Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Later on Friday 9 June, QF63, the long flight from SYD across to JNB departed 48 minutes late at 1138. Arrival is expected 55 late at 1755, which will at least slightly delay the returning QF64.

Thursday 8 June's late night 2255 hours QF9 from MEL had another case of the wobbles with departure not until 0110 hours on Friday 9, 135 minutes late. The DXB stop commenced at 0831, 86 minutes late with forecast departure at 1010, 65 minutes late for a LHR projected arrival of 1450 hours, just 40 minutes down.

In the other direction, Thursday's QF10 had a dream run from LHR to DXB, with departure a minute late at 1331 and arrival at 2330 a creditable five minutes ahead of time. However it did not then commence pushback until 0335 hours, 120 minutes late meaning a Friday 9 June forecast arrival at 2250 hours, 115 minutes late. In turn this will mean the Friday night QF9 (2255 hours) from MEL is unable to depart until at least 0030 hours on Saturday 10 June.

Friday 9's QF51 (1200 'high noon' BNE - SIN, A333 VH-QPD) was airborne at 1249. Arrival is suggested as 1857, 42 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Friday 9 June, QF2215, the 1715 hours from ABX to SYD took off at 1753 with Q400 VH-QOA. At 1900 hours it was in a hold near Wombeyan Caves NSW, with arrival suggested as 63 late at 1928.

With Sydney rainy, there is a lot of holding going on with some interesting flight patterns. QF496 (1745 hours MEL - SYD) took off at 1810, only about 10 - 15 minutes late with B738 VH-VXQ. It is arriving at about 2002 hours, 52 minutes late. Have a look at its flight path as it was in two distinct holds in the Yass area of NSW.

QF458, the 1800 hours took off on time (more or less) at 1811 tonight but it has also a 'wavy' flight pattern with multiple holds ordered by ATC, and so with VH-VZC is arriving at 2013, 48 minutes tardy. QF474, the 1815 hours scheduled departure on the same northbound MEL - SYD busy route has VH-VXJ as its B738; despite also taking off punctually (at 1824 hours), its arrival is likely at 2107 hours, 37 minutes behind time.

The 1700 hours from CNS down to SYD, QF927 was airborne at 1728 with B738 Vh-VZA. It should arrive at roughly 2032 tonight, 37 minutes behind schedule.

Colleague VH-VZR on QF549 (1805 hours BNE down to SYD) was in the sky at 1822, only about five late, but is arriving at around 2027, 47 minutes tardy.

QF1522 (the 1830 hours CBR - SYD, B717 VH-YQU) did not take off until 2001 hours; arrival is predicted for 2047, 82 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A huge number of aircraft are still holding on approach to SYD as at 2040 hours on Friday 9 June but QF551 (1835 hours BNE - SYD that was airborne at 1914, B738 VH-VZY) has 'escaped' and is arriving at about 2053, 48 minutes late.

QF582 (1420 hours mid afternoon PER across to SYD, A332 VH-EBC) took off punctually at 1433 but is arriving at 2102, 32 minutes tardy.

QF2193 from MRZ down to SYD, the 1905 hours took off at 1948. Q200 VH-TQG should arrive at around 2123, 43 late.

The large number of late arrivals in SYD, some of which still have to form mid evening to late night departures will be an interesting scenario as the dreaded 2300 hours SYD curfew approaches.

In an unrelated delay, QF768 (1500 hours PER - MEL, A332 VH-EBE that was airborne at 1536) is pulling in to its allocated MEL airport gate at roughly 2102 hours, 32 late.

What looks to be an empty working, QF6156, has run from MEL to SYD (A332 VH-EBG) with takeoff at 1941 and arrival at the terminal suggested as 2113 hours.

QF783 (B783 VH-VXQ, the 1945 hours SYD across to ADL) took off at 2042; it should arrive at 2220 hours, 55 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Unusually, B744 VH-OEF is operating QF460, the 1830 hours MEL - SYD on what is a rainy Friday 9 June in Sydney that is adversely affecting punctuality. It took off at 2004 with arrival suggested as 2131 hours, 96 minutes late.

While none of us can monitor every flight, this is the first working of a B744 on a MEL - SYD passenger-carrying flight for a long time if my observations are any guide. I wonder if anyone was 'op-upped'?

QF499 (B738 VH-VXJ, the 2000 hours SYD - MEL) was airborne at 2122, more than an hour late.

 

[moa999]

Looks like A333 VH-QPH hasn't operated since arriving back from PVG this morning as QF130D nearly 24hrs late after being hit by lightning the day before.

