Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Also on Sunday 14 May, QF520 (1100 SYD - BNE, B738 VH-VYA that took off at 1139) should arrive at roughly 1300 hours, half an hour behind schedule.

 

[jb747]

Qantas says it diverted due to "operational reasons". I am no weather expert but wouldn't have thought fog would be an issue at 1am? Doesn't appear that other aircraft diverted. Maybe operational reasons is refuel due to long hold times?

The mechanism that causes the fog in Dubai is different to that which gives it to you in Melbourne or Sydney. Whilst it's most common in the early morning hours, 1 am would not be anything unusual. But, it wasn't foggy...

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Sunday 14 May, QF843 (1410 hours DRW - SYD, B738 VH-VYL) took off at 1507 and should arrive at around 1926, 31 minutes late.

Although Saturday 13's QF2 commenced pushback in LHR at 2125 hours, 10 minutes early, arriving DXB at about 0716, 14 early but departing 50 minutes late at 1005 on Sunday 14. Monday 14 May arrival is suggested as 0615 hours, 65 minutes tardy.

QF1051 (1150 hours very late morning BME down to MEL) took off at 1216 hours, only about 10 minutes late, but due to a fair bit of airline traffic into MEL - not the first time early on Sunday evening) - it should arrive at approximately 1832 hours, 47 minutes late with B738 VH-XZP.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a fairly foggy Monday 15 May in MEL, QF409 (A332 VH-EBO, the 0700 SYD - MEL that did not depart until 0803 hours) should arrive at roughly 0905, half an hour late, although it is possible that the fog may cause greater delays.

Moderator QF WP informs us of fog in BNE also, so QF504, the 0700 SYD - BNE (B738 VH-VXE) did not take off until 0749. It is predicted to arrive at around 0903 hours, 33 late.

QF1543 (B717 VH-YQU, the 0615 hours BNE down to CBR was airborne at 0815, so arrival should be at approximately 0937 hours, 92 minutes tardy. On the opposite direction, QF1562, the 0625 hours CBR - BNE was airborne at 0724, so its arrival (with Vh-YQW) should be at about 0901 hours, 51 late.

The 0705 BNE - SYD took off at 0811 hours, with this QF505 likely to arrive at 0939 hours, 59 late with B738 VH-VZU. the preceding 0635 hours (QF503, VH-VYA) should be in SYD at about 0918, 73 late, so the extent of late running varies somewhat between individual flights: as is often the case when there is fog, it can be a bit of a lottery as to exactly how late's one flight becomes.

QF610 (0855 hours MEL up to BNE) and the 0930 hours MEL - SYD QF420 have been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Monday 15 May, QF29, the 1020 B744 from MEL to HKG is delayed until an expected 1145 hours in its departure.

QF775, the 0630 hours MEL- PER departed at 0754 and should arrive at about 1015, 90 minutes late.

 

[Katie]

Hopefully all ok for the passenger needing attention. The flight was >2.5 hrs from HNL when the diversion was activated.

Re QF16 medical diversion, departed LAX Thurs 11 May (actually, we departed early Fri 12 May in the end), and arriving into BNE on Sat 13 May. I was on this flight - my first medical diversion!

I was woken by the announcement that we would be landing in HNL in 20-ish minutes for medical reasons. Pax were encouraged to go to the loo if required. Many got up. We landed around 3am HNL time. My +1 already knew about the diversion, as he'd been keeping an eye on the flight.

EMT + paramedic boarded the plane. Very shortly thereafter, they got off. Three pax and one FA followed them (one pax and the FA carrying hand luggage) - all were walking, fwtw. One pax reboarded after a while - I assume the doctor who was assisting in-flight. That was all within 20 mins of coming in to the gate.

After the medical party got off, pax were able to stand, stretch, etc. I was in Y+. We had to get some extra fuel on (the CSM told me). Seatbelt sign went on at around 4:22am HNL time, so we had almost 1hr 30mins on the ground. I was happy it was dark, otherwise I would have wanted to stay! Also relieved it didn't take too long, and the crew weren't at risk of going over hours.

As has probably already been mentioned, we landed about three hours late on Sat 13 May. Had to change gates, and then it took 10++ minutes for the aerobridge to be extended.

 

[Melburnian1]

Additionally on Monday 15 May, QF127 departed 62 minutes tardy at 1102 from SYD with HKG arrival predicted for 1805 hours this evening, 45 minutes late.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF61 took a very long detour yesterday and then QF62 got delayed overnight. Today operating as QF62D the aircraft also took the long detour over land predominantly -- apparently VH-QPA is not ETOPS compliant.

 

[moa999]

Definitely a weird routing

 

[jb747]

QF61 took a very long detour yesterday and then QF62 got delayed overnight. Today operating as QF62D the aircraft also took the long detour over land predominantly -- apparently VH-QPA is not ETOPS compliant.

Many MELs affect ETOPs. Whilst they can take it away entirely, it's also common for the allowed time to be reduced. Looking at the track, it looks like about 90 minutes.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF61 took a very long detour yesterday and then QF62 got delayed overnight. Today operating as QF62D the aircraft also took the long detour over land predominantly -- apparently VH-QPA is not ETOPS compliant.

A delay to QF51 (A332 VH-EBV) on Monday 15 May, the timetabled 1200 'high noon' BNE to SIN that instead departed at 1345 hours may have had a nexus. It arrived at 1932, 77 late.

