Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[jb747]

I had thought this northbound transfer was to occur two or three days ago as about 20 - 30 posts back in this thread I recorded an A388 coming from MNL to SYD after completion of maintenance. From what I have seen previously QF tries to schedule the transfers each way on the same day, presumably to minimise the time that these expensive aircraft are inoperable, but it must be that on this occasion that was not possible.

Actually they don't. Two A380s cannot be in Manila at the same time, so there's normally a gap to ensure that doesn't happen. Only a few crews do those flights, and it's just as likely the same crew in both directions.

 

[Melburnian1]

Call it 'unpunctual', 'non punctual', 'delayed' or simply 'late' but the Thursday 13 October QF768, the 1500 hours mid afternoon from PER across to MEL took off at 161 and hence A332 VH-EBD should arrive at around 2212, 42 minutes late. This flight has an excellent punctuality record so today is relatively unusual - FlightStats gives it an 'average' 4.9 out of 5 based on the most recent 53 flights.

The punctuality is all the more admirable because of the two afternoon flights to SYD and MEL ex PER, one might expect the MEL-bound one to suffer if there was something awry with the flight to SYD, as the latter has a curfew constraint and hence occasionally the airline may need to 'use' the MEL-bound plane to suddenly travel to SYD.

 

[Quickstatus]

Actually they don't. Two A380s cannot be in Manila at the same time, so there's normally a gap to ensure that doesn't happen. Only a few crews do those flights, and it's just as likely the same crew in both directions.

Why are these flights crew restricted?

 

[Melburnian1]

jb747, is it more a case of only some flight crews who are qualified on A388s want to operate the 'ferry' flights to MNL?

Or is it difficult to roster staff because you are all needed for the available duties to DXB/LHR/LAX/DFW and so on?

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 14 October sees QF706, the early morning 0615 hours from ADL across to CBR not having been airborne until 0652. Arrival of B738 VH-VZT should be about 26 minutes late at 0846.

QF24, the overnight from BKK (A333 VH-QPB) took off on Thursday 13 68 minutes after its timetabled departure so on Friday 14 is forecast to arrive in SYD at roughly 0852, 67 minutes late.

 

[katiebell]

Unconfirmed discussion about a Singair flight that has apparently had a tail strike on departure...and continued. TBC.

The point to take on board is that windshear is dangerous at both ends of the flight!

I would add make decisions about whom you fly with based attitudes of the company and pilots to issues like this. Putting safety over schedule is important to me as it is my life in thier hands.

 

[Melburnian1]

VH-ZXP (B738) on QF612 (1010 MEL to BNE) took off at 1050 and is expected to be about 23 minutes late into BNE at a gate time of around 1143.

Most unusually, it tracked to SYD and is now about to fly over Woy Woy on its way to BNE, adding about 50 kilometres to the journey.

It is flying at FL25 whereas TT522, which is on the more usual route and is north of Wagga Wagga is flying at FL37 and is estimated to arrive at 1207 despite only taking off at 1112. I cannot see any storm activity on the public BOM radar. Perhaps one of our esteemed contributors can explain the reason(s) for what appears to be an unusual flight path for QF612.

QF589 (0815 hours from BNE across to PER) did not take off until 0930. Arrival of A332 VH-EBV should be 47 minutes behind schedule at 1242.

 

[jb747]

Why are these flights crew restricted?

Mostly because the taxiways and especially turns are much narrower than usual, so it takes a bit of homework before you go. The basic rule is that either the Captain or FO must have done one of these trips before, and irrespective of who flies, the Captain must taxi.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF51 has a good punctuality record with its BNE - SIN flights. However on Friday 14 October, VH-EBP (an A332) took off at 1338, way after its timetabled pushback of 1215, so arrival should be at around 1906, 31 minutes behind schedule.

The 1300 hours BNE - MEL, QF621 was airborne at 1402; arrival of B738 VH-XZI is forecast as 1720, 55 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Friday 14 October, QF1517, the 1650 hours from SYD for the short hop down to CBR did not take off until 1741. B717 VH-YQU should arrive at 1822 hours, 32 minutes late.

QF557 (1915 hours from BNE down to SYD) took off at 2008. B738 VH-XZM should pull in to the gate at approximately 2221 later this evening, 31 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Friday 14 October QF128 from HKG to SYD - A333 VH-QPC - should arrive about 39 minutes late at 0854 on Saturday 15 October.

A333 VH-QPE on the 2000 hours 14 October HKG to BNE, QF98, was not airborne until 2142. Naturally on Saturday 15 October it remains delayed, being expected to arrive at the BNE gate at around 0757, 67 minutes late.

QF6200 - perhaps an empty working for hangar maintenance - is operating with B717 VH-NXR having taken off from CBR at 0721 bound for BNE.

