Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF12D is due in at 2311 after the curfew.

The QF website continues to suggest a touchdown at 2250 hours (with unstated arrival a few minutes after that.) The touchdown is the critical time for curfew-meeting or breaking purposes. The QF website suggests QF12D's destination remains Sydney. The FR24 website is of no assistance as it is displaying N/A as the destination: this appears to occur with flights that have big changes to departure times, or sometimes diverted flights.

Not saying you are wrong Flyerqf: I'm merely conveying what QF says.

One also cannot rule the flight being granted a dispensation by the Federal Minister's delegate were it in fact touching down after 2259 hours. Three criteria must be satisfied.

On Friday 7 April, QF463 (1830 hours early evening SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-VZS that was airborne at 1927) should arrive at around the 2040 mark, 35 minutes behind schedule.

QF569 (the 1635 hours SYD - PER that was in the sky at 1727, B738 VH-XZO) should arrive at 2014, 39 minutes late.

The 1720 from ADL across to SYD, B738 VH-VH-VYG that took off at 1829 should arrive at 2032 hours, 52 minutes behind schedule.

QF737, appropriately operated by B738 VH-VXL, the 1805 CBR - ADL that took off at 1853 should arrive at 2002, 37 minutes tardy.

QF1525 (B717 VH-NXJ, the 1845 hours SYD - CBR that was in the sky at 1950) should pull in to its designated tarmac spot at 2030, 45 late.

The 1900 hours SYD - MEL QF465 (B738 VH-VZW, for which in the sjky time was 2006 hours) should arrive at 2108, 33 minutes behind the allotted.

QF481 (1905 hours MEL across to PER that took off at 1953) is also predicted as 35 minutes late with a 2150 hours arrival. A332 VH-EBB is the taskmaster.

 

[docjames]

Flight radar 24 has QF12D about 1/3 of the way between NOU and SYD.

What's the flight time NOU-SYD? Sched is 3hr 20m but that's a 738 and incl takeoff ex-NOU.

Should make it.

 

[Flyerqf]

Looks like it's made up time and due in at around 2230

 

[Melburnian1]

Looks like it's made up time and due in at around 2230

In the amusing parlance of air traffic controllers (although with 'kilometres' substituted for 'miles'), Flight Aware at 2133 AEST claimed that QF12D had '626 kilometres left to run' so docjames and Flyerqf are on the money.

Great to make up time, but not so impressive to arrive 16 hours late. A few businessmen and businesswomen on board may have had to cancel appointments today in Oz, so they might not all be happy campers.

 

[Quickstatus]

Actual flight time for QF12D (VH-OQE) was 13:49 which is quite fast compared to other QF12 flights.
Would be interesting to see what Cost Index the pilots used in the FMC.

Higher cost index reduces flight time, crew, maintenance costs but increases fuel burn.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 8 April 2017 sees QF130, the redeye ex PVG arriving in SYD at about 0954, 84 late with class leader A330 VH-QPA.

QF23, the 0950 hours SYD to BKK is expected to depart at 1125 with arrival suggested as 80 minutes late at 1800 early this evening Thai time. If all goes well, the 1810 hours BKK - SYD QF24 tonight might depart at somewhere round the 1915 - 1930 hours mark, but may pick up some time on the flight down to SYD.

Friday 7's QF12 departed JFK at 1844, 34 late and is predicted to arrive in LAX at 2145, 45 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 8 April, QF797 (B738 VH-VXG, the 1240 ASP - MEL that was airborne at 1336) should arrive at around 1633, 48 minutes tardy.

A332 VH-EBV on QF81 (1025 hours SYD - SIN, which took off at 1134) should be at its arrival gate at 1723, 33 late.

QF122 from ZQN across to thundery MEL should be at its destination gate at 1746 hours, 55 minutes late. ZK-ZQA is the B738.

 

[Melburnian1]

Further thunderstorms in MEL on Sunday 9 April have presumably caused QF94 (A388 VH-OQF) from LAX to divert to SYD, meaning a late departure today for QF93 from MEL back to LAX. It subsequently landed in MEL at 0957, having spent from 0631 to 0830 - a lengthy stay - in SYD.

