Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

In further on a wet Friday 21 April afternoon in MEL, QF (and JQ/VA) are suffering from multiple cancellations, while TT so far looks to have one.

QF2285 and QF444, respectively the scheduled 1530 hours MEL departures to LST and SYD have been cancelled.

QF2057, the 1540 to DPO and SYD-bound QF448, QF456 and QF474, respectively the 1645, 1715 and 1615 flights to SYD have been cancelled as has QF2132 at a scheduled 1805 hours up to CBR.

With Friday afternoon normally busy and many flights of all domestic airlines booked out or close to it, what on earth happens to all these passengers? Are some forced to travel on Saturday morning, meaning it would be quicker to head for Southern Cross railway station and scrounge for a seat on the 1950 hours NSWTrainLink XPT to Sydney?

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 21 April, QF627 (1555 hours BNE down to MEL that was in the sky at 1628, B738 VH-VZW) is arriving at around 1853, 33 minutes delayed.

B738 VH-VYC on the 1405 hours DRW down to SYD QF843 was airborne at 1506; arrival should be at 1928, 38 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 21 April should see QF10 from DXB and LHR arriving in MEL at about 2120, less than half an hour late.

However QF9 has been delayed from 2255 hours to an expected Saturday 22 April departure at 0115 hours.

Last night's was also delayed somewhat. What is going on - do these A388s need more time for relatively minor maintenance upon arrival in MEL given the scheduled short turnaround?

 

[Melburnian1]

The badly delayed QF1 that departed SYD at 2049 on Thursday 20 arrived in LHR at about 1238 hours on Friday 21, 343 minutes late.

QF10 today (Friday) has been delayed in its LHR departure from 1330 hours to a predicted 1415, which is achievable, but tight. QF claims that an on time arrival at DXB will occur tonight at 2335 hours.

How much is it a problem during the middle of the day if an aircraft misses its scheduled pushback time and hence takeoff time at busy, slot constrained LHR? Does it typically add another 10 minutes to the trip?

UPDATE: On Friday 21, QF10 (A388 VH-OQI) departed LHR 61 minutes late at 1431 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 22 April, the delayed QF10 spent from 0050 to 0222, the latter being 47 minutes late at DXB but QF suggests it will arrive at MEL tonight at 2215 hours, just 20 minutes late.

QF9 was meant to depart MEL at 0115 hours this morning (Saturday 22), which would have been 140 minutes late but will now depart at 1730 this afternoon, 1115 minutes late, indicating a much more serious engineering problem. It is then expected to spend from 0100 to 0235 hours in DXB on Sunday 23 April for an arrival at LHR at 0700 on Sunday morning.

The Saturday 22 April evening (2135 hours) QF2 ex LHR has been altered to depart at 0900 on Sunday 23 meaning eventual SYD arrival at a predicted 1525 hours on Monday 24 April instead of the usual (at this time of year - northern summer schedule) 0510 hours.

That Monday incoming delay for QF2 may mean that QF127 is reduced to a B744 if one is available for the SYD - HKG run as otherwise either QF1 or QF7 will be delayed out of SYD on Monday 24 April.

Once again, one problem (in MEL) with one A388 ends up delaying at least 1000 travellers (assuming bookings are solid) given the on/offs at DXB. EK also feels the heat because passengers booked from MEL on to Europe miss connecting flights and have to be rebooked.

These ongoing delays are disastrous for business travellers. One wonders how many are deciding to permanently switch to SQ or other competitors to reach the UK or Europe through southeast or north Asia with their often more pleasant airports. To me, DXB, DOH and AUH are way below SIN, ICN and HND to name a few.

On Friday 21, QF12 departed JFK at 1900 hours, 50 minutes late with LAX arrival forecast as 2145 hours, 45 minutes tardy.

 

[jb747]

What is going on - do these A388s need more time for relatively minor maintenance upon arrival in MEL given the scheduled short turnaround?

Let's play school teacher here, and see if I can get you to answer your own question.

What is the difference between Melbourne and Dubai?

