Darwin Airport says delayed Jetstar flights were responsible for baggage confusion and taxi delays suffered by travellers last night.
One Jetstar flight to Bali was delayed for hours and many passengers chose to leave the airport just as scheduled flights were arriving.
At about midnight the taxi queue stretched the entire length of the terminal building with hundreds of people waiting for cars.
Airport chief executive Ian Kew says the situation was out of the airport's control.
"Midnight is a busy peak for Darwin Airport, always has and also will be," he said.
"That was compounded by some delayed flights that came in later than normal.
"And also, as I said, that Jetstar flight that was going to Bali that was delayed in effect for seven and a half hours."