QF93, the 0915 hours MEL - LAX is predicted to depart 165 minutes tardy at 1200 'high noon.' Same day arrival is estimated at 0855, 140 minutes behind the eight ball.

A333 VH-QPC on QF79 (0935 hours nicely timed MEL - NRT) pushed back at 1006; arrival is forecast for 1930, half an hour late.

QF81, 1025 hours SYD - SIN departed at 1047; arrival is predicted for 1720, half an hour late.

The 1130 hours arrival in MEL from HBA, QF1502 - a B717 - has been cancelled, as has the scheduled 1150 hours MEL arrival ex LST, QF2282. The afternoon 1630 hours MEL - SYD, QF450 will also not operate.

 

[Melburnian1]

It looks like QF93 from MEL to LAX today (Sunday 9 April), which was late because of QF94 diverting via SYD this morning as noted above has been further delayed to a 1000 hours departure from MEL on Monday 10 April.

Were repairs that would take longer than a few hours required for A388 VH-OQF?

 

[Saab34]

QF93 went tech on the ground in Melbourne today so QF93/94 cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

At 1930 hours on Sunday evening 9 April 2017, many aircraft were in a 'hold' approaching SYD.

QF823 (B738, VH-VXQ, the 1405 hours DRW down to SYD that took off pretty much punctually at 1423 should arrive at 1938, 48 minutes late.

QF454 (VH-VXO, the 1730 hours MEL up to SYD that was also timely in its takeoff at 1743) is predicted to pull in to its SYD arrival gate at 1943, also 48 late.

With a suggested 2000 hours arrival, QF458 from MEL to SYD with VH-VYL, the 1800 hours that took off at 1825 should be 35 late.

Southbound QF459, the 1800 hours SYD - MEL was in the sky at 1834; arrival is predicted for 2008, 33 minutes late with VH-VXR the ubiqitous B738.

QF459, the scheduled 1745 hours departure on the identical route is a predicted 57 late with a 2017 arrival; aircraft is VH-XZB. QF487, the 1815 hours southbound (VH-VYB) should arrive at 2025 tonight, 35 late.

 

[Quickstatus]

The holds in SYD were for poor weather . At 1800hrs it hit from the west - gusty winds and rain. I managed to disembark QF 865 from OOL before the storm arrival. On approach we could see the storm front. There was pressure at OOL to get an early departure to beat the storm. We departed 5min early and arrived similarly early.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on 9 April, QF117 (1200 'high noon' SYD - HKG) departed at 1414; arrival tonight is estimated as 2140, exactly two hours tardy. The returning QF118 has been delayed in its expected departure from HKG from 2140 to 2300 with Monday 10 arrival being at 1020 hours, 75 late.

QF10 from LHR and DXB is predicted to arrive on Sunday 9 in MEL at 2135, 40 minutes late so the returning QF9, the 2255 hours should be delayed by a similar amount of time if no problems are detected. The QF website however, unusually, is less optimstic, suggesting departure will be an hour behind at 2355 for a 55 minute late Monday 10 April DXB revised arrival time of 0800 hours.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF93 went tech on the ground in Melbourne today so QF93/94 cancelled.

94 isn't cancelled. The aircraft that operates QF11 on Sunday will operate QF94. QF12 has been delayed from 2230 Sun to 0845 Mon due to the late inbound aircraft.

 

[MH_fan]

I'm on the delayed QF12. Was told that there were problems with the aircraft but it seems it's due to the havoc caused by the weather yesterday.

 

[Flyerqf]

I'm on the delayed QF12. Was told that there were problems with the aircraft but it seems it's due to the havoc caused by the weather yesterday.

Both are true. VH-OQF was struck by lightning on approach to MEL and needs repairs.

 

[jb747]

Both are true. VH-OQF was struck by lightning on approach to MEL and needs repairs.

It's unusual for a lightning strike to do much harm, and it normally requires little more than an inspection and new underpants.

