China Southern Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

CZ302 on Thursday 13 February 2020, the timetabled 2215 hours redeye from SYD to CAN has had the flick, another victim of the spreading coronavirus outbreak.

 

[Melburnian1]

CZ3072 (Saturday 15 February, the 0920 hours SYD up to SZX) has been cancelled.

Mainland Chinese airlines' responses to coronavirus vary, but not all are cancelling every flight. Overall there is however a huge reduction in the number of seats between Oz and mainland China.

 

[Melburnian1]

Most mainland Chinese airlines have drastically reduced their flight frequencies but on Monday 23 March, CZ344 is one flight still operating. It took off in MEL at 1245 hours, 80 minutes after timetabled pushback so likely arrival has become 1853 hours, 48 minutes behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 24 March 2020 during coronavirus, CZ3074, the 0855 hours MEL - SZX was cancelled.

Late this evening, CZ8348, a 2240 hours from MEL to CAN has also got the boot.

 

[Melburnian1]

CZ322, the 2230 hours Monday 25 May 2220 hours MEL up to CAN has been cancelled. However, 12 hours and 10 minutes earloier today, CZ322 operated on the same roue, taking off at 1026 hours with A333 B-5940.

There were a total of 10 international flights departing MEL today that operated (or will do so late tonight). I can't recall what the 'usual' total (pre-COVID-19) was but I'm guessing around 30 to 40 on many Mondays.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 1 July 2020, CZ326, the coronavirus pandemic 1005 hours SYD - CAN has been cancelled, as has a second CZ flight, 302 at 2145 tonight. Three others of the remaining nine international flights today have also got the flick. This is unusual: on many days recently, SYD has been down to about four international departures a day.

 

[Melburnian1]

During coronavirus on Sunday 5 July 2020, CZ302, a mid evening 2145 hours SYD - CAN has been cancelled.

The NSW Government is imposing 50 passenger per flight limits on inbounds while there is an overall limit of 450 passengers a day into international SYD arrivals, so that may be the reason behind cancellations such as this.

 

[Melburnian1]

Still during 'the virus', on 30 December 2020, a Wednesday, CZ344 (1125 hours MEL - CAN, an increasingly rare A388 in the shape of rego B-6140) took off at a much delayed 1433 hours with expected arrival becoming 2021 mid evening, 181 minutes late. The inbound flight yesterday arrived MEL 12 minutes early at 2113, so not sure why today's mainland China-bound offering was tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

With Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews' ban on accepting overseas arrivals for quarantine in Victoria (forcing NSW to ramp up its already large share of expats and others coming into the country during coronavirus), international flights to and from Melbourne other than freighters continue to be an extremely low number.

On Wednesday 3 March 2021, CZ344, the 1125 hours late morning MEL - CAN is expected to depart 130 minutes late at 1335 hours. There are just six other scheduled international flights ex MEL today: one each from BI, GA, TR and each of the three major Middle East airlines. SQ has another at 0035 hours on Thursday 4.

 

[Melburnian1]

CZ has been gradually returning to Oz in line with the influx of mainland Chinese students, which isn't as great as pre-COVID-19 but remains significant, though India has now become the leading source for universities.

On Sunday 27 March 2022, CZ326 (1125 hours SYD - CAN) got the flick.

 

[Melburnian1]

A recent returnee to Australia for passenger flights is this airline.

On Saturday 13 May 2023, there was fog at MEL at 0800, though I don't know how severe.

CZ321 (A359 C-30F0) was the 2105 hours Friday 12 redeye from CAN to MEL, airborne at 2117. On Saturday morning at around 0820 it had a missed approach to MEL. It subsequently landed at 0837 hours so should be at its gate at 0842, two minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

CZ301 (Friday 19 May 2023's 0800 hours from CAN down to SYD, B789 B209-D) took off at 0948 hours so delayed arrival is estimated as 2023 hours mid evening, 43 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 10 June 2023's mid evening 2105 hours CAN-MEL redeye, CZ321, took off at 2306 hours so Sunday 11 should see A359 B-32AV arrive at about 0958 hours, 78 minutes late. Perhaps to reduce crew costs, this aircraft sits in MEL all day with its scheduled return beginning at 2100 hours: do the crew need 10 hours off? (If so, the return flight may depart late).

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 1 September 2024 has CZ326, the 1005 hours SYD-CAN (A359 B30AL) not having taken off until 1140 with the inevitable result of an estimated gate arrival at 1853 hours, 43 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 2100 hours CAN-SYD on Monday 2 September 2024 (A333 B-5967) took off at 2341 hours so Tuesday 3 arrival should be 1045, 140 minutes late. The returning CZ326 is said to be pushing back at about 1200 'high noon', 115 late. A little optimistic.

 

[Melburnian1]

CZ325 from CAN is arriving SYD on Wednesday 4 September 2024 with A333 B-5967 at 0917 hours, 52 minutes tardy, the same plane as yesterday.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 10 September 2024 sees CZ301, the 0805 hours morning CAN down to SYD not having become airborne until 1016 hours. Arrival at gate for B789 B-20EL should be approximately 2059 mid evening, 79 minutes tardy.

This will delay CZ302, the 2145 hours SYD back to CAN.