Air China Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 28 October CA175, the 1935 hours Thursday 27 that took off at a late 2106 should arrive in SYD ex PVG at 1020, 70 late. Aircraft is A332 B-5925.

As the return flight CA176 is meant to depart at 1120, it will suffer at least a minor delay given that typical turnaround for this type of aircraft tends to be a minimum of 65 minutes, but usually 70 or more.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 29 October 2016 has CA177, the overnight flight from PVG, arriving MEL 66 minutes late at 1011. Plane is A332 B-5933.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a dull, windy and now rainy day at MEL, CA178, the 1135 hours from MEL to PVG took off at 1312. A332 B-6540 should arrive at around 2050, 85 minutes behind time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 16 November 2016's CA177 (A332 B-6540, 1915 hours early evening from PVG down to MEL) took off at 1958, about 20 - 25 minutes late but on Friday 17 should arrive 35 late at 0935 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Monday 21 November CA177 (1915 hours from PVG down to MEL) was airborne at 2136. Arrival should be at about 1107 on Tuesday 22, 127 minutes behind schedule. As the returning CA178 is the 1135 departure ex MEL, expect it to push back in the realm of 1215 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 26 November, due to the 30 per cent reduction in fuel availability at MEL due to a batch of imported fuel (from SIN) not meeting specifications, CA178 (the 1135 hours MEL - PVG) is being altered to operate via BNE for a fuel stop.

This will typically add about 90 minutes to the total trip duration and cost the airline thousands of dollars. What would the mainland Chinese think of MEL's problems as a major international airport (and a growing one) that seemingly cannot provide sufficient redundancy in its fuel storage facilities to cope when a batch of imported fuel is unsatisfactory?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On Saturday 26 November, due to the 30 per cent reduction in fuel availability at MEL due to a batch of imported fuel (from SIN) not meeting specifications, CA178 (the 1135 hours MEL - PVG) is being altered to operate via BNE for a fuel stop.

This will typically add about 90 minutes to the total trip duration and cost the airline thousands of dollars. What would the mainland Chinese think of MEL's problems as a major international airport (and a growing one) that seemingly cannot provide sufficient redundancy in its fuel storage facilities to cope when a batch of imported fuel is unsatisfactory?

I can't imagine China giving too much thought to it. These things happen. This will be a commercial arrangement between the airlines and the airport (if any) regarding the supply of fuel, whether supply is guaranteed, and what compensation (if any) is payable.

My primary concern would be what stores of fuel does Australia have to guarantee its military fleet? I hope we have more redundancy for that!

The concern

 

[Melburnian1]

My primary concern would be what stores of fuel does Australia have to guarantee its military fleet? I hope we have more redundancy for that!

That has been briefly discussed on AFF elsewhere: the answer given was 30 days. There was an article available on the Internet that was quoted.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Monday 5 December 2016 CA430, the 1435 hours SYD to CTU has been delayed (at least in part) by significant thunderstorm activity around SYD with A332 B-6072 not taking off until after 1628 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Thursday 8 December super early morning 0105 hours CA165 from PEK to MEL (A333 B-5977) took off punctually at 0121 but has lost time en route, not helped by a 'hold' above Boort (Vic.) with arrival suggested as 39 minutes behind schedule at 1614.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 17 December has CA194, the 0935 hours mid morning from SYD to PEK not having become airborne until 1103. Arrival of A332 B-6533 should be 75 minutes behind schedule at 1940 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 18 December, CA175, the Saturday 17 1835 hours PVG - SYD that did not become airborne until 2233 should arrive at roughly 1132, 122 minutes tardy. Aircraft is A332 B-6115. As CA176 returning is timetabled ex SYD at 1130, expect it to be around 75 minutes late in departing assuming a minimum turnaround.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 20 December has CA165, the 0105 'small hours' from PEK down to MEL having taken off at 0201. Arrival should be 55 minutes late at 1630 with aircraft A333 B-6102.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 24 December, CA165, the 0105 hours redeye from PEK down to MEL took off at 0144, onloy about 20 - 25 minutes late but arrival is not expected until 1610 this afternoon, 35 minutes behind schedule. Aircraft is A332 B-5932.

 

[Melburnian1]

CA177, the Christmas night 1915 hours from PVG to MEL took off only a tiny number of minutes late at 1938 but on Boxing Day is arriving 39 minutes behind at 0939. A332 B-6130 has the task.

The CTU - SYD CA429 should arrive at 1327 this afternoon, 52 minutes tardy with A332 B-6072.

 

[Melburnian1]

CA177, the Wednesday 4 January 1915 hours from PVG down to MEL was not airborne until 2127. As a result A332 B-5933 is not expected to arrive until 1057 on Thursday 5, 117 minutes late.

The returning CA178 to PVG is timetabled to depart at 1135 so it should do so at around 1205 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 7 January, CA177, the overnight from PVG should arrive in MEL at about 0946, 46 minutes late with A332 B-6533.

 

[Melburnian1]

The PEK - MEL CA165 arriving on Friday 13 January should do so at around 1611, 36 minutes late with A333 B-6102.

 

[Melburnian1]

CA177 on Friday 13 January did not take off from PVG until 2014 despite a departure time of 1915 hours. On Saturday 14 A333 B-5932 should arrive at roughly 1022, 82 minutes late. As CA178 returning is not timetabled to depart until 1135, in theory it should depart at or extremely close to time.

 

[Melburnian1]

CA429 on Thursday 9 February into SYD (A332 B-6071) should arrive at around 1308 this afternoon, 33 minutes late. This flight originated in the large metropolis of CTU.

UPDATE: CA178, the 1135 hours MEL up to PVG was airborne at 1500 this afternoon. Arrival of A332 B-5918 should be at around 2146 hours, 141 minutes behind schedule.