Cathay Pacific Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

CX134, the 0745 hours on Wednesday 5 July was again late, with this 0745 hours scheduled pushback from the gate turning into an 0901 hours takeoff. Expected arrival is at 1732, 72 minutes late.'

This is on the first day that CX faces nonstop competition from entrant VA, whose 0940 hours scheduled MEL - HKG pushed back at 0944, meaning a likely on time 1720 hours arrival in HKG this afternoon local time.

CX's timekeeping (generally governed by whether the inbound flight is late) on this early morning MEL - HKG flight is not great.

QF29 was also delayed this morning, departing about 25 minutes late, unlike VA.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Thursday 6 July arriving CX135 from HKG to MEL, the 0620 hours arrival was again late, arriving at 0803, meaning that the 0745 hours MEL - HKG is likely to depart at around 0930 hours. This will be the sixth time out of the last seven days that this flight has been (or will be) more than 45 minutes late arriving in HKG.

One of the HKG - SYD overnights, CX101 (B773ER B-KQL) should pull in at approximately 1141, 46 minutes late.

The 0010 hours CX105 from HKG to MEL was not airborne until 0130 hours, so A350 B-LRL is estimated to arrive at 1202, 47 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

CX170 (2355 hours very late night PER - HKG, A333 B-LAI) was airborne at 0137 hours on Monday 10 July so arrival is not expected until 0902 hours, 77 minutes late.

CX105 from HKG down to MEL has A350 B-LRP and should arrive at about 1153 hours, 38 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

CX101 from HKG to SYD (B773ER B-KQA) should arrive on Tuesday 11 July at 1208 hours, 68 minutes late. As the returning CX100 from SYD back up to HKG is not timetabled to depart until 1400 hours, it should be OK as in many cases aircraft of this size can turn around in about 80 minutes if all goes well.

CX135 (1910 hours HKG - MEL on Monday 10 July that was not airborne until 2114 hours, A333 B-LAE) should arrive on Tuesday 11 at 0808, 108 minutes late. VA86 (competitor) was 56 late while QF30 is 68 late so not sure if there was a systemic problem at HKG last night.

UPDATE: CX134 from MEL to HKG, the 0745 hours, did not take off until 1030 on Tuesday 11 July with arrival suggested as 1813, 173 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

CX174 (0625 hours early morning ADL - HKG, A333 B-LAK) took off at 0719 with forecast arrival to be 1429 hours, 44 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

CX111 into SYD on Friday 14 July is arriving ex HKG at 0748 hours, 61 minutes tardy with A333 B-LAH.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 17 July sees CX157 (1245 hours lunchtime HKG - BNE that was airborne at 1359, A350 B-LRM) likely to arrive at 2357 very late tonight, 42 late.

CX163 to MEL is worse with arrival predicted at 2307 hours, 87 minutes late for B773ER B-KQP.

 

[Melburnian1]

CX161 into SYD (ex HKG last night) on Tuesday 18 July should arrive 62 minutes late at 0947 hours with A333 B-LAQ.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 19 July, CX110, the 1850 hours Tuesday evening from HKG to SYD that took off at 2112 hours is suggested as arriving at 0822, 132 minutes late. As QF and VA flights were also badly delayed, there may have been adverse weather in Hong Kong last night, or some other airport problem.

CX135 from HKG to MEL is also affected with A333 B-LAF likely to arrive at 0852 hours, 152 minutes late. CX134 returning, the 0745 hours ex MEL will be unable to depart until at least 1010 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Presumably not assisted by widespread delays on Sunday 23 July from what initially was the 'storm signal 8' given to Typhoon Roke but which was downgraded mid afternoon to a 'category 1' - far less severe, as the typhoon left the "colony" - CX101 (A333 B-LAP), the 2355 hours from HKG to SYD is estimated to arrive on Monday 24 at 1234 hours, 99 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 27 July, CX135, the overnight from HKG to MEL (A333 B-LAL) looks to be arriving 45 minutes late at 0705. This will delay CX134, the 0745 hours MEL - HKG to at least 0820 in its departure.

CX161 (2130 hours Wednesday 26 HKG - SYD, B-LAH) was airborne at 2241 so Thursday arrival is forecast for 0930, as luck would have it an identical delay to the above MEL-bound flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

CX171, the Monday 31 July 1815 hours early evening from HKG to PER (A333 B-LAG) is badly late with takeoff not occurring until 0050 hours on Tuesday 1 August. Arrival should be at 0757. As CX170 is meant to depart at 2355, this means an uncomfortable overnight wait for passengers unless the delay was known and they were placed in hotels or given taxi vouchers.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a foggy Wednesday 2 August in MEL, CX135, the 1910 hours Tuesday night HKG - MEL that took off at 2051 is arriving at 0722 hours, 62 late with A333 B-LAC. Departure of the 0745 hours CX134 back to HKG will be delayed until at least 0845. Whether the fog descends and prohibits departure is the unknown.

UPDATE: CX134 from MEL to HKG took off at 0940 hours, about 90 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 4 August has the evening arrival in SYD, CX139 (B773ER VH-KQC) expected at its allocated airport gate at 2040, half an hour behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 7 August has CX161, an overnight from HKG down to SYD likely to arrive at 1024, 35 minutes late with A333 B-HLQ.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 9 August, CX110 (0730 hours SYD - HKG, A333 B-LAQ) did not take off until 0941. Arrival should be at about 1637, 87 minutes late, meaning some missed connections.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yesterday (8th) was a bit of a mess for China and Hong Kong. I think delays were running at 8-12 hours. Japan also affected for flights to and from China.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yesterday (8th) was a bit of a mess for China and Hong Kong. I think delays were running at 8-12 hours. Japan also affected for flights to and from China.

From observation, CX's major problem appears to be taking off from HKG at or close to time, sometimes because of ATC problems or late connecting flights from mainland China.

It doesn't often seem to have aircraft failures in Oz (unlike QF!) The morning flights from SYD and MEL seem lately to be fairly prone to delay because the overnight flights from HKG are delayed into Oz.

 

[Melburnian1]

One of the overnights from HKG to SYD, CX161 (A333 B-LAQ) should arrive SYD (ex HKG) at 0943, 58 minutes tardy on Saturday 12 August. CX162 is the scheduled 1005 hours departure so expect it to push back any time after 1100.

This shows how inadvisable it can be for international airlines to schedule minimum turnarounds as this fails to leave a buffer when inbound flights are late. Where possible with slot availability at either end, it is preferable to be a bit more generous in the allowance to turn around the aircraft. HKG is however even more slot constrained than SYD.

CX135, the scheduled 0620 hours arrival in MEL ex HKG should arrive at 0858. FR24 is incorrectly showing this flight as only about 20 minutes late, but that is because FR24 has decided to depict the amended, later departure time as the 'new normal' which is misleading. Aircraft is A333 B-LAG. This delay means the returning Saturday 12 August CX135, the 0745 hours will be unable to depart until at least 1010 although Melbourne Airport's website optimistically states '0950' as the estimated departure time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Much later on 12 August, CX163 (1035 hours HKG - MEL that took off at 1108, less than 15 minutes late should arrive with A333 B-LAK at 2214, 34 late.