Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Wednesday 11 July, QF23 is again late with SYD departure delayed from 0950 to an expected 1110, a time that has now passed. Just what is causing this flight to be so often late is a mystery, as inbound flights to SYD using A333s are not necessarily constantly late. In its last 20 days of operation (including today), it has been at least half an hour late arriving at the BKK gate every day and sometimes much later, yet looking further back, there were many times when it was on time or extremely close to it. QF24 will be delayed again tonight in its departure from Thailand.

Last night (10 July), QF23 arrived BKK at about 1803 with A333 VH-QPC but did not become airborne as QF24 until 2144 hours, resulting in a SYD arrival at around 0916 hours this morning, 166 minutes tardy. VH-QPC has turned around in SYD and become QF129, which departed 92 minutes late at 1107; likely PVG arrival is 1950, 80 minutes late, meaning QF130 tonight will be delayed out of the mainland Chinese centre of commerce.

The SYD - MNL QF19 is expected to depart half an hour late at 1235 hours.

Further south, the 1145 hours scheduled QF35 from MEL up to SIN should depart an hour behind its timetable.

The 1050 hours BNE - HKG, often very punctual as are most of the BNE morning QFi departures, has been delayed to an expected 'off blocks' of 1130 hours.

QF15 (B744) has been delayed from its usual 1020 morning pushback to 2230 hours tonight, meaning expected LAX arrival at 1815 on Wednesday 11 July instead of the timetabled early morning 0600 hours. With a delay of this magnitude QF11 and QF12 across the USA to and from JFK may be cancelled, meaning passengers from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and New York (plus freight) are shunted onto AA connecting flights in LAX, provided these have seats available.

QF16 had arrived this morning ex LAX in BNE at about 0657, 47 minutes late so has the B744 (VH-OEF) become defective?

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF10 departed DXB at 0419 hours on Wednesday 12 July with predicted arrival very late tonight in MEL becoming 2316 hours. This will delay QF9, the 2255 hours ex MEL until about 0055, two hours late, on Thursday 13 July for its long trip to DXB and LHR.

QF23 from SYD to BKK has become 105 minutes late with expected arrival at 1825 early this evening local time.

B744 VH-OEG on QF28, the Tuesday 11 July 1330 hours SCL - SYD that was airborne at 1438 is arriving on Wednesday 12 at 1824 hours, 44 minutes late.

Tuesday 11's QF12 creditably departed JFK only three minutes late at 1813 but presumably due to delays in taking off thanks to thunderstorm activity did not arrive LAX until 2154, 54 minutes tardy. The different aircraft (A388) on the continuing QF12 sector to SYD did not commence pushback in LAX until 0108 hours on Wednesday 12 - 158 minutes late - meaning predicted SYD arrival on Thursday 13 July at around the 0820 mark, 120 minutes (two hours) behind schedule.

QF94 is often more punctual but it did not depart until 2351 hours, 56 minutes late so Thursday 13 arrival should be at about 0756 hours, 61 minutes late.

QF16, the B744 bound for BNE departed LAX only 34 minutes tardy at 2354 but its Thursday 13 arrival is predicted to be 0705 hours, 55 minutes late.

While a difficult problem to solve because of the working of QF15 that becomes QF11/QF12 in LAX and JFK respectively before returning to BNE as QF16, and bearing in mind that QF does not control externalities like the weather, QF really needs to 'do something' in the short term to minimise what is becoming almost continual late running across the Pacific.

Its competitors VA, DL, UA, NZ and even SQ do not suffer from this frequent QF TransPacific late flights problem. One 'solution' could be to base a B744 in LAX but QF probably lacks a spare.

The forthcoming 2018 change to MEL-based B789 operation and consequent reduction in frequency of the A388 operation of QF93/QF94 will alter the equation. It will be interesting to observe the timekeeping once this major alteration occurs.

