Qantas Delays Flights Due to SpaceX Rocket Debris Warnings

SYDNEY, Australia – Qantas has delayed several flights on its Sydney–Johannesburg route following warnings from the U.S. government about falling debris from SpaceX rocket re-entries over the southern Indian Ocean. The airline confirmed the disruptions, citing last-minute changes in launch schedules and re-entry zones.

Ben Holland, head of Qantas’s operations center, stated that the airline often receives limited advance notice about the exact locations and timing of rocket debris re-entry. “Over the past few weeks, we’ve had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to advice received from the U.S. government regarding the re-entry of rockets over an extensive area of the southern Indian Ocean,” Holland said.

The southern Indian Ocean was chosen by SpaceX as a re-entry zone due to its remoteness. However, the unpredictability of re-entry coordinates and timing has forced Qantas to make last-minute adjustments to its flight schedules. “While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches has moved around at late notice, which has meant we’ve had to delay some flights just prior to departure,” Holland explained.

Passengers are notified of delays as soon as Qantas becomes aware of potential impacts. “Customers generally understand this is outside of airlines’ control and that we can’t fly in the area when the rocket re-entry is taking place,” Holland added. The airline is in discussions with SpaceX to refine re-entry areas and time windows to minimize future disruptions.

South African Airways has also reportedly been affected by SpaceX’s operations, though the extent of the impact remains unclear. SpaceX has not yet commented on the situation.