Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

In further on Monday 25 September 2017, QF530 (1400 hours SYD - BNE that was in the sky at 1523 mid afternoon, B738 VH-VXM) is predicted to arrive at 1631 hours, 61 late.

The NOU - SYD QF92 (B738 VH-XZH, normally an international flight with a good timekeeping record) took off at 1337 despite timetabled departure of 1230. Accordingly, arrival is likely at 1554, 64 late.

The 1315 hours SYD - MEL is a break from the usual 'on the hour or half hour' timetabled. On Monday 25, B738 Vh-VYJ was pointing skywards at 1435 meaning estimated arrival 81 minutes tardy at 161 this afternoon.

QF1549 (1410 hours BNE down to CBR that was in the sky at 1448 hours, B717 VH-YQW) should arrive at 1633, 33 minutes behind schedule.

QF577 is another late flight from SYD across to PER with A332 VH-EBJ on this timetabled 1250 hours departure having become airborne mid afternoon at 1501. Resultant arrival should be at 1806, 131 minutes late.

Northbound QF438, the 1400 hours MEL up to SYD (B738 VH-VZV) was in the sky at 1517, so the 1607 hours suggested arrival will be 42 minutes later than scheduled.

 

[Drpopper]

QF432 arrived over a hour late as well ..

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 25 September 2017, QF444 (B738 VH-VYJ, the 1530 hours MEL up to SYD that was airborne at 1701) looks to be arriving at around 1809 hours, 69 late.

The 1520 hours from MEL down to HBA (B717 VH-NXR on QF1507, a stalwart on this route) was in the sky at 1643. Consequently, arrival is delayed until a forecast 1745, 70 minutes tardy. What should be the preceding QF1505 by quite a lengthy period as it is due to be blocks off in MEL at 1400 hours, QF1505, took off at 1532 so its arrival should be at approximately 1733, 138 minutes late.

Trancontinental QF772 (scheduled 1010 hours morning PER - MEL, A332 VH-EBF) was airborne at 1304 (1504 AEST) with arrival in the east coast southern mainland capital predicted as 1758 hours, 138 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[JohnK]

SYD Delays ongoing? My 8:30pm SYD-BNE has been rescheduled to 9:10pm. Wife and daughter travelling at 9:45pm. Don't know if their flight is delayed.

We're connecting to EK flight to SIN on separate tickets. I need to claim TRS.

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnK, if you are connecting to EK433, the 0235 hours shockingly timed BNE to SIN on Tuesday 26 September, surely you will only have a problem if your flights are subsequently cancelled tonight ex SYD.

It looks like QF554, the scheduled 2030 hours SYD - BNE has become a proposed 2120 hours departure (slightly later than you indicated) with estimated BNE arrival at 2255 tonight, 55 minutes late. QF556 is showing as departing just five minutes late at 2150.

Given the delays so far today, it's too early to tell what time each will actually depart and arrive at but the good sign is that neither are cancelled.

You must be a masochis_ wanting to travel on this EK flight that has similar timings to what one ex MEL used to be.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF569 (1635 hours SYD to PER, 25 September that was airborne at 1727, B738 VH-XZB) should arrive at about 2101 tonight, 81 minutes tardy.

QF453 has much less distance to cover and is not as badly delayed with this timetabled 1700 hours SYD - MEL taking off at 1739 with A332 VH-EBV. Arrival at a suggested 1906 hours will be 31 minutes late.

JohnK's relatives' QF556 has suddenly had its estimated departure time altered to 2240 tonight (55 late), not long before the dreaded curfew begins.

 

[Melburnian1]

Still on Monday 25 September, QF483 (2030 hours CBR - MEL that was airborne at 2207 hours, B738 VH-VZB) should pull in to the southern capital at 2318 tonight, 98 late.

The 1830 hours SYD down to MEL (QF463) got the boot.

QF489, the 2015 hours on the SYD - MEL route took off at 2150. VH-VZZ is predicted to pull in at 2322, 98 late.