Presumably many business and even some leisure travellers are noting the unpredictable, far too often poor punctuality of QF flights to and from the USA. Maybe some are considering or have switched allegiance and hence bookings to a competitor perceived as more reliable than QF, not that any alternative will be perfect.

Due to the inbound delay, the 0915 hours MEL - LAX QF93 on Thursday 13 will be delayed, probably until about 1000 in its departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Wednesday 12 July, A388 VH-OQJ on QF1, the 1550 hours SYD - DXB - LHR departed at 1629 and was in the sky at 1650. DXB arrival is estimated at 0055 hours, on Thursday 13, half an hour behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Wednesday 11 July...QF15 (B744) has been delayed from its usual 1020 morning pushback to 2230 hours tonight, meaning expected LAX arrival at 1815 on Wednesday 11 July instead of the timetabled early morning 0600 hours. With a delay of this magnitude QF11 and QF12 across the USA to and from JFK may be cancelled, meaning passengers from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and New York (plus freight) are shunted onto AA connecting flights in LAX, provided these have seats available.

QF16 had arrived this morning ex LAX in BNE at about 0657, 47 minutes late so has the B744 (VH-OEF) become defective?

QF6017 has operated on Wednesday 12 July, taking off from BNE at 1932 hours with arrival in SYD likely at about 2045 hours. The B744 is VH-OEF so one assumes it requires attention in SYD.

The 1150 hours MEL - LAX (QF95, B744 VH-OEE) departed at 1210 hours on Wednesday 11, with suggested LAX arrival at 0905 hours, five minutes late. It appears that this B744 is then operating QF11 from LAX to JFK with departure predicted 185 minutes late at 1120 for a projected 1920 hours JFK arrival which would be 160 minutes tardy. QF12 back from JFK will also be delayed.

 

[Simo]

Melbourne down to one runway due to strong winds. All flights delayed. I am on QF605

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 12 July, QF10 arrived MEL at 2320 hours, 145 minutes late. QF9 then departed at 0108 hours on Thursday 13, 133 minutes behind schedule with DXB arrival estimated at 0910 hours, 125 late and LHR at about 1430 hours, 80 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

....B744 VH-OEE...this B744 is then operating QF11 from LAX to JFK with departure predicted 185 minutes late at 1120 for a projected 1920 hours JFK arrival which would be 160 minutes tardy...

Wednesday 12 July has seen QF11 depart LAX at 1143 hours, 203 minutes late. Estimated JFK arrival is 2000 hours, 200 minutes behind schedule. QF12 is then expected to depart westwards at 2125 - rather optimistic - and arrive LAX at 0030 hours on Thursday 13, 210 minutes late.

QF15 from BNE on Wednesday 11 departed at 2251 instead of the usual 1020 hours, arriving LAX at 1820 instead of 0600 hours, 740 minutes past the allotted.

The B744 on QF96 - the one that is undertaking QF11/QF12 as above - is predicted to depart LAX at 0240 hours on 13 July, 220 minutes late with MEL arrival on Friday at 1105 hours, 215 minutes later than the timetable states. As a result the 1150 hours MEL - LAX on Friday 14 July, QF95 is likely to depart at least an hour late although at this stage it is way to early to give an accurate estimate of the extent of the delay.

QF52 from SIN down to BNE arrived on Thursday 13 at 0651, 36 minutes behind schedule.

On Thursday 13, QF130 from PVG to SYD should be on blocks at roughly 0948, 78 minutes late while QF24 from BKK is similarly afflicted with likely arrival at 0753 hours to be 83 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Melbourne down to one runway due to strong winds. All flights delayed. I am on QF605

Simo's timely notification is starting to manifest itself in some holding patterns as MEL becomes busier approaching 0800 hours on Thursday 13.

QF80, for instance, from NRT down to MEL was only going to be about 10 minutes late but a few 'patterns' near Bendigo have resulted in arrival being delayed until about 0820, 25 minutes late.

