Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[jpk]

Pretty messy on the SYD-MEL route tonight with almost every flight delayed and some cancellations. Boards and announcements citing ATC requirements in MEL. Affected both QF and VA. The weather seemed ok, but I am not a pilot...

 

[Quickstatus]

Pretty messy on the SYD-MEL route tonight with almost every flight delayed and some cancellations. Boards and announcements citing ATC requirements in MEL. Affected both QF and VA. The weather seemed ok, but I am not a pilot...

It was a windy afternoon and evening. At one stage Arrivals to the south on one runway and departures to the west on the cross runway with attendant crosswinds. Additionally one of their rapid exit taxiways (Golf) was closed for >24 hours (not sure how significant this can affect operations.

As of late last night runway 9/27 closed ( the east west ) for "works"

 

[jb747]

It was a windy afternoon and evening. At one stage Arrivals to the south on one runway and departures to the west on the cross runway with attendant crosswinds. Additionally one of their rapid exit taxiways (Golf) was closed for >24 hours (not sure how significant this can affect operations.

As of late last night runway 9/27 closed ( the east west ) for "works"

09/27 has been closed for works at night for a while. And during the daylight hours, the ILS for 16 has been out of service too.

Taxiway G being closed is quite an issue, and it will have the affect of slowing arrivals on that runway. It means that aircraft either have to do an arrested landing (!) and take E, or roll down to at least J. Probably at least 30 seconds extra occupancy time for each landing.

 

[jb747]

The weather seemed ok, but I am not a pilot...

ATIS from about 1800.

INFO X. TMP: 15. WND: VARYING 120 & 190/18 KTS. RWY 16. RAPID EXIT TAXIWAY GOLF CLOSED. VIS: GREATER THAN 10 KM. CLD: BKN045. QNH: 1019

So, what's that tell you. Firstly single runway operation. That always slows things down. The taxiway that is used by most aircraft to exit 16 is closed, so that will add to the delay.

The wind is varying from 120º through to 190º. So, runway 27 may give you anything from a slight headwind, through to almost the full 18 knots on the tail...so it's not usable.

09 doesn't have quite as much tailwind (obviously, the 27 components reversed), but it doesn't have an approach aid, and involves a double crossing of the other runway to make use of it for departures.

ATC's response to this is likely to be extensive holding, both on the ground for departures, and in flight for arrivals.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF11 not operating today, as a result LAX to JFK will operate as QF93.

QF12 will operate as normal with the spare A380 at LAX. The spare will enable HKG to go A380 from tomorrow for the holidays.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 13 December sees QF598, the 1120 hours late morning PER to BNE having taken off at 1210, with arrival of QF598 expected at 1817 hours, 32 late. Aircraft is A332 VH-EBB.

QF1520 (short hop from CBR to SYD at 1705 hours, B717 VH-YQW) took off at 1825. Arrival is forecast for 1911 tonight, 71 late.

The 1620 hours DRW - BNE, QF837 (B738 VH-VXR) took off at 1730 with arrival predicted as 69 minutes late at 2149.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Monday 12 December 2016 QF16 from LAX departed 48 minutes late at 0008 hours on Tuesday 13 with Wednesday 14 arrival predicted as 55 minutes behind at 0800.

 

[Quickstatus]

I'm on QF93 in the morning after paxing from SYD. Good to see QF94 (VH-OQB) should arrive on time! and weather tomorrow seems benign, cool, cloudy, maybe a tiny precipitation.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 14 December, QF411, the 0730 hours from SYD down to MEL has been cancelled while the earlier 0630 hours flight, QF405, is instead expected to depart at 0700.

Northbound QF422, the 1000 hours MEL - SYD is also not running.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF411 was us!. Now on the 0800 QF415. News via a SMS at 0600
Apparently "operational reasons".

Tried QF413 but it was full
Should still connect to QF93.

BTW QF won't interline bags to a different PNR even if classic award except for China Eastern and Emirates. Us too. At least we have 6 hours in LAX to connect

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Wednesday 14 December, QF62, the overnight from NRT down to BNE is unusually running late with arrival of A333 VH-QPJ expected at 0623, 43 minutes tardy.