 

[Melburnian1]

Let's play school teacher here, and see if I can get you to answer your own question....

Answering one's own question is a habit best left to a former Prime Minister who was renowned for such. Nickname of 'xx_XX07.'

However, DXB is an intermediate stop for QF and an EK not QF engineering base; MEL, while not 'the' base for A388s (that honour goes to SYD), would have access to QF engineering staff. The climates can also be dramatically different as MEL does not suffer from sandstorms.

Remember, if that's not the correct answer, the teacher has to write on the examination paper what the sought answer was.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF9 operates on a very tight schedule

These aircraft usually have a layover commencing in LHR
6hr (QF1-QF10 in LHR)
2.5hr (QF10 in DXB)
2.5hr (QF10-QF9 in MEL)
2.5hr (QF9 in DXB)
7hr (QF9-QF2 in LHR)

Initially at least the despatch reliability of the A380 has been put down to "teething problems" of a new airframe design etc.
However these aircraft are nearly halfway through their lifecycle and I would have thought the "gremlins" would have been eliminated.

I speculating obviously and have no hard data but perhaps a high utilisation environment/short turnaround times/long range multi sector missions may not suit the A380??.

On the other hand the QF pilots have a culture of not accepting aircraft that maybe others would which I appreciate.

 

[jb747]

Answering one's own question is a habit best left to a former Prime Minister who was renowned for such. Nickname of 'xx_XX07.'

However, DXB is an intermediate stop for QF and an EK not QF engineering base; MEL, while not 'the' base for A388s (that honour goes to SYD), would have access to QF engineering staff. The climates can also be dramatically different as MEL does not suffer from sandstorms.

Remember, if that's not the correct answer, the teacher has to write on the examination paper what the sought answer was.

No, teachers just ask more questions, but that's certainly on the right path. But, it's not a case of engineering staff availability, but rather of MEL application. They cannot be applied at some locations.

 

[Melburnian1]

Perhaps the teacher means that (QF) A388 spare parts are available in MEL (or can quickly be flown down from SYD) when QF would not have these in DXB in many cases - at least not without flying them in. However if I recall hasn't one of our contributors previously commented that in a few cases, QF does have spares in DXB or can borrow from EK? That would by no means cover every conceivable item required for an MEL ('minimum equipment list', not location) if I have the term correct.

 

[jb747]

Initially at least the despatch reliability of the A380 has been put down to "teething problems" of a new airframe design etc.
However these aircraft are nearly halfway through their lifecycle and I would have thought the "gremlins" would have been eliminated.

I expect that Airbus thought that there would be a lot more aircraft in service by now (3 or 4 times as many) which would have had major effects on development. As much as I like it, it's really a commercial failure.

 

[Flyerqf]

On the other hand the QF pilots have a culture of not accepting aircraft that maybe others would which I appreciate.

i agree with this and let's hope it never changes.

 

[jb747]

How much is it a problem during the middle of the day if an aircraft misses its scheduled pushback time and hence takeoff time at busy, slot constrained LHR? Does it typically add another 10 minutes to the trip?

Unpredictable. Short delays (i.e. the missing passenger) can be the most problematic, as they can readily turn into an hour or so after you try to negotiate something with ATC. Planned delays are handled at a higher level, with a new slot being issued.

 

[Steady]

Sat 22/04 QF 2053 MEL - DPO delayed due to late arrival of incoming aircraft.

Currently only ~20 minutes, but I suspect it will be more

QF434 scheduled 13.00 MEL - SYD also delayed (30 minutes) due to late arrival of incoming aircraft

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF9 does not appear to have yet departed MEL despite QF asserting it would at 1730 hours on Saturday 22 April. Although sometimes aircraft 'pop up' on FR24 suddenly as they start to taxi, it is not appearing on that airport map.

While time will tell, QF may have been over enthusiastic in suggesting that it will arrive LHR at 0705 on Sunday 23. Passengers on tonight's delayed QF ex LHR might well find themselves departing somewhat later than at 0900 hours on Sunday 23.

