Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 15 July at 2000 hours, the defective B744 from 14 July (VH-OEF) is showing as QF6017 while in SYD. Someone else might be kind enough to explain whether it is about to become another ferry flight or whether it is just a carryover flight number from its previous empty ('ferry') positioning flight.

Friday 14 July's QF16 departed LAX on Saturday 15 at 0154 hours, appropriately 154 minutes late with BNE Sunday 16 arrival predicted as 0816 hours, 126 minutes tardy.

QF12 departed JFK at 2032 hours, 142 late, arriving LAX on 14 July at 2307, 127 minutes tardy. QF12 (switching to an A388) then pushed back in LAX at 0108 hours on 15 July with 16 July SYD arrival estimated as 0835, 135 minutes behind schedule.

QF94 is also late with it off blocks at 2322 hours in LAX on Friday night, 72 minutes behind the eight ball; Sunday 16 arival in MEL should be at about 0719, only 24 minutes late. The B744 on QF96 departed 106 late at 0046 on 15 July for a projected Sunday morning 16 July 2017 arrival at 0840 hours, 50 minutes delayed.

QF2 on Saturday 14 departed DXB 20 minutes late at 0935 hours so early morning Sunday 16 arrival is suggested as 0540, half an hour tardy.

 

[Flyerqf]

On Saturday 15 July at 2000 hours, the defective B744 from 14 July (VH-OEF) is showing as QF6017 while in SYD. Someone else might be kind enough to explain whether it is about to become another ferry flight or whether it is just a carrover flight number from its previous empty ('ferry') positioning flight.
.

That's the flight number which it carried inbound to SYD on Wednesday.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the delay to tonight's QF3 - supposedly departing SYD 210 minutes late at 2200 hours - the returning QF4 on Saturday 15 July, the 1100 hours will be unable to depart HNL until at least 1250 hours.

UPDATE: QF3 departed at 2150, 140 minutes late. A333 VH-QPB is the aircraft.

Unsurprisingly given the arrival time of the diverted via CHC QF28, QF75 from SYD to YVR has been further delayed to an expected 2215 hours in its departure.

 

[Flyerqf]

If OEF isn't back in service the rolling delays will continue. Tomorrow the 744 fleet looks fully utilized.

QF108 will be delayed 8hrs for the 2nd day in a row - presumably a crewing issue due to the initial overnight delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 15 July, the badly delayed QF75 departed SYD at 2221 hours, 321 minutes late with expected YVR arrival at 1850 hours, thankfully in sufficient time (in theory) to form the return working QF76, the 2139 ex YVR back to olde Sydney town.

Adding to what Flyerqf said, the overnight delayed QF108 should depart PEK at 0700 hours on Sunday 16 for a predicted 2040 hours arrival tonight, seven hours 20 minutes (440 minutes) late.

The 15 July QF130 commenced pushing back in PVG at 2100 hours, 65 minutes tardy so Sunday 16 arrival is estimated at 0919, 49 minutes behind schedule.

Saturday 15's QF11 departed LAX at 0941 hours, 81 minutes late with JFK arrival at 1737, 57 late.

QF64 (the B744) from JNB to SYD should arrive on Sunday 16 at 1637 hours, 102 minutes late.

The 'rolling delays' of which Flyerqf spoke above are evident with the long flight from SYD to SCL, QF27, another B744, delayed in its departure on Sunday 16 from 1230 hours to an expected 1800, meaning arrival in SCL at 1620 rather than 1110. If it is being formed by the QF64 arrival, it would not get away until at least 1820 so QF's estimated departure time may be optimistic. This must make the chances of the returning QF28 missing the SYD 2300 hours curfew on Monday night a possibility.

UPDATE: QF27 is further revised to depart from SYD for SCL at 1030 hours on Monday 17 July, 22 hours late with estimated arrival at 0905 hours on Monday instead of the timetabled 1110 hours on Sunday.

The other B744 badly delayed flight, QF25 (Saturday night's) departed on Sunday 16 July at 0931 with HND arrival suggested as 1745, 630 minutes late.

A further B744 offering, the scheduled 1300 hours SYD - SFO QF73 is predicted to depart at 1350 this afternoon.

Yet another B744, QF15 from BNE to LAX departed 124 minutes tardy at 1224 meaning LAX arrival is likely same day at 0810 hours, 130 minutes tardy. Yet again (assuming it is not cancelled), QF11 across from LAX to JFK will be badly late.

QF23 that has had a spate of unpunctual operation is also so on Sunday 16 with SYD departure occurring 96 minutes late at 1126 and arrival in BKK estimated as 1805, 85 late. QF24 back from BKK to SYD will be adversely affected.

QF5, the 1550 hours SYD - SIN that is most often an A333 has been cancelled as has 16 July's QF6, the 2355 hours SIN redeye back down to SYD.

The overnight delayed QF107 from PEK pushed back at 0710 on Sunday 16 July and should arrive in SYD tonight at 2025, 425 minutes late.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF5/6 cancelled due to the late inbound QF108.

