Falling rockets have prompted Qantas to delay flights between Australia and South Africa. Elon Musk’s SpaceX uses the Southern Indian Ocean as a splashdown zone for returning space equipment, including rockets and satellites.
While this region is largely remote, Qantas’ nearly 7,000-mile flight from Sydney to Johannesburg traverses this stretch six times per week. The route is operated by its Airbus A380.
Ben Holland, who heads the airline’s operations center, told The Australian that this debris can return within an “extensive area.” The move to delay some flights comes after advice from the U.S. government, he added.
Some of the affected flights can be delayed just prior to departure with little notice given to the airline from SpaceX.
“We’re in contact with SpaceX to see if they can refine the areas and time windows for the rocket re-entries to minimize future disruption to our passengers on the route,” Holland shared.
South African Airways has faced similar issues on its Johannesburg to Perth service.
Qantas has not provided information on how long the carrier expects these disruptions to continue.
