Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

The badly delayed (in DXB) Saturday 29 April QF9 ex MEL arrived in LHR at about 2154 hours instead of 1410 - 469 minutes late. 2149 was its touchdown time. Thank you Blackbird for the on-the-spot report.

Although one would consider Flyerqf correct when he asserted that due to London Heathrow airport night flight restrictions, departure would be delayed until Monday morning 1 May 2017 for QF2, the QF website suggests QF9 is as quickly as possible turning around with a claimed departure time - somewhat optimistic - of 2330 for QF2, as Blackbird confirms, so that means that there is 'half an hour's grace' for such delayed QF flights as the publicly stated 'curfew' restrictions commence (like SYD) at 2300 hours.

That would give it an hour and 36 minutes on the ground (and I only allow a nominal five minutes from touchdown to gate arrival - at most large airports, this takes longer.) So far, about an hour 38 is the fastest observed turnaround of an A388 for QF, so a 2330 pushback would be extremely good going. The normal timetabled departure for QF2 at present is 2135 hours.

While it may not mean much as not every aircraft at an airport shows up on FR24, it does not have a single aircraft displayed at LHR at present.

UPDATE: The expected departure time at LHR was changed to 2340 hours, but at 2338 or so, the website further altered to an expected 2350 hours departure.

 

[Quickstatus]

It's raining in LHR but at this late stage all other flights have departed so any rain related issues will only be affecting the despatch of QF2. (The last was an SU to DME at 2245)

It departed the gate at 2344 according to Fstats
Other flight trackers don't confirm this

update FR24 shows QF2 live

 

[Melburnian1]

QF's website also suggests QF2 departed its gate at 2344 hours. VH-OQL then became airborne at 2358 hours, so with picking up time en route and a shortened stop at DXB, it could be in SYD by about 0615 hours on Tuesday 2 May, only 65 minutes late. Talk about operating by the skin of one's teeth!

 

[jb747]

While it may not mean much as not every aircraft at an airport shows up on FR24, it does not have a single aircraft displayed at LHR

They only show if their transponders are turned on.

 

[Quickstatus]

I was annoyed to see some contributors describe the posts here as "noise". Perhaps I'm overreacting?

I reaffirm my thanks to contributors like Melburnian1 who has tirelessly maintained these threads with contemporaneous information.

And well done to QF - turning around an A380 in 1:45hrs
Was a curfew dispensation provided?

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes, it's a very good effort by QF staff under such stressful conditions to turn an aircraft around in say from 2154 or later as at gate arrival to 2344. It's the end of what was a long (and extended) trip, and a start of another long one, and 400 plus passengers cannot alight and board in two minutes, even with relatively efficient - for aircraft - A380 gate arrangements.

 

[Quickstatus]

On review of the LHR night time restrictions - they don't call it a curfew.

The A380 is a QC2 for takeoff and QC0.5 on landing (747-400 is QC4 and QC2 respectively). Could someone please confirm if this is true
No aircraft QC4 and above can takeoff or land between 2330 and 0600.
Additionally there is a restriction to the number of night time flight ~ 5800 to/l per year with a weekly rotation in the takeoff direction

So the A380 operstions are only restricted by night time quota and perhaps runway requirements.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed Sunday 30 April QF2 is estimated to arrive and depart DXB at 0945 and 1100 on Monday 1 May, respectively 135 and 105 minutes late. 75 minutes on the ground is pretty tight but QF has been observed occasionally just about achieving this. It mostly however takes 85 minutes or above even when a flight comes in late.

Tuesday 2 May SYD arrival has altered to a projected 0650 hours, 100 minutes late. This should not of itself result in any Tuesday A388 delays out of Sydney, touch wood.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 1 May, QF93 from MEL to LAX has been delayed 180 minutes to a forecast 1215 hours departure, with estimated arrival same day at 0905 hours, 150 minutes behind schedule.

Because both QF11 from SYD and QF15 from BNE departed punctually, it may be that 'the 93' passengers are placed on AA flights to JFK rather than at great expense to QF (and delay to about four different flights - QF11, QF12 back across the USA and QF12/QF16 back to Oz) holding QF11 in LAX to wait for the tardy flight ex MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed Sunday 30 April QF2 is estimated to arrive and depart DXB at 0945 and 1100 on Monday 1 May, respectively 135 and 105 minutes late. 75 minutes on the ground is pretty tight...
Tuesday 2 May SYD arrival has altered to a projected 0650 hours, 100 minutes late...

QF2 arrived DXB at 0942 hours on Monday 1 May but departure has become an estimated 1200 hours ('high noon') so SYD arrival on Tuesday 2 is unlikely to be prior to 0730 hours, which would be 160 minutes behind schedule.

UPDATE: QF2 pushed back in busy DXB at 1225 hours, 190 minutes late. Tuesday 2 May SYD arrival has become an estimated 0805, 175 minutes behind schedule.

The often punctual QF8 is also running a little late, with Tuesday 2 May arrival of this ex-DFW A388 in SYD predicted as 0645 hours, 40 minutes behind the eight ball.

