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Qantas is set to base a full-time aircraft engineer in Broome to alleviate flight cancellations that are forcinglocals to house stranded passengers who cannot find accommodation.

The cancellations are affectingthe Western Australiantourism hotspot at the busiest time of the year, as accommodation prices soarand rooms bookout months in advance.

Qantas, which has seen a raft of cancellations atBroome International Airport over the past two months, said the disruptions had been driven by "COVID-related staff challenges" and "engineering requirements".

The airline confirmed to the ABCthat it had sent a full-time engineer to service flights at the town's airport to tackle technical issues.

"We now have a full-time engineer based in Broome and [are] working to build up our local engineering capabilities to minimise the risk of cancellations," a spokesperson said.

Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) federal secretary Steve Purvinas said the movefollowed cuts to permanent staffin the state's north west.

He said two engineers based at Karratha Airport prior to the pandemic were regularly transported to airports around the north-west to service Qantas aircraft.

Mr Purvinas said that changed after the pandemic hit, with the airline pulling a flight engineer out of Karratha Airport whoserviced many communities in the Pilbara region.

"This wasn't a one-off COVID event. It was a permanent de-manning of that port," he said.

"The [engineering] problems that have happened in Broome this year are not because someone was sick from COVID.

"Broome hasn't been manned [by a full-time engineer] for 20 years."

He said the airline had now "thrown a QantasLink bloke permanently into Broome, which we think is a better option".

"The steps are positive, but it can't undo the delays that passengers have suffered up until now,"Mr Purvinas said.

Residents and business operators in Broome were frustrated by the flight cancellations, which they said had left the town to deal with the consequences.

Shire of Broome president Harold Tracey said the "disappointing" situation may have left tourists with a bad feeling after their holiday.

"When you're stuck at an airport waiting to get back home, it doesn't matter where you are," he said.

"It's not going to leave you with the most endearing memory."

Passenger Anthony Hinkley was frustrated by a cancellation two weeks ago but was astounded by the kindness of locals who housed him after Qantas staff could not find accommodation.

"I saw people just turn up at the airport, ladies, gentleman, all sorts of different people, [and say], 'I've got a room. Who would like to come?', and, bang, they would just go," he said.

"So my experience in Broome was: Love the people, loved everything I did up there.

"Would I come again? Yes, but I'll fly with Virgin next time."

Virgin Australia has also cancelled several flights at Broome International Airport.

Delays and cancellations have become the newnormalat airports around Australia, which have experienced a surge in flights after COVID-19 restrictions eased, but without enough staff to service them.

Last week Qantas announcedit would cut the number of flights in regional WA over the next month to manage the impact of COVID-19 on staffing levels.

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Posted22h ago22 hours agoMon 20 Jun 2022 at 10:03pm, updated12h ago12 hours agoTue 21 Jun 2022 at 7:58am

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Qantas to overcome Broome International Airport flight disruptions with full-time engineer - ABC News