Travellers around Australia are being left stranded at airports as airlines struggle to keep pace with demand over the school holidays.

CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrew McKellar, told Mark Gibson staffing shortages were a “very big contributing factor”.

“Around Australia, for business, this is very much the number one issue, the number on challenge that they’re facing at the moment,” he told 6PR Breakfast.

“It’s very difficult to get labour and particularly skilled labour at the moment.

“On our surveys, it’s the most challenging environment businesses faced in that regard in nearly 50 years.”

Press PLAY below to hear the full explanation from Mr McKellar

It comes as caller Aaron, from Rockingham in WA, revealed he had to pay an extra $7000 for another flight for his family to be reunited with his son who’s on the Gold Coast for a baseball tournament.

“We were booked on Jetstar last night but they cancelled it and said they best they can do is get you on a flight to the Gold Coast next Thursday,” he told 6PR Breakfast.

“That was the earliest they could do it, even though we have our 13-year-old son, on the Gold Coast on his own waiting for us.

“So we had to book with Qantas last-minute at a cost of $7000 one-way for me and my wife and my three other kids, but it’s all we can do.

“Jetstar said nothing basically.”

Press PLAY below to hear the fully story from Aaron

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