Air Australia grounded stranding 4,000 passengers. Unable to buy fuel at Phuket International Airport

Creditors of Air Australia and thousands of stranded passengers face a nervous wait to see if they will be left out of pocket by the budget airline's collapse.

After just four months of operation, Air Australia's entire fleet was grounded on Friday morning after administrators discovered there was no money to meet basic operational expenses.

As first reported on Friday's AM program,  Air Australia was unable to purchase fuel at Phuket International Airport.

The Brisbane-based airline employed 300 staff and flies to Hawaii, Bali and Thailand, where many passengers have be told to make alternative arrangements.