B744 VH-OEF operated a number of SYD-MEL services today (I suspect loads were high due to the Brazil v Argentina game at the MCG tonight)
QF425,436,447 and 460.

FR24 also shows VH-OEF as operating QF3 SYD-HNL tonight, but I suspect it will be way too tight to get it ready for a pre-curfew departure. (Would have been tight even if QF460 was on time)

 

[moa999]

Appears QF have sent VH-EBG as QF6156 to takeover QF3. It landed at 2108 so still be tight to get QF3 out on time

 

[Melburnian1]

Appears QF have sent VH-EBG as QF6156 to takeover QF3. It landed at 2108 so still be tight to get QF3 out on time

I had noted that working above, but did not know it was for QF3 so thank you.

Does this mean that some passengers on QF3 may be in a SYD hotel tonight if there are more than the capacity of the A332 booked to travel? (And the same in due course for QF4?)

 

[moa999]

Quite possibly given it's got 70 less Y seats, though 8 more J.

Might have offloaded some onto HA452 which left slightly earlier, but yes if any decent loads pax would have to be left behind.

I had noted that working above, but did not know it was for QF3 so thank you)

FlightAware updated sometime before FR24 on this one.

 

[Quickstatus]

Flightaware shows
QF130D VH-QPH Dep 1904 Sched Arr 0710
QF130 VH-QPA Dep 2005 Sched Arr 0815

Somewhat strangely they are taking very different flight paths.
QPH has tracked down the Chinese coast to near HKG and is now leading the HKG troika of QF98,128,30
Whereas QPA is heading more directly over the Phillipines Sea and joining with the NRT track.

Possibly equipment restrictions?

VH-QPA has done this before - I've put this in post #11101 in Ask the Pilot, but no answer yet.

 

[moa999]

VH-QPA has done this before - I've put this in post #11101 in Ask the Pilot, but no answer yet.

Not in this case it was QPH flying the land-hugging route, QPA went direct.
I think andmiz's answer covered it. The aircraft meets MEL but has a defect or issue that reduces ETOPS/EDTO.
Having been hit by lightning and seemingly spending the day in the shed this looks to be the case here.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 9 June QF10 arrived in MEL at 2258, 123 minutes late. It turned around and departed as QF9 at 0048 hours on Saturday 10 June, 113 minutes late with DXB arrival expected at 0815 hours, 70 minutes late.

QF2020, the 0920 hours SYD - ARM (Q200 VH-TQG) was airborne at 1020 on Saturday 10 June, with likely arrival at 1022, 42 minutes late.

Friday 9's B744 on QF11 departed LAX at 0923 hours, 63 minutes late, arriving JFK at 1731, 51 late. Turning around, it then operated QF12, departing 'The Big Apple' at 1917, 67 late with expected LAX arrival at 2200, an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 11 June, QF418, the 0900 MEL up to SYD did not become airborne until 0949. Arrival of B738 Vh-VXL is likely at 1058, 33 minutes late.

Although B744 VH-OEF did a couple of SYD - MEL - SYD rotations on Friday 9 June as noted by moa999 above, yesterday it sat idle at SYD. It is next to be used on Sunday 11 June's QF63, the 1050 hours SYD - JNB. While this aircraft is 14 years old and probably fully depreciated in the QF books, unless maintenance was required it is poor utilisation to have such a large aircraft sitting around not doing anything for 40 hours.

Overall (though it varies by route and airline), the Australian domestic air travel market is close to stagnant in terms of passenger numbers, and risks falling below annual percentage population growth as the 'duopoly' restricts seat supply and pushes up fares.

Internationally, it is far harder to increase fares as there is a lot of competition on many routes, and passenger growth, previously excellent, has started to taper off.

 

[Flyerqf]

On Sunday 11 June, QF418, the 0900 MEL up to SYD did not become airborne until 0949. Arrival of B738 Vh-VXL is likely at 1058, 33 minutes late.

Although B744 VH-OEF did a couple of SYD - MEL - SYD rotations on Friday 9 June as noted by moa999 above, yesterday it sat idle at SYD. It is next to be used on Sunday 11 June's QF63, the 1050 hours SYD - JNB. While this aircraft is 14 years old and probably fully depreciated in the QF books, unless maintenance was required it is poor utilisation to have such a large aircraft sitting around not doing anything for 40 hours.

Overall (though it varies by route and airline), the Australian domestic air travel market is close to stagnant in terms of passenger numbers, and risks falling below annual percentage population growth as the 'duopoly' restricts seat supply and pushes up fares.

