complex and time-consuming fix.
