Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[moa999]

Reportedly first ever A380 in PHX.

2.15 on the ground, possibly delayed by storms in DFW.
Landed in DFW at 2156. QF8 now scheduled some 2hrs late just after midnight

 

[Quickstatus]

Multiple trees down in Sydney. Several Go arounds at SYD pilots really earning their keep. >40 flights cancelled

 

[coriander]

My son was originally on 6pm SYD-MEL, apparently cancelled and or bumped/rebooked by QF to 2030, now that flight cancelled, stuck in City Hilton till tomorrow.

 

[Quickstatus]

Reportedly first ever A380 in PHX.

2.15 on the ground, possibly delayed by storms in DFW.
Landed in DFW at 2156. QF8 now scheduled some 2hrs late just after midnight

I think medical diversion - suspected coronary thrombosis

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with the day of strong winds in Sydney that Friday 18 August 2017 has been, QF537 (1505 hours mid afternoon BNE - SYD that was airborne at 1606 with B738 VH-XZN) is arriving using teh east-west runway and should be at its terminal gate at about 1756 hours, 76 minutes late.\

QF756 from ADL across to SYD, the scheduled 1435 hours departure took off at 1606. B738 VH-VXO should arrive at 1828 rather than 1655, 93 minutes tardy as along with other aircraft it encountered a holding pattern above Goulburn NSW.

 

[Quickstatus]

Elapsed time for QF7 SYD-PHX-DFW was 17hr 42min. I wonder what the pilot timesheet elapsed time would have been

 

[Melburnian1]

As noted by the inbound delay via PHX above, the Thursday 17 QF8 from DFW to SYD departed at 0047 hours today (Friday 18) so Saturday 19 August arrival is estimated as 0815 hours, 130 minutes late.

The 1220 hours PER - SYD, QF580 (A332 VH-EBE) took off at 1313 hours on Friday 18 August but encountered a holding pattern above Crookwell and Yass, NSW; arrival has become a suggested 1905 hours, 35 minutes tardy.

QF446 (1600 hours MEL up to SYD that took off at 1740 with B738 VH-VXK) is estimated to arrive at about 1911, 106 minutes late as it was also held in a similar position.

Earlier on Friday 18, QF19 from SYD to MNL departed 83 minutes behind schedule at 1328; arrival is expected at 1926 hours, 56 late.

QF63, the 1050 hours Friday 18 SYD longhaul across to JNB is instead departing at a suggested 0730 hours on Saturday 19. Instead of arrival at the scheduled 1700 hours this afternoon South African time, it is expected to be at its Jo'burg terminal gate at 1335 hours on Saturday. This will delay QF64 from its timetabled mid afternoon 1455 hours SYD arrival on Saturday 19 to 1115 hours on Sunday 20 August.

QF451 (1715 hours SYD down to MEL that was pointing skywards at 1906, B738 VH-VYG) looks to be arriving at 2019 tonight, 89 late.

The 1730 hours late afternoon SYD up to BNE, QF542, took off at 1854. Arrival of B738 VH-XZN should be at 2006, 66 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with the windy (SYD) and wet (MEL) Friday 18 August evening, northbound QF460, QF462, QF464, QF466, QF492 and QF494 (1830, 1900, 1930, 1945, 2030 asnd 2105 hours MEL - SYD) have all been cancelled.

QF490 (2000 hours MEL north to SYD) is however operating.

Southbound, QF469, the 1615 hours ex SYD, plus QF449, the 1630 hours and QF453/QF455/QF457/QF463/QF479/QF465/QF467/QF499 (respectively the 1700/1730/1745/1830/1845/1900/1930/2100 hours ex SYD) have all received the order of the Royal boot.

This is the most number of MEL - SYD - MEL cancellations in any peak period since I commenced the QF delays// cancellations thread.

QF551 (B738 VH-XZB, the 1835 hours early evening BNE down to SYD that was airborne at 1950) should arrive at around the 2147 hours mark, 97 late. The 1705 hours on the same route, QF545, took off at 2007 and as at 2129 was in a hold in the spot favoured by ATC above Pokolbin NSW with VH-VYD likely to arrive at approximately 2155 tonight, 195 minutes late.

The 1735 hours BNE - SYD (QF547, B738 VH-VXQ) was in the sky at 2018 so its 2208 suggested arrival post-holding pattern will be 178 minutes past what the timetable states.

QF2115 is more punctual, with arrival in SYD ex CFS suggested at 2151 hours, 36 minutes tardy.

