Residents have “had enough” of Brindabella’s continued cancellations and delays.

After being grounded for checks and miscommunication with the community many have vowed never to use the service again.

During the past week locals have shared their stories of how Brindabella’s ‘maintenance reviews’ have affected them.

A local teacher contacted the Moree Champion on Saturday morning extremely frustrated because a group of dancers could not fly to nationals in Sydney due to their flight being cancelled.

She said the little girls had their dreams devastated thanks to Brindabella.

“You have left a team of girls high and dry. Do you care they have trained all year to reach this goal? The hours of rehearsing, the work their teacher has put in and you rip their dreams away,” she said.

David Peachey was a special guest for the White Ribbon Masquerade Ball on Friday night but could not attend because of the cancellations and many guests on the evening shared stories of the two, four and up to six hour delays they experienced getting to Moree.

Jane and Phil Rhode were amongst the 20 passengers delayed on Friday evening.

Mrs Rhode said the plane did not leave until 9.45pm which caused distress to many on board.

“An elderly couple had been waiting for three days for a flight and each day they were told to be at the airport for the morning flight in case there was a chance they could board. So they waited from the morning flight to the evening flight each day,” she said.

A young woman also on the plane had travelled from New York and had not experienced any difficulties until she reached her Brindabella flight, which lasts only an hour and a half.

“If they (Brindabella) were to do that with stock, they would be charged with neglect and cruelty before the courts and that’s exactly what this is,” Mrs Rhode said.

Facebook has been a place for locals to vent their stories and anger.

Local mother, Emily James, said her brother spent two of his five days off a month stuck in Sydney. 

“He was supposed to be in Moree last Wednesday lunch to visit for the second time in six months,” she said.

“The whole reason for him coming home was to meet his three-week-old niece for the first time.”

She said because of Brindabella’s lack of communication and incompetence he wasn’t able to make it home after travelling 5000km from Western Australia. 

“Brindabella Airlines is a complete joke. My entire family was affected by their lack of service. I would never recommend anyone to travel with them now or in the future,” Miss James said.

Ashlee Lysaght said her elderly grandparents were waiting for three days. 

“They would take it on the chin and not complain, but I’m disgusted and bloody over it. Bring Qantas back,” she said.

Locals have made a Facebook group called ‘Bring Qantas back to Moree’, and are also spreading the word for everyone to attend the next council meeting this Thursday at 4pm.

Member for Barwon, Kevin Humphries said he was more than aware of Brindabella’s difficulties around reliability.

“Brindabella has been put on notice by the Department of Transport, and we are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. My priority is ensuring Moree has a safe and reliable link to Sydney,” he said.

It was also announced on Friday Transport issued Brindabella with a ‘notice of explanation’.

Mr Humphries said Brindabella’s lack of service had affected a number of communities, not just Moree, and caused disruption and angst across the state.  

“The company has got itself into trouble due to being overcommitted, and in order to develop reliability my message has been clear – do less, better. It has certainly got the message from the community and the government that they need to maintain a regular passenger service,” he said.

A spokesperson for M&G Travel said all flights are expected to run as normal this week.