UPDATE: QF9D (A388 VH-OQK) departed at 1752, 1137 minutes late for DXB. It took off promptly at 1808 with the QF website further delaying predicted DXB arrival time to 0130 hours on Sunday 23 April. EK405, the punctual 1800 hours MEL - DXB (A380 A6-EUB) is not far behind, having taken off at 1815 hours.

While it can be an unfair comparison because small sample sizes (two flights a day arriving) are never statistically ideal, QF must be very close to winning London Heathrow's 'award' for the least punctual airline so far in 2017. On at least one previous occasion, this had led to QF management having to placate Heathrow management by writing an explanatory letter, given (like an increasing number of airports around the world) Heathrow lacks spare slots and one is allegedly worth millions of dollars.

Friday 21 April's QF12 departed JFK at 1925 hours, 75 minutes behind schedule; LAX arrival was 2223, 93 late. The SYD-bound QF12 then departed LAX at 0013 hours today (Saturday 22), 103 minutes late with Sunday 24 arrival suggested as 0740 hours, 80 late.

The B744 on QF16 is displaying as departing LAX at 0035 on Saturday 22, 75 late but as at 0130 hours LAX time does not appear to have done so. QF15 from BNE to LAX on Sunday 23 is therefore highly likely to be delayed departing from Queensland.

 

[Flyerqf]

That Monday incoming delay for QF2 may mean that QF127 is reduced to a B744 if one is available for the SYD - HKG run as otherwise either QF1 or QF7 will be delayed out of SYD on Monday 24 April.

Once again, one problem (in MEL) with one A388 ends up delaying at least 1000 travellers (assuming bookings are solid) given the on/offs at DXB. EK also feels the heat because passengers booked from MEL on to Europe miss connecting flights and have to be rebooked.

Monday's QF127 & 11 are both still showing as 380, so QF1 will most likely be delayed on Monday.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQK on the overnight delayed QF9D from MEL to DXB landed at 0131 hours (0731 AEST) on Sunday 23 April, a little later than QF predicted. QF claims that the flight will depart at 0255 and arrive in LHR at 0725 which seems a little optimistic as the A388 had blocks on at its arrival gate at about 0145 in DXB. The overnight delayed QF2 remains publicly showing a suggested 0900 hours departure from LHR that again is slightly unrealistic: if all goes well, 0930 might be possible.

Advice from booked passengers on either as to hotel, meal and transfer arrangements (where and how much) due to the c.19 hour delays would be great.

UPDATE: The very late QF9D departed DXB at 0305 hours and should arrive in LHR at 0800 on Sunday 23 April instead of 1410 hours on Saturday 22, so it will be almost 18 hours late. QF2 from Saturday night will be unable to depart LHR before 0940 compared to its previous night's 2135 hours timetabled departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 23 April, QF73 (1300 hours SYD - SFO B744 aircraft) was delayed in its departure, taking off at 1729. SFO arrival is forecast at 1320 instead of the timetabled 0930.

It was formed by the 1505 hours (five minutes late) predicted arrival of QF64 (VH-OEH) ex JNB, indicating that earlier a rostered B744 had failed.

QF23 from SYD to BKK departed 62 minutes late at 1052 so arrival is expected at 1730 hours, 50 minutes behind schedule for A333 VH-QPB.

 

[Blackbird]

QF1 (OQC) arrived on time and will turn around and do the delayed QF2.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQK touched down at LHR at 0758 on Sunday 23 April on the delayed QF9, about 18 hours late.

I'm not saying Blackbird above is incorrect, but FR24 still has VH-OQC operating QF10 ex LHR at 1330 hours today, not the overnight delayed QF2 that is allegedly departing LHR at 0955 hours. It will then stop in DXB from a predicted 1935 to 2115 hours tonight with SYD Monday 24 April arrival at 1655 hours in the afternoon, rather than the timetabled 0510 hours early morning blocks on.

On Sunday 23 April, QF764 (1605 hours from ADL across to SYD that took off at 1726, B738 VH-VYG) should arrive at 1930 hours, 65 minutes late.