Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 10 March, the 0630 hours SYD - MEL (QF405) has been cancelled as has QF404, the identically timed flight but in the opposite direction.

QF7940, QF2262 and QF2260 (0700, 1010 and 1140 hours respectively from SYD to LDH) also got the boot. One assumes that these three cancellations are weather related as that airfield must have its challenges: apparently it can have tailwinds both ways while the runway is not overly long. Here is an interesting 20 month old article from 'The Australian' ("Pilots forced to weather cloudy service," 23 June 2015) that provides some background:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...e/news-story/6a9685eb159b75138078e7e3d6481437

QF581, the 1030 SYD - PER should instead depart at 1105 with arrival estimated at 1300 this afternoon WA time rather than 1225.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Thursday 9 March 2017 QF12 from LAX to SYD departed 48 minutes late at 2318 hours. On Saturday 11, arrival is expected at 0900, half an hour behind schedule.

Although often pulling out of LAX on time when the transcontinental USA ex JFK B744-operated QF12 is delayed, the same could not be said at present with the LAX MEL QF94 departing 136 minutes late at 0021 on Friday 10. Saturday 11 arrival should be 110 minutes late at 1050 hours.

The BNE-bound QF16 was 29 minutes late pushing back in LAX but should arrive the Sunshine State at 0745 on Saturday 11, 40 minutes delayed.

Of the three, only the MEL arrival should result in a late departure (of QF93) as the other two flights have far longer turnaround times.

 

[Quickstatus]

Saturday's Humidity is predicted to be very high in the wee hours before sunrise at MEL with associated light winds. Maybe there is a chance of Fog so one potential reason for QF94 to have a delayed departure?. In fact over the next few mornings humidity % is predicted to be in the high 80s.

Melburnian1 you might have a better handle on things meteorological

 

[Melburnian1]

Melburnian1 you might have a better handle on things meteorological

Quickstatus, thank you for the compliment but I will leave the fine detail about meteorological conditions to our weather forecasters and aviators.

However the BOM is predicting (for MEL) patchy or light fog for the southeast suburbs on the morning of Saturday 11 March, so it is possible that it has underestimated the spread and hence the northwestern suburbs including Tullamarine may cop some.

Last time we discussed it, one of our esteemed aviators pointed out that it was not just extremely high humidity and no wind that led to fog - there was a third factor that I have forgotten (apologies.) Unfortunately AFF is difficult to search unless one can remember the exact search terms to use.

Your hypothesis may well be on the right (Bondi) tram as within the last fortnight had a foggy morning that led to diversions. As a Melburnian I though to myself 'hmmm - isn't fog rare in March?' bearing in mind that in some years MEL (airport) only experiences fog that affects flights on a couple of days, unlike CBR where it is common.

 

[Quickstatus]

I believe that clear skies allowing heat to escape (radiate away) causing temps to drop below the dew point along with high humidity and no to light winds.

It can be difficult for passengers to believe an airline that weather is causing delays when it's clear and fine at the departure point

 

[Melburnian1]

I think the third factor to maximise the chance of fog mentioned was low pressure.

 

[Flyerqf]

Last nights QF25 is delayed until 2.40pm today.

 

[Melburnian1]

Last nights QF25 is delayed until 2.40pm today.

Shame on you, Flyerqf: you were wrong by one minute, as it departed at 1439 from SYD on Saturday 11 March. Arrival in HND should be at 2135 tonight with departure of the delayed QF26 (normally scheduled for 2200 hours) tipped for 2359. Sunday 12 arrival in SYD should be at 1120 hours instead of 0935.

Also on Saturday 12, QF35 (1220 hours MEL - SIN, A332 VH-EBR) took off at 1329; arrival should be at about 1755, half an hour late.

QF93 was again late on Saturday 11, departing MEL at 1302, 107 minutes late with suggested same day arrival at 0735, an hour behind.

Friday 10 March's QF11 departed LAX 62 late at 0922, arriving JFK 45 minutes behind the timetable at 1715. Turning around to operate QF12 was slower than the allowed time, with departure 74 minutes tardy at 1914, meaning predicted LAX arrival at 2225 hours, 90 late. The ongoing (though different aircraft) QF12 from LAX to SYD is forecast to depart at 2340, 70 minutes late but should only be half an hour late upon arrival at 0900 hours on Sunday 12 March at its designated SYD airport passenger terminal gate.

