Information for business travellers on the Queensland floods

Many official websites providing information about the Queensland floods are slow or unresponsive due to the number of people seeking information. Authorities are turning to sites hosted abroad with more capacity, especially Twitter and Facebook. 

Australian Business Traveller has compiled a list of definitive information sources across the web for Brisbane and Queensland airports, airlines and city authorities.

It's vital to make sure the information's coming from somewhere reliable, though. For example, reports on Twitter of Brisbane's CBD being evacuated yesterday turned out to be incorrect. (Update: Brisbane CBD is slowly closing down in preparation as of Wednesday lunchtime.)

Airports

Brisbane Airport is still open and intends to remain so. Speaking to the press, a spokesperson said, "Obviously we don't want to pre-empt anything, but we've done the modelling and we think we'll be able to stay open, even on Thursday when the worst flooding is forecast."

The airport website at bne.com.au has the latest information, but is slow due to the amount of traffic trying to reach the site.

Rockhampton Airport is expected to remain closed until Monday 24 January at the earliest, and more likely Friday 28 January. Updates will be posted to the airport's website.

Airlines

Qantas and Virgin Blue say their flights to and from Brisbane are operating normally, but both airlines are offering to waive change fees for tickets.

Full information on the change fee waivers can be found at Qantas' information page and Virgin Blue's information page.

Virgin Blue's Brisbane call centre is offline, so wait times are long. The airline is updating its @VirginBlue Twitter account regularly.

Cathay Pacific will also waive change fees for people travelling to Hong Kong. 

Brisbane city authorities

Queensland police are urging people not to travel if at all possible.

Within Brisbane itself, there are several areas of evacuation and a number of roads that are impassable. Public transport is experiencing disruptions, but the CBD has not been evacuated, despite earlier reports.

Brisbane City Council website at brisbane.qld.gov.au has full information, but is very slow to load.

City authorities are updating the @brisbanecityqld Twitter account very regularly. The city's Facebook notes page is also being updated frequently.

For public safety information, check the Queensland Police Service @QPSmedia Twitter account.

The City Council has also compiled a list of official sources that are updating Twitter.

Australian Business Traveller's continuing flood coverage

For up to the minute coverage of the flooding in Brisbane and Queensland, follow our @AusBT Twitter account and check back on our homepage at www.ausbt.com.au.

Travel plans around Brisbane or the affected areas? We've contacted all airlines flying to and from Brisbane to find out which airlines are waiving change fees for Brisbane flights.

Will your credit card travel insurance cover changes and lost luggage? Check out our full insurance coverage.

John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.