Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Quickstatus]

Or maybe each airline has a certain rationed quota perhaps based on the number of seats flown?

Additionally QF Dom flights with maybe the exception of A330 westbound transcontinent flights may have loaded up with fuel at say SYD for a return SYD-MEL-SYD on one tank or carry less freight thus preserving their fuel ration for the time anxious QF9. Something that international airlines like EK or CX are unable to leverage

Having said that SYD does not have local production of Jetfuel (with Kurnell shutting down several years ago) and relies totally on shipped fuel - with the extra demand on SYD based fuel, I wonder if they are using up some reserves.

I suspect all flights into MEL today were carrying max fuel and perhaps minimal freight on departure from their port of origin

Thinking laterally would the out of spec imported jet fuel also potentially be from the same supplier for other airports such a SYD?

 

[Melburnian1]

Or maybe each airline has a certain rationed quota.

It is important to remember that it's not as if there is no fuel. However, there is allegedly 70 per cent availability.

This must quickly turn into a problem collectively costing airlines in the hundreds of thousands of dollars a day - at least - given the diversions out of MEL, and some flights carrying extra fuel into MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 26 November, the 1115 hours QF93 from MEL to LAX has been altered to depart at 1330 in the early afternoon. QF94 is badly late, coming in at 1145 instead of 0900, so 1330, while quite possible if all goes well, may be just a tiny bit optimistic as a revised departure time. LAX arrival is suggested as two hours late at 0835 but often this flight takes less than the schedule point-to-point.

There is nothing to suggest that this flight QF93 is adversely affected by the partial MEL fuel shortage that this morning is causing CX and D7 flights outbound from MEL to have fuel stops in ADL.

QF30 from HKG to MEL (B744 VH-OJT) should arrive at 0910 hours instead of 0815, as on Friday 25 it departed at 2133 in lieu of 1950 hours but has picked up time on a gate-to-gate basis.

QF36 from SIN departed at 0029 hours on Saturday 26 instead of 1945 on Friday 25, so on the Saturday it is predicted to pull in at 1030 rather than the timetable of 0615.

 

[milehighclub]

The QF94 was originally going to be cancelled as that aircraft had a mechanical issue however a last minute decision was made to cancel the QF12 instead and that aircraft operated the QF94

 

[Melburnian1]

milehighclub, many thanks as I had not looked it up. The delayed QF12 is expected to depart LAX at 2330 hours on Friday 25 November instead of 2230 on Thursday 24, with a consequent projected Sunday 27 November 0930 hours arrival, 25 hours late.

On Saturday 26, the Sydney departures of QF11 to LAX, QF7 to DFW and QF1 to DXB and LHR are all showing as forecast to depart punctually: is this correct with an aircraft marooned in LAX for an unscheduled 24 hours?

 

[milehighclub]

QF11 will depart on time as it is now a 747

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 26 November, the ex-LAX B744 VH-OEJ on QF16 to BNE should arrive at 0901 instead of the timetabled 0705 hours.

The 'last minute decision' to which milehighclub referred to cancel QF12 and instead use that A388 to operate QF94 was the 'obvious one' as otherwise the Saturday 26 QF93 might have been without an aircraft given the location (typically SYD if between flights) of the B744s. Well done to QF for minimising delays: better a two hour delay for QF93 than a cancelled flight, or a delay of several or more hours in bringing a B744 down ex SYD.

 

[Pushka]

Reminds me of our scrambling when one CEO pulled all the flights on a Saturday afternoon...

 

[Melburnian1]

QF609, the 0700 hours Saturday 26 November from BNE down to MEL did not take off until 0809. Arrival of B738 VH-VYI is suggested as 1113, 53 minutes late.

The following MEL-bound flight, QF611 (the scheduled 0800) at 0909 AEST was awaiting takeoff, so it will be around an hour late into the southern capital. B738 VH-VXH is the aircraft.

BNE (airport not city) had an incredible amount of 88 millimetres of rain between 0615 to 0830 on Saturday 26 November so that must be why so many flights have departed badly late.

QF135 (0805 hours BNE - CHC, B738 ZK-ZQG) remains queued for departure at 0916 AEST so it will be quite late into the NZ quake-prone city. FR24 is showing seven or eight aircraft queued in BNE for takeoff but this may not be the full extent of the queue: in any case, that's quite a lot.

 

[Quickstatus]

In further on Saturday 26 November, the ex-LAX B744 VH-OEJ on QF16 to BNE should arrive at 0901 instead of the timetabled 0705 hours.

The 'last minute decision' to which milehighclub referred to cancel QF12 and instead use that A388 to operate QF94 was the 'obvious one' as otherwise the Saturday 26 QF93 might have been without an aircraft given the location (typically SYD if between flights) of the B744s. Well done to QF for minimising delays: better a two hour delay for QF93 than a cancelled flight, or a delay of several or more hours in bringing a B744 down ex SYD.

As a consequence of lurking in these waters, I preferentially connect via QF93/94 instead of QF11/12. My D&C specific reasons are entirely esoteric but include the cancellation of the 12 so that 94 can operate, protection of the 94 timing instead of the 12, splash and dash of the 94 in Syd allowing me to disembark in my hometown while luggage gets hand delivered through quarantine/customs to me the next day. While never having to shamefully acknowledge that a nice 80SC MR occurs for no extra $$$. Slight downside is that the 93 is commonly late but this is really an upside as the connection from SYD carries a reduced misconnection anxiety

D&C = delays and cancellations
MR = mileage run

 

[Melburnian1]

In further BNE-rain related delays on 26 November 2016, QF788 (0940 hours BNE - ASP,, B738 VH-XZM) is taking off at 1031 and hence will not arrive until 1305, 55 minutes tardy.

