Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[katiebell]

While slots, aircraft utilisation and many other matters may be relevant and reasons why it cannot easily happen, surely it would make sense for one of these SYD - HKG flights to depart SYD at night and arrive HKG in the morning, with a daylight return flight HKG - SYD? Spacing the departures is generally preferable to having two in quick succession whether it is an airline, a railway operator, ferry company or bus line. Some passengers want day flights; others prefer overnight flights. Why not meet both expectations?

Spacing flights and giving choice to pax is not rocket science. This is one of the reasons that the competitor airlines win business: greater choice of flight times. The other key point for many pax is point-to-point flights (i.e. not having to change at a horrible hub), even if there is an intermediate stop en route. If hubbing minimising connection hassle e.g. all in the same terminal, helps. If QF wants to do this then it would be better to reinstate international terminal departures for these connecting sectors.

QF's propensity for supersized aircraft (resulting in 1/d flights) and hubbing (via SYD) are two reasons they lose customers, revenue and profit.

 

[Melburnian1]

Not quite sure why it displays an empty movement, but Sydney Airport is showing that on Sunday 10 April QF6010 that was nominally due into SYD at 1025 ex MNL has been cancelled.

I assume that this was to be an aircraft returning from contracted Lufthansa Technik maintenance in MNL: either A380 or A330. No doubt AFF members such as the redoubtable moa999, he of the amazing 'A332/A333 refurbishment progress table' can fill us in.

 

[moa999]

Not quite sure why it displays an empty movement, but Sydney Airport is showing that on Sunday 10 April QF6010 that was nominally due into SYD at 1025 ex MNL has been cancelled.

Many thanks for the comment.

VH-OQA (the first A380 - NBW) has been at MNL since 16 Feb, presumably for a major C check (being 8 years old !! - even OQJ is now 5.5)

FR24 showed a false entry on 7-Apr as well.. So it must be due back soon.

AFAIK A380s have major maintenance at MNL, 747s now at HKG (used to be in Aus, VH-OEB currently under maint). The rest is all in Aus with some painting done in SIN.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF61 (which on Sunday 10 April is QF61D to distinguish it from the normal timetabled Sunday departure) departed BNE at 0903 for NRT, but interestingly has A333 VH-QPC as its aircraft. VH-QPA appears not to have yet operated another flight since it turned back early into its Saturday 9 April trip from BNE to NRT.

VH-QPI is operating the 'real' QF61 on 10 April.

 

[Quickstatus]

....'Qantas plane makes emergency descent' discussing the Friday 8 April landing of QF9 ex MEL in MCT (Muscat, Oman.) ''''
Sadly a gentleman suffered a heart attack and died after the plane commenced a 'rapid descent' but before the flight reached the airport.

It brings to the fore the robust planning/training within flightdecks of airlines like QF when such time critical events occur. While most of the flight would be mundane this flight illustrates that at any time the flightdeck would have a contingency plan for emergencies. I suspect at the time of diversion the workload on the flightdeck (and cabin) would be high as the diversion occurred just as VH-OQH was crossing the Arabian peninsula which was about 1 hour to landing?? and flightdeck (and cabin) preparations for landing would already have commenced. Our resident captains such as JB747 may wish to comment.

Additionally even with such and other delays and cancellations QF has been demonstrating a relatively rapid return to normal operation. I get the impression that on this route at least (which is probably the most complex operation due to its tight turnarounds and operations involving 6 takeoff /landings at 3 very busy international hubs, and hundreds of passengers at far flung places) everything gets back to normal within about 24 hours?. Would appreciate your view on this Melburnian1

As an aside the "rapid descent" was about 3000fpm which I believe is about the normal ROD (another journalist's attempt to put his story a bit further to the front of the pages). The next successful QF9 dropped 10000f in 10 minutes on approach into DXB

Condolences to the family.

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, on occasion the delays for the 'family' of MEL and SYD flights that operate to and from DXB and LHR extend beyond 24 hours if the initial delay was say 15 or 16.

Sometimes part of the solution is to short terminate a flight ex Oz at DXB and place passengers on QF or EK flights between there and LHR. While minimising delay to later QF flights it may not be viewed as overly satisfactory by QF LHR-bound or LHR-originating passengers.

