Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

A380 VH-OQE on the overnight longstanding QF128 from HKG to SYD should arrive at around 0846 on Saturday 14 January.

QF52 from SIN to BNE is often extremely punctual but this morning is about half an hour late with likely arrival of A333 VH-QPG at 0715 hours.

Since their recent introduction QF79/QF80 from MEL to NRT and back have been largely punctual; on Friday 13 QF79 was a few minutes late arriving in the major Japanese airport. However QF80 returning (A333 VH-QPD) is not, with takeoff on Friday 13 January at 2043 way past its timetabled 1900 hours pushback. Hence on Saturday 14 it should arrive at 0831, 61 minutes late, meaning a late departure at about 0940 - 0945 for the scheduled 0915 hours QF79 back to NRT.

The 0825 hours MEL - MCY, QF1586 is expected to be half an hour late departing.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF93, the Saturday 14 January 1115 hours MEL - LAX both departed and is expected to be 40 minutes late in its arrival - the latter at 0715 hours same day.

QF27 (which looks to be B74 VH-OJU), the 1250 hours SYD - SCL departed at 1344. arrival is showing as a likely only 10 minutes late at 1120 but sometimes this is adjusted once the aircraft has levelled out after takeoff.

 

[JessicaTam]

QF93, the Saturday 14 January 1115 hours MEL - LAX both departed and is expected to be 40 minutes late in its arrival - the latter at 0715 hours same day.

On Friday, QF93 was delayed by about an hour. It got off the ground at 1255, just ahead of QF35 (also delayed, partly due to a remote standing) at 1300.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday, QF93 was delayed by about an hour. It got off the ground at 1255, just ahead of QF35 (also delayed, partly due to a remote standing) at 1300.

The use of 'remote stands' with transfers by bus appears to be more common at MEL as the number of international flights increases. I've still only ever had it occur once - outbound - and never inbound but it is sheer luck.

I assume at the busier times such as 0730, 1100 or 2330 all it needs is for a couple of flights to be delayed while already occupying a gate for an arrival or two to have its passengers and crew bussed to and from the terminal.

Priority for gates (where they are suitable) is probably logically given to the largest planes such as A380s because if that was not the case, there would be more buses required, and more time, to transfer passengers to and fro.

 

[JessicaTam]

The use of 'remote stands' with transfers by bus appears to be more common at MEL as the number of international flights increases. I've still only ever had it occur once - outbound - and never inbound but it is sheer luck.

I assume at the busier times such as 0730, 1100 or 2330 all it needs is for a couple of flights to be delayed while already occupying a gate for an arrival or two to have its passengers and crew bussed to and from the terminal.

Priority for gates (where they are suitable) is probably logically given to the largest planes such as A380s because if that was not the case, there would be more buses required, and more time, to transfer passengers to and fro.

I was a first for me at MEL. We were originally due to be at gate 5, but that got changed a few hours out.

 

[Flyerqf]

Last nights QF30 has been delayed until Sun 0130.

this means saturdays service will leave prior to the delayed Friday service. Seems that the Qantas newly announced procedure (in defence of their handling of delayed flight carrying their CEO from Dubai) of prioritising passengers already delayed was shortlived.

coincidence or not, seems the flight the CEO was on, was a one off and the "standard procedure" line was rubbish as we all suspected.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 14 January, QF81, the 1115 hours SYD - SIN departed 80 late at 1235; arrival should be at 1715, 45 minutes behind schedule.

That delayed QF30 about which Flyerqf speaks will not arrive in MEL until 1340 hours on Sunday 15 January.

B744 VH-OEB on QF28, the SCL - SYD should arrive at about 1828, 43 late.

Flagship QF1 on Saturday 14 January has been delayed in its SYD departure from 1645 hours to a predicted 1820: quite unusual. DXB arrival is forecast for 0125 instead of 0040 on Sunday 15.