 

[Flyerqf]

SYD to SCL, QF27, another B744, delayed in its departure on Sunday 16 from 1230 hours to an expected 1800, meaning arrival in SCL at 1620 rather than 1110. If it is being formed by the QF64 arrival, it would not get away until at least 1820 so QF's estimated departure time may be optimistic. This must make the chances of the returning QF28 missing the SYD 2300 hours curfew on Monday night a possibility.

UPDATE: QF27 is further revised to depart from SYD for SCL at 1030 hours on Monday 17 July, 22 hours late with estimated arrival at 0905 hours on Monday instead of the timetabled 1110 hours on Sunday.

QF64 is now forming QF25, hence the delay to QF27 til tomorrow. OEF still unserviceable.

A 24 hr delay to QF27 may have an impact on QF28 on Tuesday as crew may not be sufficiently rested. Unless they have spare crew in SCL.

 

[Melburnian1]

...A 24 hr delay to QF27 may have an impact on QF28 on Tuesday as crew may not be sufficiently rested. Unless they have spare crew in SCL.

With long flights like this, didn't one of our aviators confirm many months ago that the flight crew needed close to 48 hours' rest (less time to get to and arrive back from the hotel)? That is to what you are alluding, I assume, Flyerqf.

Also on Sunday 16 July, QF93 (A388 VH-OQE) departed from MEL at 1019 hours, 64 minutes late and was airborne at 1043: arrival in LAX should be at 0735 hours same day.

Due to yesterday's delayed QF3, the Saturday 1100 hours HNL - SYD QF4 departed 130 minutes late at 1310. Sunday 16 arrival should be at 1913, 103 minutes behind schedule. It looks to be returning to HNL as QF3 that has been delayed from 1930 hours to an estimated 2025 - again, slightly optimistic - in departure from SYD tonight; Sunday HNL arrival is forecast as 1005 hours, 45 minutes late, again delaying QF4.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 15 July's QF12 left JFK at 1912 hours, 62 minutes behind schedule, arriving LAX at 2147 hours, 47 minutes tardy. 'The 12' then departed LAX at 2327, 57 late with Monday 17 July arrival expected at 0655 hours, 35 minutes down.

'The 16' (B744) then departed LAX at 0005 hours on Sunday 16 (45 minutes late) with Monday 17 arrival in BNE estimated as 0645 hours, 35 down.

 

[Flyerqf]

Saturday 15 July's QF12 left JFK at 1912 hours, 62 minutes behind schedule, arriving LAX at 2147 hours, 47 minutes tardy. 'The 12' then departed LAX at 2327, 57 late with Monday 17 July arrival expected at 0655 hours, 35 minutes down.

'The 16' (B744) then departed LAX at 0005 hours on Sunday 16 (45 minutes late) with Monday 17 arrival in BNE estimated as 0645 hours, 35 down.

Not too bad given the week that was.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Sunday 16 July, QF10 from DXB (and earlier, LHR) is estimated to arrive MEL at 2152 hours, 57 minutes late meaning that the 2255 hours QF9 from MEL to DXB and LHR will be unable to depart much before 2340 hours.

 

[Quickstatus]

VH-OJT is in HNL on a charter I wonder when it comes back. That should add a bit of slack into the system whenever it does

 

[Melburnian1]

QF24 (A333 VH-QPE), the Sunday 16 July 1810 hours BKK - SYD is predicted to shortly depart, 70 minutes late with Monday 17 arrival at 0730, an hour behind schedule. This is because QF23 arrived in BKK at 1805 hours, 85 minutes tardy.

 

[Flyerqf]

VH-OJT is in HNL on a charter I wonder when it comes back. That should add a bit of slack into the system whenever it does

Due into MEL at approx 3am Tuesday morning. Terrible utilisation of an aircraft.

 

[JessicaTam]

Due into MEL at approx 3am Tuesday morning. Terrible utilisation of an aircraft.

I am sure QF were appropriately remunerated.

 

[Quickstatus]

Certainly an element of "rolling the dice". I wonder what the net financial outcome was sending OJT to HNL as an extra bonus sector with all the recent 747 kerfuffle. I understand these charters are often planned way in advance.

 

[Melburnian1]

I am sure QF were appropriately remunerated.

QF would have charged its normal price for a charter that doubtless includes a premium, but the overnight delay to QF27/QF28 (departure of the former said to occur on Monday 17 July at 1030 hours, 22 hours late) may well have more than cancelled out any monetary gain from the special working to and from HNL. As a side issue, delaying a major longhaul flight (and its return) for almost a day annoys paying passengers (some of whom to a destination like South America will be on the 'trip of a lifetime') and results in missed connections or a 'lost' hotel booking that due to travel insurance typical excesses of A$100 or A$200 cannot be claimed. As Flyerqf pointed out above it may also result in flight crew having insufficient rest in SCL prior to crewing the Tuesday 18 QF28 back from SCL to SYD, perhaps resulting in a further delay.