However you are correct Quickstatus - if the initial delay is 'only' say four or five hours, turnaround times at LHR generally allow for not much adverse effect, if any, on subsequent flights. The slower timetables that QF introduced (if memory serves me correctly) in late October 2015 for the northern winter (and which have largely continued with the northern summer timetable) also assist to a degree, so it appears from recorded timings. However as one of our esteemed contributors always reminds us 'expect the unexpected' as there are a myriad of things that require checks after each rostered flight, so maintenance in LHR may sometimes take the allotted hours.

Of the four MEL/SYD - LHR and return flight numbers, QF9 still appears to be the most prevalent to delays. It has the shortest turnaround (from the QF10 arrival late at night) of the four so that does not assist timekeeping, as even if QF10 is 20 minutes early or on time into MEL there are quite a few occasions when 'the 9' does not depart within 15 minutes of the schedule.

QF129, the 0935 hours SYD - PVG departed on Sunday 10 April 39 minutes late at 1014 but arrival should only be 15 minutes behind at 1845 hours tonight.

The B744ER VH-OEF on QF63 (1050 SYD - JNB) did not depart until 1158 (and took off at 1214) but like the A330 PVG flight, it should gain some time enroute with predicted arrival at 1755 hours, 45 minutes late.

QF29 from MEL to HKG departed 54 minutes late at 1114 but should only be a quarter of an hour late arriving at 1815 tonight.

Q300 VH-TQE appears to be operating a BWU (Bankstown) to CBR flight on Sunday 10 April (having taken off at 1213) so advice from other AFF members as to what that is all about would be great. This is the first time I have observed a QantasLink (or any QF group) flight from Bankstown (which is not to say that they do not occur at other times.)

QF41 from SYD to CGK is normally punctual but on 10 April it has been delayed in its departure from 1350 to at least 1426: arrival should only be 20 minutes late at 1855 hours.

 

[Quickstatus]

Spacing flights and giving choice to pax is not rocket science. This is one of the reasons that the competitor airlines win business: greater choice of flight times. The other key point for many pax is point-to-point flights (i.e. not having to change at a horrible hub), even if there is an intermediate stop en route. If hubbing minimising connection hassle e.g. all in the same terminal, helps. If QF wants to do this then it would be better to reinstate international terminal departures for these connecting sectors.

QF's propensity for supersized aircraft (resulting in 1/d flights) and hubbing (via SYD) are two reasons they lose customers, revenue and profit.

The airline has headed and is still heading toward smaller aircraft in recent times.

A330 and now the B787 (and maybe even the 777x) have been and are replacing the 747. Many airlines have discovered that the "Super" as ATC calls them is not a suitable aircraft for much of their business.

Perhaps in a decade or so when airtravel really causes airport slots to be congested.

Re landing slots:
When aircraft is delayed and has to land at a different timeslot, does this significantly impact on the arrival times of other following aircraft?. The LHR pushback against QF for being perenially late suggests this may be so (or it affects at least the ground operations - customs/immigration/ baggage/freight) but what is the reality?

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, re LHR we would need someone in ATC or a tech crew member to give a definitive answer, but from a passenger perspective, LHR air traffic controllers look to be extraordinarily efficient, handling an airport operating at maximum capacity with dexterity. I may be wrong but I don't perceive that the holding patterns are lengthy even if planes are late in - the ATC staff just seem very capable, perhaps the best in the world.\

Air travel is already constrained at many airports around the world. Other factors come into play: SYD not only has a 2300 to 0600 hours nightly curfew for all but emergency services, approved freight/ mail flights and three or four specially approved passenger plane international arrivals between 0500 and 0600 during the 'northern summer' half of the year (Oz mid to late autumn/all winter/ early spring) but there is the additional complication that when SYD accepts flights, there is an hourly 80 movement cap and most peeving of all a movement cap per quarter hour (15 minutes) of 20 - so depending on spacing of arrivals and departures, one could have 15 in an initial quarter hour but 25 wanting to take off or arrive during the next 15 minutes, but in the latter period only 20 can be accommodated - net result is that the airport may not operate at its cap of 80 movements even when it is a 'peak period.'