QF61, the 0950 hours BNE to NRT is usually one of QF's more punctual flights but this morning it is showing as departed on the QF website at 1028, but that is not obvious from FR24. Aircraft is A333 VH-QPG.

The 0815 hours BNE - AKL, QF135 did not take off until 1036 so ZK-ZQF (B738) should be at least an hour late.

QF615 (B738 VH-XZP, the 0955 hours BNE - MEL) was airborne at a late 1143 so it is likely to be more than half an hour late. The QF website is claiming it will arrive in MEL at 1305 which is impossible.

The 0945 hours BNE - CNS, QF782 (B738 VH-XZC) appeared to be ready for takeoff at 1050, but had yet to do so. It will be more than 40 minutes late arriving in north Queensland.

UPDATE: A333 VH-QPG on QF61 took off at 1059, about 35 - 40 minutes behind schedule.

QF89 (1000 BNE - NOU, B738 VH-XZG) was still only taxiing at 1118 so will be at least 40 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Saturday 26 November, QF93, the 1115 hours MEL - LAX departed at 1422, almost an hour later than the earlier QF prediction of 1330 hours. Arrival is suggested as still 0835, which may be revised a little once the flight is airborne in line with the QF website's usual practice.

Was this extra delay somehow connected with the MEL fuel shortage?

QF81, also an 1115 hours departure but from 706 or so kilometres north in SYD to SIN departed at 1313, with arrival suggested as 1815 tonight, 105 minutes late.

Updating a post above, QF89 (BNE - NOU) should arrive 68 late at 1418 hours.

 

[Flyerqf]

In further on Saturday 26 November, the ex-LAX B744 VH-OEJ on QF16 to BNE should arrive at 0901 instead of the timetabled 0705 hours.

The 'last minute decision' to which milehighclub referred to cancel QF12 and instead use that A388 to operate QF94 was the 'obvious one' as otherwise the Saturday 26 QF93 might have been without an aircraft given the location (typically SYD if between flights) of the B744s. Well done to QF for minimising delays: better a two hour delay for QF93 than a cancelled flight, or a delay of several or more hours in bringing a B744 down ex SYD.

Actually the spare 744 was in MEL and positioned up to SYD to operate QF11.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday 27 November 2016 arriving QF30 ex HKG into MEL (B744 VH-OJT) is about 37 minutes behind schedule with arrival predicted at 0852 hours.

QF2 ex DXB and before that LHR is also late, with A388 VH-OQE not having taken off from DXB until 1138 on Saturday 26; on Sunday 27 it is predicted into SYD at 0807, 97 minutes late. Given the long lead times before QF11 to LAX, QF7 to DFW or QF1 back to DXB depart, this should not result on its own in any late longhaul Airbus A380 departures for QF today.

QF16 ex LAX (B744 VH-OJS) should be 32 minutes late into BNE on Sunday 27 at 0737. This flight is often delayed when its transcontinental sectors from LAX to JFK and back to LAX are delayed: often this is no fault of QF15 ex BNE on its own, but is due to the need to await connecting passengers on a late running QF11 ex SYD or QF93 ex MEL.

 

[Flyerqf]

Saturdays JFK to LAX is operating as QF94. Reason for this is that QF12 LAX-SYD isn't operating on Saturday. QF11 inbound to LAX and JFK operated normally indicating that an A380 will be operating a charter in lieu of QF12.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Sunday 27 November 2016, QF81, the 1115 hours SYD - SIN (A333 VH-QPF) did not take off until 1230, so arrival will not be until approximately 1738 late this afternoon, 68 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 27 November, QF456 (B738 VH-XZD, the 1715 MEL - SYD) took off at 1749. Arrival should be about half an hour late at 1910 in the early evening.

The 1635 hours BNE - SYD QF457 took off at 1658 which is only marginally late. However arrival will be half an hour late at about 1940 for B738 VH-VZO.

 

[docjames]

When was the last time the trans-con leg had a one-day only flight number?

It was QF107/108 (one-oh-late) for a long time, then has been QF11/12 since the changeover.

I can't ever recall it being renumbered to the 93/94.

 

[Melburnian1]

Additionally on Sunday 27 November, QF594, the 1625 hours PER - BNE (A332 VH-EBK) that was airborne at 1728 should be pulling up at its Sunshine State gate at roughly 2331 hours late this evening, 41 minutes behind time.

 

[Flyerqf]

When was the last time the trans-con leg had a one-day only flight number?

It was QF107/108 (one-oh-late) for a long time, then has been QF11/12 since the changeover.

I can't ever recall it being renumbered to the 93/94.

When it was 107/108, if for any reason the SYD-LAX 107/108 was cancelled, they'd move the A380 (QF11/12) service to 107/108 so the transcon wasn't impacted.

Never seen a JFK-LAX as QF94 before myself. Keep in mind that LAX-JFK was still QF11, it was only the JFK-LAX sector that changed.