Northbound QF1582 from HBA up to SYD, the 0620 hours that did not take off until 0714 (B717 VH-NXJ) is likely to arrive at 0848 hours, 38 minutes behind schedule.

Simo's QF605 (the 0600 BNE - MEL that was in the sky at 0632, about 15 - 20 minutes late, B738 VH-VXC) was in a holding pattern over the usual favoured spot for arrivals from that direction near Jerilderie and Tocumwal, NSW but has left there and should arrive at around 0910, 45 minutes late.

The 1025 hours SYD - SIN (QF81) is expected to instead depart at 1245.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Thursday 13 July, QF1500, a B717, must have failed in HBA because its normal 0730 hours arrival in MEL has become 1320 hours this afternoon.

The 0845 hours SYd down to MEL, QF461, has got the boot.

QF1529, the 0845 hours CBR - MEL took off at 0909 (only about 10 minutes late) but did not arrive until 1026, half an hour behind, showing the adverse effect of single runway ops in MEL for relatively short flights. Aircraft was B717 VH-YQY.

The 0950 hours SYD - BKK (QF23) is again late with departure 44 late and arrival expected 31 minutes behind schedule at 1711 hours.

The SYD - PVG QF129 got away 70 minutes tardy at 1045. Arrival should occur at around 1825 hours, 55 minutes late, again meaning that QF130 back to SYD departs later than scheduled.

A 142 minute late departure has occurred for QF81 (morning 1025 hours SYD - SIN) resulting in likely arrival at 1910 hours, 140 minutes late.

QF93, the 0915 hours MEL - LAX departed 62 minutes late with arrival suggested as 0716 hours, 41 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 12 July's QF12 departed JFK 222 minutes late at 2152, arriving LAX at 2345 hours, 165 minutes tardy. The onward QF12 (different aircraft) pushed back in LAX at 0129 hours on Thursday 13, a minute shy of three hours late with Friday 14 arrival suggested as 0902, 162 minutes late in SYD.

QF96 to MEL departed at 0245 hours on Thursday compared to its timetable of 2300 hours on Wednesday - a deficit of 225 minutes - with Friday 14 arrival predicted as 1115 hours, exactly as unpunctual.

Once again, the QF95 B744 - this time on Friday 14 July - will depart MEL late, the estimate being 1300 hours instead of 1150.

A332 VH-EBR on QF768, the 1500 hours PER across to MEL that was in the sky at 1545 should arrive at 2104, 34 late as it was in a holding pattern above Rokewood, Vic for a short while.

B738 VH-VZW on the 1915 hours SYD - MEL QF493 that was in the sky at 1940 (only about 10 minutes late) should arrive about 37 minutes tardy at 2127 mid evening. It had the joy of a holding pattern above Mt Buller, Vic. QF465, the 1900 hours departure is following with VH-VYH expected in to the southern capital's aircraft gate at approximately 2131 hours, 56 late.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF16 had arrived this morning ex LAX in BNE at about 0657, 47 minutes late so has the B744 (VH-OEF) become defective?

Just to micro-add - M1 correctly states that after its failure to operate QF15, VH-OEF was ferried to SYD. It was replaced by VH-OEB after operating one of those somewhat unconventional QF141/144 SYD-AKL rotations. I believe the callsign was modified to QF15D arriving 12 hours late and therefore did not then display the QF11/12 callsign for the transcontinental USA leg.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 14 July has QF128 (A380 VH-OQI) from HKG to SYD arriving at 0746 hours, 36 minutes tardy.

QF775, the 0630 hours MEL - PER took off at 0726 with A332 VH-EBF, suggested arrival being at 0920, 40 minutes behind schedule.

A333 VH-QPH on the overnight HKG down to MEL, QF30, was in a holding pattern to Bendigo's east but should arrive at around 0823 hours, 43 minutes tardy after it was airborne at HKG last night (Thursday 13) at 2127, 77 minutes after scheduled pushback.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 13 July's QF11 from LAX departed 72 minutes late at 0932 hours but unusually is showing as not arriving at JFK until 2000 hours, 200 minutes late. There are 'weather delays', presumably thunderstorms.