Very few transport operators worldwide, surface or air, regard having 100 per cent of equipment or rollingstock in use on a particular day as wise, because apart from deferring maintenance, it leaves no room for failures.

There is an element of greed in using every available (in this case) aircraft of a particular class because it is unrealistic to expect that there will not be an unexpected delay or failure.

Mr Joyce should be concentrating on trying to minimise these disastrous, repeated delays - the last couple of days has seen many QFi flights badly late or in some cases (QF5/QF6 SYD - SIN and return) cancelled - rather than attempting to foist his social policy change ideas on Australians.

While the disposal of the two B744s occurred some time ago, QF failed to heed the advice offered by AFFers such as JohnPhelan to keep them to ensure it had some spares. This would not completely eliminate delays - if a B744 fails in JNB or SCL there would not normally be a spare based there - but it would have reduced the extent and severity of delays.

On Sunday 16 July, QF9, the 2255 hours MEL - DXB - LHR departed at 0014 (Monday 17) with expected DXB arrival at 0815 hours, 70 minutes late. However by reducing the duration of that intermediate stop with a proposed departure only 35 minutes late at 0940, LHR may be as little as five minutes late at 1415 if everything goes to plan.

QF11/QF12 between LAX - JFK and return have become a sea of red - large delays almost daily - on monitoring sites such as FR24's flight records. Some delays due to thunderstorms in the JFK area have been unavoidable, but the schedules requiring the B744 to work BNE - LAX - JFK and return with little chance of picking up time if departure is delayed anywhere, and the connections ex and to MEL and SYD in LAX are problematical.

Sunday 16's QF11 departed LAX at 1036, 136 minutes tardy with JFK arrival estimated 126 minutes behind schedule at 1846. This will delay one or two of the LAX to Oz east coast departures scheduled for Sunday evening USA time.

As at 0830 hours on Monday 17, the previously defective B744 VH-OEF appears to be moving on the ground in SYD so whether that indicates it is ready for its next flight remains to be seen.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Monday 17 July, many aircraft are holding into MEL (in the usual position above Mt Buller, Vic) as MEL may be again down to one runway. QF409 (0700 SYD - MEL took off at 0749 - probably an ATC 'controlled departure' amended time as a few others seem to be like this) with suggested arrival of B738 VH-VXA at 0913 hours, 38 minutes late.

QF411 (A332 VH-EBO, the 0730 hours SYD - MEL that was in the sky at 0754 - only about 10 minutes late) should arrive at 0939 hours, 34 minutes late.

 

[Quickstatus]

YMML:
Moderate and gusty Winds from 330-350 resulting in Rwy34 being suitable for operations. Not a pilot but I doubt if the east west 9/27 can be used at all.
Turbulent on final.
Another bluebird windy day in the southern Capital

 

[Melburnian1]

In what is becoming a regular occurrence for a flight that previously had a quite good timekeeping record, the Monday 17 July SYD - BKK QF23 (A333 VH-QPA) was airborne at 1109 with arrival suggested as 1740, an hour late, meaning that tonight's QF24 will also again be tardy departing BKK.

The 0915 hours A388 from MEL to LAX, QF93 departed at 1036 with consequent LAX arrival estimated as 0745 hours, 70 minutes behind schedule.

The 0935 hours SYD - PVG (QF129) on Monday 17 departed 31 late so arrival is suggested as 1910 hours, 40 minutes behind the timetable.

QF81 (1025 hours SYD - SIN) pushed back 36 minutes behind the timetable; arrival is estimated as 1726 hours, 36 minutes tardy.

QF27 from Sunday 15 that was amended to supposedly depart at 1030 on Monday 17 did not come off blocks in SYD until 1108, so arrival in SCL has been further delayed to 0945 on Monday 17, 1315 hours late or more than 22.5 hours tardy. QF28 has now been again altered to depart at 1200 'high noon' on Monday 17, also 22 and a half hours behind schedule with Tuesday 18 arrival expected at 1605 hours instead of the normally scheduled 1740 on Monday.

Longhaul QF7 has been delayed by an estimated hour to 1330 in its departure from SYD for DFW, as has QF73, the SFO-bound scheduled 1300 hours B744 ex SYD.

Sunday 16 July's QF12 left JFK at 2028 hours, 138 minutes late and is expected into LAX at 2305, 125 late, delaying the different plane on the continuing QF12 to SYD by 165 minutes to a suggested 0015 hours pushback on Monday 17, in turn resulting in Tuesday 18 SYD arrival at 0755 hours, 95 minutes behind schedule.

QF94 is not always delayed when the transcontinental QF12 is expected into LAX late, but on Sunday 16 this 2210 hours is predicted to become a 2350 hours for Tuesday 18 MEL arrival at 0805 hours, 70 minutes late, which will turn into another late QF93 MEL - LAX departure.

The LAX - BNE Sunday night QF16 is forecast to depart 115 minutes tardy at 0115 hours for a Tuesday 18 0740 hours arrival, 90 minutes late.