 

[Flyerqf]

Tonight's QF30 is delayed until tomorrow morning 10.50. Yesterday's has been delayed further to around an 08.00 departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tonight's QF30 is delayed until tomorrow morning 10.50. Yesterday's has been delayed further to around an 08.00 departure.

Flyerqf, that means the super late QF30 will not arrive MEL until 1940 hours on Sunday 15 January.

Surely this must affect either QF29 or QF35 tomorrow (MEL to HKG and SIN respectively.) The QF website has yet to disclose gate numbers for these timetabled 15 January departures. This can be a telling sign that operations staff are still working out what to do - although aircraft gates are allocated by airport management for international flights at MEL, not the airlines as far as I know.

Not good. Perhaps with the initial QF30 delay, eventually lack of sufficient crew rest under fatigue regulations meant a longer delay. One would hope passengers have been given hotel rooms and meal vouchers.

 

[Flyerqf]

Tonight's flight was a subbed in 333 replacing the 744 stuck in HKG. Crews are different.

Not sure reason for the delay. Tomorrow's 29 or 79 to NRT will be at risk of cancellation because there is only one 333 in MEL tomorrow morning and 332 cannot operate to HKG or NRT.

 

[JohnPhelan]

332 cannot operate to HKG or NRT.

Why? The range should be OK - MEL-HKG is a shorter distance than SYD-HNL, which has been served by a 332. And of course the 333 has a shorter range than a 332.

Or are you meaning the J toilet and galley situation?

 

[Flyerqf]

The international 332 could operate it (only 2 of these) but the other 333 frames don't have sufficient crew rest areas.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tomorrow's 29 or 79 to NRT will be at risk of cancellation because there is only one 333 in MEL tomorrow morning and 332 cannot operate to HKG or NRT.

Because QF79 on Saturday 14 January was late, QF80 departed NRT at 2000, an hour late with MEL arrival on Sunday 15 estimated at 0823, 53 minutes late. In consequence, QF79 from MEL to NRT is suggested as 1030, 75 minutes late with arrival at 1830, an hour late.

As noted above, the scheduled Friday night QF30 ex HKG should arrive in MEL on Sunday 15 at 1940 while the Saturday night QF30 shoudl depart HKG at 1010 on Sunday 15, meaning a 2235 hours late tonight MEL arrival.

Both the MEL - HKG QF29 and the MEL - SIN QF35 on Sunday 15 are showing as on time, which is surprising.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not good.

Don't let Olivia hear you say that!! These comments are hurtful to management. And don't you appreciate all the work they have to do??? ...like getting an engineer to have a look at the problem. :shock:

 

[Flyerqf]

QPH, a 333, is currently enroute from SYD to MEL to take up the QF29 service.

 

[Melburnian1]

VH-QPH arrived MEL as the empty working QF6007 at about 1050 and as QF29 to HKG departed at 1207, 52 minutes late. It was airborne to the south at 1222.

 

[Flyerqf]

Qf30C the Friday service from Hong Kong is now enroute to MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF63, the Sunday 15 January longhaul from SYD across to JNB departed 24 minutes late at 1159 but on a gate-to-gate basis is expected to lose time with arrival suggested as 40 minutes behind at 1715. This will slightly delay the timetabled 1850 hours departure of the returning QF64, but it usually picks up time on the schedule.

The 1730 hours MEL - SYD QF454 took off at 1836. B738 VH-VXS should arrive 55 minutes behind schedule at 1950.

 

[serfty]

Qf30C the Friday service from Hong Kong is now enroute to MEL.

Landed ~8:30pm ... I was watching out the window as my EK407 was taxiing and was surprised to see a Qantas 744 at a gate so looked up the tail number on Flightaware.

(Is it sad that I am aware that a Qantas aircraft type being at MEL at a specific time is unusual?)

 

[OzEire]

(Is it sad that I am aware that a Qantas aircraft type being at MEL at a specific time is unusual?)

No, it one for the "you know you're a frequent flyer when..." thread !