QF suggests that QF12 from JFK will depart at 2100 but this is likely to be wrong by at least 45 minutes. LAX arrival is unlikely before 0100 hours on Friday 14 July.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thursday 13 July's QF11 from LAX departed 72 minutes late at 0932 hours but unusually is showing as not arriving at JFK until 2000 hours, 200 minutes late. There are 'weather delays', presumably thunderstorms.

QF suggests that QF12 from JFK will depart at 2100 but this is likely to be wrong by at least 45 minutes. LAX arrival is unlikely before 0100 hours on Friday 14 July.

Here:




Additionally there is another interesting factor which seems to be at a standoff currently with negotiations underway:
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/jfk-laguardia-newark-airport-employees-declare-strike-article-1.3318073

 

[Quickstatus]

I suspect the storm with associated severe delays would not have been good PR for a striking union.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 14 July, QF81 (1025 hours SYD - SIN) is expected to depart at 1110 with a 35 minute tardy, 1725 hours arrival ensuing.

QF11 commenced pushing back at 1039, 49 minutes behind schedule; LAX arrival is projected as 0705, 35 minutes past the timetabled.

QF63 is expected to depart SYD two hours late at 1250 with JNB same day arrival estimated as 1850 hours, 110 minutes late.

The 0930 hours MEL - SYD (QF420, B738 VH-VXU) was airborne at 1020 with arrival likely at 1128, 33 late.

There may not have been fog at HBA this morning - local advice would be good - but B717 VH-YQY is having a shocker of a Friday 14 July morning with its first task, QF1500 from HBA up to MEL, the 0610 hours not taking off until 0825 and arriving 149 minutes late at 0959. QF1501, the 0815 hours MEL - HBA did not then become airborne until 1050 with arrival suggested as 1141 hours, 131 minutes tardy. QF1502, the 1010 hours HBA - MEL should be able to depart at around 1220 if all goes well.

Longhaul QF7 is expected to depart SYD an hour late at 1330 this afternoon for the flight to DFW.

QF454, the 1730 MEL - SYD on Friday 14 July has been cancelled.

 

[Bundy Bear]

QF108 Beijing to Sydney A330-200 VH-EBG is running late, departed over 3 hours late at 2:59am from its usual 23:45 departure, and is not expected into Sydney until 16:31.

This delay was caused by thunderstorms in PEK which went for several hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF108 Beijing to Sydney A330-200 VH-EBG is running late, departed over 3 hours late at 2:59am from its usual 23:45 departure, and is not expected into Sydney until 16:31.

In the opposite direction, QF107 departed SYD at 1321 hours, 56 minutes late, with PEK arrival estimated late tonight local time at 2325, 70 minutes late.

QF107 and QF108 have good punctuality records. It is unusual for them to concurrently be delayed.

QF7 departed SYD on Friday 14 July at 1350, 80 minutes late with DFW same day arrival suggested as 2325 hours, 70 minutes behind the eight ball.

QF95 (B744 VH-OEE), the 1150 hours MEL - LAX took off at 1401 hours so same day arrival should be at approximately 1040, 100 minutes late.

B717 VH-YQY is still running late as has been the case all day (refer above.) QF1503 (1345 hours MEL - HBA) was airborne at 1434 so arrival should be at about 1535 hours, 35 minutes tardy. This is despite the aircraft having a timetabled lunchtime turnaround of more than two hours (with demand being lower at that time of the day.)

 

[moa999]

QF63 VH-OJU still doesn't appear to have departed now 5 hrs late, despite some sources reporting it went 3hrs early

 

[Comoman]

QF63 VH-OJU still doesn't appear to have departed now 5 hrs late, despite some sources reporting it went 3hrs early

Rescheduled for 7.45 tomorrow morning (according to QF website).