Earlier on 1 May, QF79 departed MEL 36 minutes late at 1011 hours with arrival estimated as 40 minutes late at 1940.

QF93 was showing as delayed until 1215 in its departure (see earlier post) but this became 1202, 227 minutes tardy, so LAX arrival is estimated at 0950 hours, 195 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 2 May 2017 saw QF117 (1125 hours SYD - HKG, A333 VH-QPG) departing at 1202 with arrival expected at 1940 hours, 35 minutes late.

QF27, the 1135 hours from SYD to far away SCL pushed back at 1252, 77 minutes tardy with same day arrival predicted at 1200 'high noon', 45 minutes behind schedule. AS QF28 is not timetabled to depart Chile until 1430 hours it should be unaffected, touch wood.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 3 May 2017, although QF129, the 0935 hours morning flight from SYD up to PVG only departed eight minutes late, it is expected to arrive at 1905 hours.

The 27 minute late departure of QF81, the scheduled 1025 hours SYD - SIN is expected to turn into a half hour delayed arrival at 1720 hours.

The B744 on longhaul QF15 from BNE to LAX departed quite late at 1140 (80 minutes past the allotted) with same day arrival in the city of movies estimated as 0730 hours, 90 minutes late. This will delay the scheduled 0820 hours continuation of this aircraft as QF11 from LAX across to JFK. In turn QF12 on early Wednesday evening is highly likely to depart JFK late.

QF117, the second of the day by QF from SYD up to HKG pushed back at 1237, 37 minutes behind schedule; arrival is estimated as also half an hour tardy at 2010 tonight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Much later on 3 May, QF583 (A332 VH-EBS, the 1945 hours SYD across to PER that was in the sky at 2053 hours) should pull in at 2320 hours, 35 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 3 May's evening QF20 from MNL to SYD, the 2000 hours, did not take off until 2225, so on Thursday 4 A332 VH-EBP is arriving at roughly 0742 hours, 92 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 4 May 2017, the afternoon QF73 from SYD across the wide blue Pacific to SFO is expected to depart at 1530 hours, 150 minutes late with same day arrival predicted as 1130, two hours behind schedule.

Earlier, the 0935 hours mid morning QF79 (MEL up to NRT) did not depart until 1056; arrival this evening in Japan should be at 2020, 80 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Thursday 4 May, QF595 from ADL across to PER, the 1725 hours that was airborne at 1758 should pull in at around 1849 tonight, 34 minutes late. Aircraft is B738 VH-XZP.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 5 May saw QF19 (1205 hours SYD - MNL, A332 VH-EBQ) take off at 1249. Fairly heavy traffic in MNL has delayed arrival until about 1902 hours, 32 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Although on Friday 5 May 2017 QF10 from LHR and DXB arrived MEL on time at around 2055 hours, the returning QF9 did not depart until 0203 hours on Saturday 6 May, 188 minutes late. The DXB stop is estimated as 1010 to 1130 (a quick one, occasionally achievable) whereupon if true QF9 upon departure will be 145 minutes late with a 120 minute tardy arrival - 1610 hours - forecast for LHR.

milehighclub may be kind enough to advise if this delay was due to 'maintenance.'

This should not delay the Saturday 6 May evening QF2 to LHR and SYD, touch wood.

Friday 5's QF12 departed JFK 65 late at 1915 with LAX arrival predicted as 2145 hours, 45 late.

On Saturday 6 May, QF23 (0950 hours SYD - BKK) departed half an hour late; arrival is predicted 40 minutes tardy at 1720.

QF127 has been delayed in its SYD departure from 1000 until at least 1110 for HKG. From Friday 28 April 2017, this flight has gone back to a B744 after a period during Easter and school holidays when it was the A388.

The BNE - LAX QF15 B744 departed 31 late at 1051; same day arrival is forecast at 0640 hours, 40 minutes behind schedule. This will slightly delay the departure of the USA transcontinental QF11.

 

[eastwest101]

QF1789 a B717 service from TSV-BNE didn't operate today, all pax put onto a replacement flight QF2433 operated by. Dash 8, presuming a B717 either went tech in BNE or that's a sneaky new yield management technique for TSV-BNE flights that I haven't seen before.

OK - lets see if someone wants to take a bet with me that this Monday's QF1789 morphs from a B717 to a Dash 8, seatmaps are still showing for B717 but have a look at this:




This is the same as what I saw last month regarding post above. Will see on Monday morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 6 May, A388 VH-OQB (1550 hours SYD - DXB - LHR) departed at 1630 so DXB arrival is suggested as 9195 hours on Sunday 7, 40 late.

B738 ZK-ZQG on QF172 from WLG across to MEL should arrive on Saturday 6 at roughly 1936 hours, 36 minutes behind target.

Friday 5 May's QF12 departed JFK 65 minutes late at 1915, arriving LAX 52 minutes tardy at 2152. With the change to an A388, QF12 departed LAX 73 minutes behind the timetable at 2343 for a suggested Sunday 7 May arrival in SYD of 0700 hours, 40 minutes later than timetabled.