 

[Melburnian1]

With what must be the USA's changeover to daylight saving time, the retimed 1010 BNE - LAX on Sunday 12 March is predicted to depart at 1100. This is because QF16 from LAX is expected to arrive in BNE at 0900 instead of the scheduled 0705 hours.

 

[jb747]

I think the third factor to maximise the chance of fog mentioned was low pressure.

Do a search here: International TAF

and here: Past METARs

Fog is FG. Mist is BR. Smoke is FU. Thunderstorms are TS.

All times in UTC. If the weather is shown as 'becoming', and it's improving, the new forecast comes into play at the end of the time period. If it's getting worse, then it's at the start.

 

[Melburnian1]

For some relatively brief time not long if I recall before its cessation, Ansett Australia used to operate a weekday 0530 hours MEL - SYD.

Most unusually, QF498 was scheduled for tomorrow (Monday 13 March, Labour Day in Victoria) as an 0530 hours MEL - SYD but has been cancelled.

 

[defurax]

Most unusually, QF498 was scheduled for tomorrow (Monday 13 March, Labour Day in Victoria) as an 0530 hours MEL - SYD but has been cancelled.

Isn't the 5:30AM MEL-SYD a Monday-only flight operated weekly? Or do you mean it was odd that is was scheduled on a holiday?

 

[defurax]

Isn't the 5:30AM MEL-SYD a Monday-only flight operated weekly? Or do you mean it was odd that is was scheduled on a holiday?

I just looked at EF and QF498 will be operated this Tuesday 14 March instead of the usual Monday scheduled departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

Isn't the 5:30AM MEL-SYD a Monday-only flight operated weekly? Or do you mean it was odd that is was scheduled on a holiday?

Yes, I was surprised to see it operating on a Victorian public holiday because (while Sydney is NOT on a public holiday) one might expect business traffic would be down on such a day. Too many Melburnians would have gone away for the long weekend.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 13 March 2017, QF12 from LAX to SYD (A388 VH-OQB) should arrive at about 0901, 31 minutes late. UA was similarly late.

AFF member Dmac6345 identified a fuel supply problem ('computers') at MEL this morning meaning that not a single aircraft had departed between 0600 and 0645:

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rne-airport-fuel-issue-81693.html#post1604713

Delays included QF400, the 0600 hours MEL - SYD departing at 0649 and arriving at 0811, 46 minutes late, while QF600 (0610 hours MEL - BNE) departed at 0643, arriving 31 minutes late at 0751. There were other delays of 5 - 20 minutes but we only record delays of half an hour or more here.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday 12 March 2017 2325 hours from MEL (QF9) did not depart until 0137 on Monday 13. It made the intermediate stop in DXB from 0829 to 1016 to be 106 minutes late upon departure. LHR arrival is suggested as 1350, 70 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF147 (Tuesday 14 March late afternoon 1700 hours SYD - AKL, B738 ZK-ZQF) took off at 1819; arrival should be at about 2251 hours, 36 minutes behind schedule.

The USA transcontinental legs of QF11/ QF12 (LAX - JFK and return) have been cancelled on Tuesday 14 March.

 

[cove]

There is a pea souper fog outside so it will be very difficult for planes to land at LAX this morning. We are at Marina del Rey just a few miles north of the airport and it is really thick at the moment ( 12.40 am here).

 

[eminere]

There is a pea souper fog outside so it will be very difficult for planes to land at LAX this morning. We are at Marina del Rey just a few miles north of the airport and it is really thick at the moment ( 12.40 am here).

Today's (14 March) QF11 SYD-LAX service which was scheduled to depart at 1030 only left SYD at 1925. Could this be the reason for the massive delay?

The new arrival ETA is 1445 (vs 0615 scheduled).

 

[Melburnian1]

That explains why QF11/QF12 are not operating across the USA on Tuesday 14 March, although - in theory- QF93 from MEL and QF15 from BNE are on time.