 

[Melburnian1]

For a second consecutive day, QF130 is delayed with Monday 10 April 2017 arrival of A333 VH-QPG ex PVG into SYD suggested as 0901 hours, 31 minutes late.

The MKY - BNE QF1771 (B717 VH-YQX) is meant to depart at 0650 hours; it was airborne at 0722, with likely arrival 33 late at 0848.

QF410, the 0715 hours MEL - SYD and QF407, the identically timed (for departure) reverse direction flight were cancelled, as was QF1511, the early morning 0620 hours SYD down to CBR.

The 0700 hours SYD - MEL QF409 took off at 0754. A332 VH-EBV should arrive at around 0930 hours, 55 late. The aircraft appears to be returning to SYD as QF422 at a timetabled 1000 hours, so expect that to become 1020 or so.

QF411 (stablemate VH-EBD, the 0730 hours southbound that was airborne at 0811) should arrive 34 late at 0939. This aircraft does not appear to be again in use until the 1200 'high noon' from MEL to SYD, QF430. Unless some maintenance is required in MEL, this is poor planned utilisation for a valuable asset like a refurbished A332 but with demand across the Nullabor having reduced at least a little due to the mining and resources downturn, it may be symptomatic of the fairly soft demand at non peak times for our domestic airlines at present despite record mainland Chinese tourist arrivals in Oz, many of whom incorporate a couple of Australian domestic flights into itineraries and who typically travel at off peak times.

The large number of similarly late southbound SYD - MEL flights 9including competitor VA) and the adverse weather makes it possible that ATC is holding these on the ground in SYD and issuing a 'controlled departure' time for each aircraft to push back. There is a four letter acronym for this practice if I recall:

http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/services/air-traffic-flow-management/

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday 9 April 2017 overnight delayed QF93 from MEL to LAX departed at 1101, 61 minutes later than QF had predicted, on Monday 10. Same day arrival is forecast to be 0830 hours, 61 minutes late.

Due to the late arrival of QF10 on Sunday 9 April, the returning QF9 departed MEL at 0004 on Monday 10, 69 late, arriving DXB at 0803, 58 minutes behind schedule. However instead of departing at around the 1000 mark after the standard 120 minute (or less) stay on the ground, it is showing as not departing DXB until 1300 local time today, 235 minutes late with arrival in LHR estimated as 1745, 215 minutes late.

At this stage, touch wood, the evening QF2 on Monday 10 April from LHR to DXB and SYD should be unaffected timewise, provided that the delay in deparing DXB does not increase by a further couple of hours. Is the delay due to required repairs for the A388? The brief weather forecast for Dubai indicates 38 degrees and sunny - there is no mention of sandstorms or fog.

UPDATE: A388 VH-OQJ on the delayed QF9 departed DXB at 1328 on Monday 10 April, taking off at 1345 hours for the flight to LHR.

 

[Melburnian1]

94 isn't cancelled. The aircraft that operates QF11 on Sunday will operate QF94. QF12 has been delayed from 2230 Sun to 0845 Mon due to the late inbound aircraft.

The Sunday 9 April 2017 QF12 (LAX - SYD) has had a further delay with the revised departure time ex LAX being 1040 hours on Monday 10 April for SYD arrival on Tuesday 11 April early evening at 1805, 11 hours 35 minutes late.

QF1 on Tuesday 11 April is publicly displaying as delayed in its SYD departure from 1550 hours to 1815 but as it is allegedly using the same gate as the arriving QF12, this delay may well be extended to at least 2000 hours tomorrow night. The delay would not need to balloon out a lot more to threaten the on time departure of the 1330 hours Tuesday 11 early afternoon QF10 from LHR to DXB and MEL.

A388 VH-OQH arrived SYD on Sunday 9 morning ex LAX on QF12 and has not flown since.

UPDATE: QF9 of Sunday 10 April that was delayed in DXB is now indicated as arriving in LHR at 1805 hours, in plenty of time (in theory) to form a punctual QF2 this evening.