Internationally, it is far harder to increase fares as there is a lot of competition on many routes, and passenger growth, previously excellent, has started to taper off.

Qantas is operating with a spare 744 at the moment since QF29/30 was changed back to a 333. However this is temporary until OJM leaves the fleet this year (mid year I believe)

 

[moa999]

it is poor utilisation to have such a large aircraft sitting around not doing anything for 40 hours.

Demand is generally lower on weekends - ergo the new plan to downguage some golden triangle routes to 717s.

A333 VH-QPH was in maintenance for 48hrs after limping back from PVG, but is operating QF23 this morning. I suspect B744 was only called into action because of this unscheduled maintenance.

 

[Melburnian1]

Demand is generally lower on weekends - ergo the new plan to downguage some golden triangle routes to 717s....

moa999, from what I have read and observed, demand is indeed 'lower on weekends' (particularly on Saturday afternoons, and to a lesser extent Saturday mornings, for the domestic QF (and VA) fleet.

However I had thought that for QFi, demand on Thursdays to Mondays was high (in terms of fleet utilisation and passenger numbers) with only Tuesdays and Wednesdays being slack.

QF1799 (Sunday 11 June's B717 VH-YQV, the 1220 hours lunchtime flight from ASP to BNE) was in the sky at 1259 with a 1614 hours, 44 minute late arrival in the Sunshine State capital expected.

The 1200 'high noon' QF117, operated by class leader A333 VH-QPA did not become airborne until 1329 hours. A 50 minute late arrival at 1730 hours is projected.

Although QF10 departed a minute early from DXB at 0134 hours local time, estimated MEL arrival during Sunday 11 June's mid evening is 2125, half an hour late. This will at least slighlt delay the departure of tonight's QF9, the 2255 hours MEL - DXB - LHR that has a less than impeccable timekeeping record.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 10 June's QF94 departed LAX 67 minutes late at 2317 hours, with Monday 12 arrival suggested as 0735 hours, 40 minutes behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 0500 hours, Monday 12 June appeared to have a good chance of fog at SYD - so we will see.

Sunday 11 June's QF9 from MEL to DXB did not take off until 0012 on Monday 12, so arrival is estimated at 0745 hours, 40 late for A388 VH-OQD.

 

[JessicaTam]

Quite a few delays to and from SYD this morning do to "thick fog blanketing the city".

Fortunately my BNE-MEL flight is unaffected.

 

[RooFlyer]

Quite a few delays to and from SYD this morning do to "thick fog blanketing the city".

<snip>

So, as far as Qantas is concerned, that's a 'network-wide' disruption?

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to the SYD fog, QF730, 0600 ADL - SYD took off at 0737 with arrival suggested as 0954 hours, 94 late. Aircraft is B738 VH-VYI.

QF1579 (B717 VH-YQS, the 0735 hours MCY - SYD that was airborne at 0825) should pull in at roughly 0952, 37 minutes behind schedule.

The 0800 MEL - SYD, QF414 (B738 VH-VXI) took off at 0917 so arrival is expected at 1022, 57 late.

QF505 (B738 VH-VZR), the 0705 hours BNE down to SYD did not take off until 0853 and so is arriving at around 1011 hours, 91 minutes (more than an hour and a half) late. QF509 on the same route and same direction (VH-VZE, the 0805 hours) did not become airborne until 0934 so the suggested 1041 hours arrival will be 61 minutes late.

The 0745 hours OOL - SYD, VH-VXJ on QF861 was not immune with takeoff at 0858 hours for a suggested 58 minute delayed 1013 hours arrival in the mainland harbour city.

A388 VH-OQI is operating empty as QF6001 from BNE down to SYD, having taken off at 0939 hours on 12 June 2017. It had earluier diverted when operating QF8 from DFW, ending up in BNE instead of SYD. Not sure why it did not continue as a passenger flight down to SYD (as '6001' normally indicates a 'ferry flight.')

QF1513 (0915 hours SYD down to CBR) did not get in the sky until 0959. Arrival of B717 VH-YQT should be at 1050,95 minutes late (and later than the scheduled total flight duration.)

QF417, the 0830 hours SYD - MEL (B738 VH-VZS) was still only taxiing at 1010 hours so it is more than an hour late. It then took off at 1015.

The 0900 hours SYD up to BNE, QF512 (B738 VH-VZN) was some aircraft behind QF417 and hence having yet to take off will also be about an hour late.