Airport delays and flight cancellations across the country show no sign of stopping as officials blame critical staff shortages, COVID-19 and extreme weather conditions.

In Sydney, staff shortages, flooding and school holidays combined to cause lengthy delays and queues stretching through the terminal this week.

Friday is expected to be the busiest day at airports across the country since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, with school holidays starting in South Australia and Tasmania and ending in Queensland and Victoria. 

Australian Airports Association chief executive James Goodwin said cancellations were "a matter for airlines". 

Transport Workers Union national secretary Michael Kaine said "poor conditions" and "chronically over-worked" aviation staff meant delays would "become our new normal". 

"The travelling public should expect the chaos and confusion to continue indefinitely, not just during peak travel times, if aviation work remains undervalued and insecure," he said. 

In a joint statement last week, Qantas and Jetstar said they had recruited more than 1,000 team members and put more staff on stand-by in an effort to cope with demand.

What are my rights when my flight is cancelled?

It depends on your airline, how long the delay is and what caused the delay. 

For Qantas flights, the airline will re-book you on the next available flight and give you a meal voucher or reimbursement. 

If your delay is overnight, they'll provide accommodation or reimbursement of up to $200 per room booked. 

You can only get a refund if: 

• Qantas can't give you a suitable alternative arrangement for a cancelled or delayed flight
• you have to cancel travel completely because of the delay
• the delay causes you to miss a connecting Qantas flight.  

Jetstar will offer a meal voucher or reimbursement if the delay is overnight. They also offer accommodation or up to $150 reimbursement per room.

Virgin Australia will try to transfer you to another Virgin flight or another airline flight to the same destination. 

If their alternative doesn't work, you'll need to contact their Guest Contact Centre or your travel agent for credit or a refund. 

Regional Express (Rex) offers refunds, credit or transfer to the next flight.

Most airlines have their compensation policy on their website. 

My flight has just been delayed a few hours — what can I do? 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) says airlines don't have to guarantee flight times.

If you need to be at a destination at a specific time for an event or to catch a connecting flight, this is where travel insurance comes in.

Check to see if your provider covers any unexpected disruptions to travel plans. 

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What if I'm still not happy with the airline? 

If your flight has been cancelled and you're not happy with how the airline handles things, there are still options for you. 

Take notes of any conversations or emails from the airline and contact your travel insurance provider. 

Make a complaint to your state's consumer protection agency (Office of Fair Trading Queensland, NT Consumer Affairs, NSW Fair Trading, etc.) and consider reporting the matter to the ACCC if necessary.

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