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 10 April, the afternoon flagship flight QF1 from SYD is delayed in its departure from 1550 to an expected 1730 for DXB where arrival is forecast as 65 minutes late at 0130 hours on Monday 11 April. Unlike QF9, QF1 has a pretty good punctuality record ex Oz.

QF5, the second of the day from SYD to SIN is timetabled to push back at 1535 but that will not occur until an estimated 1630. Arrival should only be 35 minutes late at 2235 SIN time this evening, again showing how one should not always assume that an hour late in departing means one will be an hour late arriving.

QF1489 is anticipated to be delayed an hour until 1855 tonight for the short SYD - CBR sector.

 

[clifford]

LHR air traffic controllers look to be extraordinarily efficient, handling an airport operating at maximum capacity with dexterity. I may be wrong but I don't perceive that the holding patterns are lengthy even if planes are late in - the ATC staff just seem very capable, perhaps the best in the world.

Yes, the ATC's at LHR certainly do a good job. Certainly on a par with those at, say, LAX I would think.

additional complication that when SYD accepts flights, there is an hourly 80 movement cap and most peeving of all a quarterly movement cap of 20 - so depending on spacing of arrivals and departures, one could have 15 in an initial quarter hour but 25 wanting to take off or arrive during the next 15 minutes, but in the latter period only 20 can be accommodated - net result is that the airport may not operate at its cap of 80 movements even when it is a 'peak period.

It's what happens when politicians and unions make the rules...

 

[Melburnian1]

clifford, as Ansett used to say: 'absolutely.' Well said. My post should not however have said 'quarterly movement cap' - I meant 'movement cap per quarter hour.' Apologies.

The forecast Sunday 10 April 2016 departure delay to QF5 (1535 hours SYD - SIN) has extended to a forecast 1830 hours pushback. Arrival is suggested as further amended to 0035 hours on Monday 11 April. QF36, the 2355 hours SIN to SYD tonight is not yet publicly showing as delayed, and neither are the evening flights to either MEL or BNE, because from memory QF can swap A333s around at SIN.

The late QF1 pushed back at 1739 (an hour 49 minutes late) and took off from SYD at 1759 for SYD and DXB. A388 VH-OQD is the aircraft.

 

[Flyerqf]

clifford, as Ansett used to say: 'absolutely.' Well said. My post should not however have said 'quarterly movement cap' - I meant 'movement cap per quarter hour.' Apologies.

The forecast Sunday 10 April 2016 departure delay to QF5 (1535 hours SYD - SIN) has extended to a forecast 1830 hours pushback. Arrival is suggested as further amended to 0035 hours on Monday 11 April. QF36, the 2355 hours SIN to SYD tonight is not yet publicly showing as delayed, and neither are the evening flights to either MEL or BNE, because from memory QF can swap A333s around at SIN.

The late QF1 pushed back at 1739 (an hour 49 minutes late) and took off from SYD at 1759 for SYD and DXB. A388 VH-OQD is the aircraft.

QF6 is always operated by the inbound QF5 aircraft. 5 arrives too late to form 36, 52 or 82.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you Flyerqf. The delayed Sunday 10 April QF1 has had its DXB Monday 11 arrival time further delayed to 0150 hours, not 0105 - 0150 is 85 minutes late.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF5 has recently departed to arrive at the Lion City after midnight.
Aircraft: VH-QPF A330-300 arrived this morning as QF82
At SIN:minimal delays, cloudy

With a usual arrival at 2200 hrs and now shortly after midnight and SIN not being a OW hub, would any passengers have onward connections?.

I suppose there might be some who will miss the 2330 AY to HEL, and the MU to PVG.

2 PNR connecting to non partner airlines may have a long night.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to QF5's late running tonight (10 April), QF81 from SYD to SIN tomorrow morning has been altered to depart an hour late at 1120. This may be an underestimate of the delay as QF's website has yet to acknowledge that QF6 (due into SYD normally at 0950 on Mondays) will be quite late.