Many visitors will be spending the night at one of these two airports, as one would have to doubt that even if QF could book passengers into hotel rooms that there would not be 1000 plus spare hotel rooms at either end of what is about the world's fourth busiest air route (especially given that other airlines are also cancelling flights.)

Badgery's Creek Airport won't necessarily solve problems like this.

As a general rule, high speed rail is far more reliable even in weather featuring high winds as was and is the case in Sydney today - but our bureaucrats and politicians refuse to build it despite similar routes overseas proving successful.

There may also be many flight and cabin crews (and perhaps aircraft) out of position tomorrow morning, although thankfully Saturday is the least busiest day overall on the major routes so that will aid recovery.

Perhaps there may have to be extra flights put on tomorrow (Saturday 19 August.)

 

[Melburnian1]

....QF63, the 1050 hours Friday 18 SYD longhaul across to JNB is instead departing at a suggested 0730 hours on Saturday 19. Instead of arrival at the scheduled 1700 hours this afternoon South African time, it is expected to be at its Jo'burg terminal gate at 1335 hours on Saturday. This will delay QF64 from its timetabled mid afternoon 1455 hours SYD arrival on Saturday 19 to 1115 hours on Sunday 20 August....

In addition, another B744-operated flight, QF27, the scheduled 1230 hours from SYD across to Chile's SCL is delayed overnight with the revised departure becoming 0800 hours on Saturday 19. Arrival is suggested as 0700 hours on Saturday as opposed to 1210 hours on Friday 18.

Returning from SCL, the 1430 hours QF28 Friday 18 August departure has become an expected 0900 hours on Saturday 19. Sunday 20 August arrival is 1145 hours instead of the usual 1740 hours on Saturday late afternoon.

These two large, overnight delays may have ramifications for longhaul flights early in the forthcoming business week.

A third B744 today, QF73 from SYD to SFO managed to depart at 1451 (111 minutes tardy) with same day arrival estimated at 1005 hours, just 35 minutes delayed.

 

[Quickstatus]

Speculation:
Is it possible that today's wild weather caused the crew for QF63 and QF27 to be out of position and unable to operate these flights?

 

[Melburnian1]

...Is it possible that today's wild weather caused the crew for QF63 and QF27 to be out of position and unable to operate these flights?

Anything's possible, but the majority of QF B744 crew would surely live in the 'Sydney basin' as it is called given that Sydney is the major origin for B744 flights, with MEL and BNE playing subsidiary roles.

The Sydney Trains rail network was operating without a problem on any line at 2200 hours today, but it and some roads may have been disrupted earlier.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on a windy Friday 18 August in SYD, QF774 (1915 hours ADL across to SYD that took off at 2031 with B738 VH-VYB) should touch down on the dot at 2300 hours tonight so by the time it gets to the terminal it will be 90 minutes late.

The 1905 hours MEL - PER took off only about 10 to 15 minutes late at 1929 earlier this evening but the arrival of this QF481 with A332 VH-EBJ should occur at 2214, 59 minutes behind time. QF571 from SYD (Vh-EBM) is just ahead of the ex-MEL flight, with 571 arriving at 2154, 74 minutes late.

B738 VH-VXS, the 2020 hours SYD up to DRW (QF846) was airborne at 2250 tonight so arrival on Saturday 19 in the tropics should be at 0235 hours, 125 minutes behind schedule.

QF553 (1935 hours BNE down to SYD that did not become airborne until 2105 hours with B738 VH-XZN) landed at 2305 against a timetabled gate arrival of 2110 hours, so it must have a dispneaation from the (Federal Minister's) delegate.

A332 VH-EBK on the much longer QF566 (1620 hours latish afternoon from PEr across to SYD that was in the sky at a delayed 1713 hours) is touching down at about 2310. Its gate arrival time is normally 2230 hours.

QF821 (B738 VH-VYG, the 2110 hours mid evening CBR - MEL that was pointing skywards at 2254) should arrive at 2352 hours, 92 late.

The 2015 hours SYd - MEL did not become airborne until 2245 hours. B738 VH-XZM looks to be arriving at 2357 hours, 127 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF497 and QF491, respectively the scheduled Friday 18 August's 2205 and 2030 hours SYD down to MEL that may earlier have been advised as 'cancelled' took off at 2341 and 2344, again requiring dispensations to do so.

