Qantas customer complaints under investigation as ACCC says airline not ‘realistic’ about flights it could serve

The ACCC is investigating Qantas after a slew of complaints from customers about late or cancelled flights. Photograph: Mark Baker/AP

The consumer watchdog is investigating Qantas after customer complaints about late or cancelled flights, and is predicting more air travel chaos over the Christmas holidays.

Late flights and cancellations were at their worst levels outside of the pandemic period and domestic travel would not return to normal until well into next year as airlines struggle to beef up staffing levels, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said in a report on Wednesday.