The Tuesday 13 December QF9 depart MEL 19 minutes late at 2344 but DXB arrival is expected on Wednesday 14 at 0720, 50 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Wednesday 14 December delays, QF27, the 1250 hours longhaul from SYD to SCL did not depart until an unusually late 1516 hours this afternoon, so arrival will be at about 1315 hours same day, 125 minutes late. This will mean a delayed departure from SCL (and arrival in SYD) for this afternoon's (South American time) QF28.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 15 December, the 0800 SYD - MEL (QF415, B738 VH-VZT) had not even begun pushback at 0838 so it will be quite late into the southern capital.

QF1464 from CBR to SYD should arrive at about 0848, 38 late with Q400 VH-QOR.

QF411, the 0730 hours SYD - MEL (A332 VH-EBE) was airborne at 0829 with arrival suggested as 0950 hours, 45 minutes tardy.

The 0615 hours from AKL to MEL, QF152 (B738 ZK-ZQD) took off at 0638 but there is much 'traffic' approaching MEL so arrival should be at 0901 hours, 36 late.

 

[docjames]

QF11 not operating today, as a result LAX to JFK will operate as QF93.

QF12 will operate as normal with the spare A380 at LAX. The spare will enable HKG to go A380 from tomorrow for the holidays.

Lax-JFK as 93 - operating with the 380 from 93 or with the 744 from 15?

 

[jb747]

Lax-JFK as 93 - operating with the 380 from 93 or with the 744 from 15?

It's never a 380.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF11 not operating today, as a result LAX to JFK will operate as QF93.

QF12 will operate as normal with the spare A380 at LAX. The spare will enable HKG to go A380 from tomorrow for the holidays.

Flyerqf, would we be correct to assume that as of now for the Christmas holidays every QF A388 is in use, unlike normally when there is one in MNL undergoing maintenance?

What date does this peak, planned utilisation continue to? About 15 January?

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Thursday 15 December, QF1511 (0620 hours early morning SYD to CBR) was cancelled as was QF405, the 0630 hours SYD - MEL. QF461, another SYD - MEL flight but this time at a scheduled 0845 departure was also cancelled.

QF2205, the 0810 hours SYD - ABX departed 25 minutes behind schedule but did not arrive until 0959, 39 late. On the same route, the later QF2207, the scheduled 1100 departure should begin its taxiing at around 1155 hours.
The 0955 hours QF1471 from SYD to CBR departed 57 minutes tardy but arrived 49 late at 1139.

QF423 from SYD to MEL pushed back 48 minutes behind at 1048; arrival is estimated as 36 late at 1211 early this afternoon.

The 1010 hours SYD - HTI (QF1572) also pushed back at 1048 with arrival suggested as 35 minutes behind at 1220 hours.

 

[milehighclub]

Flyerqf, would we be correct to assume that as of now for the Christmas holidays every QF A388 is in use, unlike normally when there is one in MNL undergoing maintenance?

What date does this peak, planned utilisation continue to? About 15 January?

Continues until 12th February

 

[Melburnian1]

Continues until 12th February

Chinese New Year is on 28 January 2017 so that must have something to do with it given the A388 usage to HKG, but in one sense it is surprising because once Australian school holidays end (typically at the end of January, though it varies by State or Territory), demand from Australians for overseas leisure travel nosedives. Against that, business travel has by then resumed, but notwithstanding, February is one of the three less busy months for airlines within Australia and overseas ex and to Oz.

Let's hope that the QF A388 fleet can withstand two months of every aircraft being required. My bet is that we may see a failure or two during this quite lengthy period.

It is unusual for airlines, railways, bus, coach and ferry operators and trucking companies to require every vehicle (even of a particular class or model) to be constantly in use. Most try for 80 - 96 per cent fleet availability depending on the mode but having a spare or two (depending on fleet size) is generally advisable.

A380s are however very (capital intensive) expensive and it may not be feasible to constantly have an available spare if the aircraft are yet to be fully depreciated. The QF B744 fleet - considerably more aged - may be a different kettle of fish: AFF member JohnPhelan's observation that QF was unwise to rid itself of two older B744s rings in my ears as one of the most apt observations ever made on this forum.

 

[Quickstatus]

The existing 744 may not be able to assist an inop 380 as they too are pressed into hard service -YVR.