Tuesday 16 May's QF409 (0700 hours SYD - MEL, B738 VH-XZB) took off at a very late 0822 and is arriving at about 0935, an hour late. The following QF407, the 0715 hours (VH-VXO that was airborne at 0836) should arrive at around 0950, also an hour late. QF411, the 0730 SYD - MEL took off at 0855 with A332 VH-EBJ, an arrival time of 1007, 62 late being suggested.

QF411 southbound, the 0745 hours took off at 0902 with arrival likely at 1013, 53 minutes late. These delays look like ATC mandating later departures due to the fog in MEL (second day in a row, althoigh yesterday BNE was also foggy.)

If Australia's lower east coast had high speed rail, some shorter distance intercapital travel would be more reliable (as well as more comfortable and pleasant.) Sadly, thanks to incompetent politicians with little or no vision, we have fallen behind many other countries that have successfully built high speed rail that serves their populations well for distances such as Brisbane to Sydney, Melbourne to Sydney, Canberra to Melbourne and Gold Coast to Newcastle as a few examples of the air routes that could largely be replaced by high speed trains.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Tuesday 16 May, QF472 (the 0915 hours MEL - SYD, B738 VH-VXK that was airborne at 1022) should pull in to its destination arrival gate at 1130 hours, 50 minutes tardy.

The 1001 hours (probably retimed from 1000) MEL - OOL (B738 VH-VYA) was in the sky at 1101. Arrival is forecast for 1238 hours early this afternoon, 33 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Wednesday 17 May 2017 QF12 departed LAX half an hour late at 2300 hours for a Friday 19 May projected arrival of 0655, half an hour late.

Thursday 18 has seen medium length flight QF29 depart MEL at 1206 hours, 106 late with HKG arrival for this A333 VH-QPH (normally a B744) likely at 1915, 75 late.

 

[Flyerqf]

The Wednesday 17 May 2017 QF12 departed LAX half an hour late at 2300 hours for a Friday 19 May projected arrival of 0655, half an hour late.

Thursday 18 has seen medium length flight QF29 depart MEL at 1206 hours, 106 late with HKG arrival for this B744 likely at 1915, 75 late.

QF29 is being operated by a 333.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF29 is being operated by a 333.

Is this use of A333 VH-QPH because QF had planned well in advance for maintenance on a B744, was it a lower demand day (and night back), or did a B744 fail this morning?

UPDATE: I see it's been an A333 all this week. Is this semi=permanent until school holidays?

 

[Flyerqf]

Is this use of A333 VH-QPH because QF had planned well in advance for maintenance on a B744, was it a lower demand day (and night back), or did a B744 fail this morning?

UPDATE: I see it's been an A333 all this week. Is this semi=permanent until school holidays?

I read that OJM is being retired mid year and hasn't operated for 5 days so maybe this is the reason for the change to QF29/30

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 19 May has QF127 (B744 VH-OEI), the 0935 hours SYD up to PVG departing 56 late with arrival estimated tonight (local time) at 1920, 50 minutes behind schedule.

Longhaul B744 VH-OEJ on QF63 (1050 hours SYD - JNB) departed 76 minutes behind schedule but on a gate-to-gate basis is expected to arrive at about 1730 late this afternoon, half an hour behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

I read that OJM is being retired mid year and hasn't operated for 5 days so maybe this is the reason for the change to QF29/30

B744 VH-OJM returned to service as QF27 ex SYD for SCL on Friday 19 May, departing late, but it should be less than half an hour late arriving at the airport gate of its South American destination.

Flyerqf is normally 'on the money' but it is surprising if VH-OJM is being retired 'mid year' (unless this is because otherwise, a major maintenance check would be due) as this will leave QF with even less spare equipment.

 

[moa999]

Flyerqf is normally 'on the money' but it is surprising if VH-OJM is being retired 'mid year' (unless this is because otherwise, a major maintenance check would be due) as this will leave QF with even less spare equipment.

Been reported in a few places. I believe gap created by QF29 MEL-HKG reverting back to 333s on 9/5. With presumably some 332s being shuffled to other Asian routes
Also of note is that only VH-OEB (the other old F 747) got the F cabin refresh.

Of the two unrefurbed 332s
EBG/EBL also spreading around the network again with 333s operating QF107/108 SYD-PEK-SYD 3 times out of the last 7 days.
EBG/EBL have instead ended up on QF5/6 SYD-SIN-SYD and QF117/118 SYD-HKG-SYD a number of times

 

[Melburnian1]

...Of the two unrefurbed 332s
EBG/EBL also spreading around the network again with 333s operating QF107/108 SYD-PEK-SYD 3 times out of the last 7 days.
EBG/EBL have instead ended up on QF5/6 SYD-SIN-SYD and QF117/118 SYD-HKG-SYD a number of times

moa999, as this is the delays thread my apologies for going off topic briefly, but I thought your previous advice to us all was that only EBG and EBL were suitable for SYD - PEK - SYD due to their status as the only A332s (or A333s) with sufficient crew rest 'positions' for these longer flights, and a larger galley?

Also on Friday 19 May 2017, B738 VH-VYC on QF452 (1700 hours MEL up to SYD that was airborne less than 10 minutes late at 1724) was held above Goulburn NSW and is hence likely to arrive at around 1856, 31 minutes late.