 

[Flyerqf]

Due to QF5's late running tonight (10 April), QF81 from SYD to SIN tomorrow morning has been altered to depart an hour late at 1120. This may be an underestimate of the delay as QF's website has yet to acknowledge that QF6 (due into SYD normally at 0950 on Mondays) will be quite late.

QF118 from HKG is delayed 4 hrs this evening due to late inbound QF97. Will also have a flow on effect one of the SYD 333 operated flights tomorrow morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

Another Monday 11 April delay is QF117 (1215 SYD - HKG) that has at this stage been altered to depart at 1250. Interestingly that is the exact time that the delayed QF118 is suggested as arriving.

QF97 is arriving HKG ex BNE at 2330 tonight; QF118 is departing at 0125, with an hour and 55 minutes not being the minimum turnaround that QF has achieved elsewhere.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed Sunday 10 April 2016 QF118 departed HKG at 0222 on Monday 11, four hours and 57 minutes late with SYD arrival suggested as 1335, four hours and 45 late.

QF6 from SIN departed at 0149 hours on Monday 11 instead of 2350 on Sunday 10 evening, and so is due into SYD at 1148 this morning rather than 0950 hours.

QF30 overnight from HKG had departed half an hour late but on Monday 11 did not arrive MEL until 0854, 54 minutes late.

QF411, the 0730 hours SYD to MEL on Monday 11 was cancelled as will be QF422, the 1000 MEL back to SYD.

QF1463, the 0730 SYD - CBR did not depart until 0813 with arrival expected 35 late at 0900 sharp while later in the morning its colleague QF1477, the 1155 departure is cancelled. QF2040 from SYD to DBO is showing as delayed 35 minutes in its departure to 0850.

QF608, the 0810 MEL - BNE did not depart until 0851, 41 minutes late but arrival is expected 29 minutes late at 1049.

The 0830 hours SYD to PQQ, QF2164 has a more severe delay of 70 minutes.

QF23 (0950 hours SYD to BKK) departed 46 minutes late at 1036 but arrival should be only 15 minutes behind time at 1655 local time.

QF29, 1020 hours MEL to HKG is expected to push back at 1110, probably because as above QF30 was late in this morning.

The longhaul QF7 from SYD to DFW is expected to depart an hour late at 1400 this afternoon. This is relatively unusual: of the A388 QF routes, 'the' 7 and 'the' 8 are the most punctual flights.

Despite the Sunday 10 April QF10 arrival being nine minutes early into MEL at 2046, the returning QF9 that is timetabled to depart at 2255 did not do so until 0101 this morning (Monday 11 April), more than two hours late. QF expects it to have a quicker than timetabled stop in DXB from 0845 to 1005 and therefore to arrive LHR only 40 minutes late at 1455 in the afternoon. AFF readers would appreciate advice as to why QF9 cannot manage to depart MEL at or close to time when its incoming flight, QF10, is not late.

The Sunday 10 April delayed QF1 ex SYD that departed an hour and 49 minutes late is forecast to arrive LHR an hour and 10 minutes late at 0805 on Monday 11 April.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF A388 and class leader VH-OQA is sitting visible on FR24 on the MNL tarmac so I assume it is heading for SYD tonight after maintenance at Lufthansa Technik. It appears to have just started to commence pushing back (or towing) at 2018 AEST, which if it was heading for SYD would be pointless so early in the night due to the curfew until 0600 AEST.

The fine detail of the website FR24 has a date of '7 April' for this flight so perhaps this return to operations 'ferry' movement was delayed from last Thursday. AFF member Flyerqf, could you please clarify with your usual aplomb?

 

[moa999]

QF A388 and class leader VH-OQA is sitting visible on FR24 on the MNL tarmac so I assume it is heading for SYD tonight after maintenance at Lufthansa Technik. It appears to have just started to commence pushing back (or towing) at 2018 AEST, which if it was heading for SYD would be pointless so early in the night due to the curfew until 0600 AEST.

VH-OQA finally left in the early hours as QF6010 arriving into SYD at 1347 AEST today.
Now scheduled to depart as QF1 shortly.
Had originally gone to MNL on 16-Feb so just under two months for the check.

VH-OQB is listed as operating QF6009 SYD-MNL tonight, so appears a straight swap.