 

[Quickstatus]

The new SYD-PEK service QF107/108 may have the same Achilles heel as QF9/10

According to AFF contributor moa999 the aircraft operating QF107/108 could potentially turn around and almost immediately operate QF5/6. This would allow the continuance of existing timetables to other A330 routes. Not a lot of time to sort out maintenance issues or delays

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....l-qfs-330s-get-lay-53445-311.html#post1527890

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 15 October, QF29, the 1120 MEL - HKG (B744 VH-OEJ) took off at 1223. Arrival should be about 36 minutes behind schedule at around 1836, 36 minutes tardy.

QF1937 (B717 VH-NXM), the 1050 ASP - PER, perhaps a flight that is largely used by foreign tourists, took off at 1229, so arrival has been delayed until an expected 1357, 77 minute slate.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 14 October, QF12 departed LAX 39 minutes late at 2309. Sunday 16 SYD arrival should be at 0830, 45 minutes tardy. This did not seem to be due to any unseemly delays on the connecting QF12 ex JFK (which is not normally the same aircraft as the latter is a B744). The LAX - MEL QF94 and LAX - BNE QF16 are either on time or early.

Saturday 15 October has seen the Jetconnect operated QF139 (B738 ZK-ZQH) take off at 1825 hours against a timetabled pushback in SYD of 1745. Arrival in CHC is likely at 2323 tonight, 33 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF6200 - perhaps an empty working for hangar maintenance - is operating with B717 VH-NXR having taken off from CBR at 0721 bound for BNE.

Reconfigured for ipad IFE and conversion of Y to J/Y

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 16 October sees QF130, the redeye from PVG likely to arrive in SYD at 1005, 35 minutes late. Aircraft is A333 VH-QPI.

QF23 from SYD to BKK departed 32 minutes late at 1122 but is forecast to only be 25 minutes late arriving in BKK at 1705.

QF117, the 1215 SYD - HKG was off blocks at 1250 but in a similar fashion should only be a quarter of an hour tardy on blocks at HKG with the forecast being 1855. One caution is that for arrivals in the very late afternpoon/ early evening, HKG becomes very busy from 1730 hours onwards.

The earlier timetabled and far more longstanding as a flight number QF127 pushed back at 1147, 42 minutes late but is forecast to not arrive until 1755, 35 minutes behind schedule.

Longhaul QF73 (SYD - SFO at 1400 hours) is expected to instead depart at 1800. It looks to be departing from gate 9. It is to be formed by the punctual QF64 B744 from JNB that is shown arriving at 1600 on Sunday 16 October. Has something gone wrong with another B744? At least two hours is a realistic turnaround for a B744: if everything went smoothly, the staff might be able to get this down to an hour and 45, but two hours is still pretty good when one considers the multitude of tasks required.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Sunday 16 October, QF63, the 1150 long flight from SYD to JNB departed 45 minutes behind schedule at 1235 but should only be 20 minutes late in arriving at 1730. B744 VH-OEB is the 'bird'.

 

[Quickstatus]

Longhaul QF73 (SYD - SFO at 1400 hours) is expected to instead depart at 1800. It looks to be departing from gate 9 and being formed by the punctual QF64 B744 from JNB that is shown arriving at 1600 on Sunday 16 October. Has something gone wrong with another B744?

Yes I think VH-OEG went tech after operating the transcontinental QF12 JFK-LAX. It could not operate the onward QF15 in Oct 11. OEG was then ferried as QF6005 after 3 days in LAX arriving into SYD at 0950 hrs 16 Oct 16.
VH-OJM operated a rescue mission the night of Oct 12 from SYD-BNE in order to operate QF15 on Oct 13.

I suspect there are further tech issues with VH-OEG because it could have turned around for a 1400 hr QF73.

Im not sure if there are going to be ongoing delays as a result of an extra B747 in the hangars. I think QF is currently not running its seasonal SYD-YVR. So I think this will be shortlived. I cant find my post regarding B747 utilisations but I recall it was Tuesday or Wednesday when the airline finds itself with a spare B747.

 

[Melburnian1]

I cant find my post regarding B747 utilisations but I recall it was Tuesday or Wednesday when the airline finds itself with a spare B747.

I cannot locate that post either but the peak utilisation days for QF B744s are at the end of the week, with as you suggest Tuesday or Wednesday (perhaps both) being the days when there is an extra 'spare.'

This is logical because domestically, Tuesday is the quietest weekday so it would be no surprise if QFi and competitors incurred similar loading patterns. Not many of us commence holidays on a Monday or Tuesday evening if we are office employees.

 

[Quickstatus]

Unlikely QF73 will depart at 1800. QF64 not arriving until 1612