Jetstar flight delays: Customers left stranded as Australian airline impacted by global GPS glitch

Travellers have been left furious after an Aussie budget airline fell victim to a global GPS glitch, causing extensive delays.

It is understood that some Jetstar Airbus planes received a fault message with the GPS, requiring the system to be reset before flights departed.

The glitch caused delays for flights to Bali, Fiji, and Hobart from airports on Australia’s east coast on Thursday, the Daily Mail reported.

Jetstar customers took to social media to express their frustration after experiencing significant delays.

“It’s been so many years since I’ve flown with Jetstar Airways but after today, it will 100% be the last. 6-7 hour delayed flight trying to get home from Fiji,” one user wrote on X.

“They sent out a notification way too late, so now there are several families with young kids just stuck at the airport. SMH.”

Robyn Hale, who was travelling overseas, had already waited for her flight for six hours before she was told it wouldn’t depart until Friday.

“After waiting at the airport with delayed flight for the past 6 hours-and being spun a whole lot of rubbish, we have now been told our flight has been cancelled until tomorrow!,” she wrote on Facebook.

“Back through customs and luggage carousel then who knows what! Second time this has happened to us and rest assured it will be the last.”

The airline has responded to some upset customers who tagged them in their posts.

A spokesperson from Jetstar confirmed that no other Qantas Group aircraft types were impacted and that there was no safety concern for passengers.

“Engineers have inspected the aircraft and have determined the multiple aircraft GPS systems continue to operate and transmit signals,” they told The Nightly.

“There has been minimal impact to our operation and we thank our customers for their patience if they have experienced any delays while engineers conduct system resets.”

The Jetstar planes impacted include the new Airbus A320 Neos and A321 Neos.

Airbus and Boeing have confirmed the fault message has also been experienced by other airlines globally, and it is likely being caused by an external issue with GPS or satellite signals.