 

[sjd]

I'm stuck in Sydney unable to get home to Melbourne. Flight last night cancelled. Fortunate I had somewhere I could stay because the poor sods trying to get hotel rooms were nit having fun. Rebooked onto a 5 pm flight today, rang QF again this morning and no word yet of extra flights to clear the back log. Do I just go and enjoy a day in Sydney or head to the airport on the chance that the winds are not as bad and they start moving people?

 

[Melburnian1]

I'm stuck in Sydney unable to get home to Melbourne. Flight last night cancelled. Fortunate I had somewhere I could stay because the poor sods trying to get hotel rooms were nit having fun. Rebooked onto a 5 pm flight today, rang QF again this morning and no word yet of extra flights to clear the back log. Do I just go and enjoy a day in Sydney or head to the airport on the chance that the winds are not as bad and they start moving people?

Like the other airlines, QF is already 'moving people' today and at a quick glance many flights are on or close to time.

However none of the morning QF flights have vacant seats (the only ones appeared to be on flights after 1930 hours this evening - about two flights) so it looks pointless in going to the airport to try to get on an earlier flight.

Buy an Opal card if you don't already have one and for $15 use trains, ferries and buses to get around and enjoy Sydney, even if it is late winter. A walk along the Harbour or one of Sydney's coastal walks can be good if you enjoy that activity.

On Saturday 19 August, QF2281 (0855 hours MEL - LST) is predicted to depart about 50 minutes late.

QF147 (1315 hours early afternoon SYD - AKL) has been cancelled.

The overnight delayed QF63 (SYD - JNB) departed on 19 August pretty much as advised at 0743, but the similarly lengthy overnight delay to QF27 (SYD - SCL) saw the B744 pushing back at 0844 (instead of 1230 hours yesterday) so SCL arrival is estimated at 0805 on Saturday. This will make it impossible for QF28 to depart SCL at what is showing as the revised time of 0800 on Saturday 19 August, meaning SYD arrival is highly likely to be later than the 1150 hours on Sunday 20 that is publicly displayed.

Tonight's QF25 from SYD to HND, the scheduled 2045 hours departure is delayed until 1340 on Sunday afternoon 20 August as it has to wait for the arrival of the delayed QF64 ex JNB (suggested as 1115 hours on Sunday morning), meaning QF25's arrival in Japan at an expected 2215 hours instead of 0515. This will in turn delay QF26 on Sunday evening beyond its timetabled 2200 hours normal departure from Tokyo HND airport.

 

[Mattg]

Speculation:
Is it possible that today's wild weather caused the crew for QF63 and QF27 to be out of position and unable to operate these flights?

I'm not sure about QF27, but yesterday's QF63 encountered a fuel leak while the plane was taxiing to the runway. The problem must have been fixed overnight as the same aircraft (VH-OJT) departed again as QF63 this morning.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm stuck in Sydney unable to get home to Melbourne. Flight last night cancelled. Fortunate I had somewhere I could stay because the poor sods trying to get hotel rooms were nit having fun. Rebooked onto a 5 pm flight today, rang QF again this morning and no word yet of extra flights to clear the back log. Do I just go and enjoy a day in Sydney or head to the airport on the chance that the winds are not as bad and they start moving people?

Depends. There's always a chance to standby - as soon as the flight closes it's possible there'll be a no-show. This happened to me recently on 'full' flights following a cancellation. 'Nothing at all available, next flight 7pm, no standby as the flights are already oversold' I was told... but hanging around the service desk at the check-in counters I got a single spare seat on the flight leaving in 30 minutes (ie as soon as check-in closed).

If you want a relaxing day, head to town. If you need to get back urgently, the airport is worth a try. But it can either be rewarding, or frustrating and a waste of time depending on your luck.

 

[Mattg]

I'm stuck in Sydney unable to get home to Melbourne. Flight last night cancelled. Fortunate I had somewhere I could stay because the poor sods trying to get hotel rooms were nit having fun. Rebooked onto a 5 pm flight today, rang QF again this morning and no word yet of extra flights to clear the back log. Do I just go and enjoy a day in Sydney or head to the airport on the chance that the winds are not as bad and they start moving people?

It's a sunny day here in Sydney. Enjoy the city and head back to the airport for your booked flight.

 

[coriander]

Like the other airlines, QF is already 'moving people' today and at a quick glance many flights are on or close to time.
However none of the morning QF flights have vacant seats

#1 son on QF425, sched 1030, push back 1055 - plane chockers so no shadow for him today.

 

[sjd]

As the airport was on my way into town, I tried my luck. Everything was full, I'm doing ok being on a 5pm flight. So in the the city for lunch!