Extensive delays, some of the worst in recent months, on the transcontinental routes continue with the scheduled early evening 1945 hours SYD across to PER QF583 (A332 VH-EBC) not becoming airborne until 2238. Consequently, PER arrival is not forecast until 0141 hours on Tuesday 26, 171 minutes tardy. With so many delays across from east to west today some of the redeyes back to the east coast may also be delayed.

The CBR - PER QF719 (B738 VH-VZV, another B738) took off at 2220 hours despite a pushback time of 1850, so its arrival should be at 0051 instead of 2130, 261 minutes behind time.

The 2000 hours BNE down to MEL (B738 VH-VYF, QF639) was in the sky at 2148; arrival is predicted for 2357 very late tonight, 92 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 26 September has QF403 (scheduled 0645 hours early morning SYD down to MEL) cancelled. QF418, the 0900 in the reverse direction (northbound) is also not operating all of a sudden.

 

[JohnK]

We asked nicely at check-in and managed to have wife and daughter's award flight moved to my flight. Very full flight. Qantas does look after Platinums occasionally.

We boarded late and then waited for luggage to be loaded. While we were waiting to pushback received a call from Qantas that the zip came apart on one of my bags and they are trying get bag on this flight as we are going to BKK They couldn't fix it and were going to put the bag in plastic bag. Gave them the combination and they fixed the zip and still put in plastic bag just in case zip opened again.

Got into BNE around 11:00pm and golf clubs took a long time to come out. Luckily saw the stroller on the carousel. That was supposed to go to BKK. Gave the stroller back to baggage handlers.

Think QF556 was later delayed by around an hour which meant arrival after midnight.

 

[Simo]

The delays and cancellations would have been crazy for yesterday and wonder what the flow on effects will be today with crew and aircraft in the wrong places

 

[Melburnian1]

Simo, with a quick look it is not perfect but many flights are on time. There must be quite a few flight and cabin crew travelling as passengers to get back to where they ought be.

In addition to the couple of cancellations for Tuesday noted above, QF461 (0845 hours SYD doqwn to MEL) has also received the order of the boot.

QF118 from HKG to SYD (A333 VH-QPE) should arrive at 0930, half an hour late.

VH-QPH on QF130 (redeye from PVG down to SYD) is much worse with arrival predicted at about 1002 hours, 92 minutes tardy.

The scheduled 0720 hours arrival in MEL ex CBR, QF795 did not arrive until after 0845 so the scheduled 0820 hours MEL - ADL (QF675) should depart at about 0930 hours.

 

[milehighclub]

Yesterday's ATC problem caused about 340 delays and cancellations (combined for all airlines)

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes, milehighclub. Media reports indicate that Airservices Australia is conducting an investigation.

Only one of the eight panels used by air traffic controllers in the Sydney ATC tower was initially operating on early 25 September morning.

Collectively, these delays (and cancellations) must have cost airlines millions of dollars, with domestic airlines the worst hit.

A one day event like this is unlikely to be regarded as 'material' for any airline's public reporting requirements if the entity was publicly listed, but it adds to other problems such as the inability of airlines to maintain anything close to the timetable when there are weather disruptions, also pushing up costs.

One wonders if the airlines make private representations to Airservices (or to politicians such as the Minister) for government to pay at least some of these costs given that the cause was inoperative Airservices equipment.

Continuing with Tuesday 26 September, QF581 (1010 hours SYD - PER that took off about 20 minutes late at 1046) should arrive 50 late at 1405: aircraft is A332 VH-EBQ.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 27 September sees QF495, the early morning 0615 hours SYD - MEL not having taken off until 0650, about 25 minutes late. B738 Vh-VXS is estimated to arrive at 0831, 41 minutes late showing yet again how at busier times departing late can increase the difficulty of keeping schedules because aircraft miss their slot.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 28 September, QF565, first of the morning at a scheduled 0600 hours from SYD across to PEr did not take off until 0753. A332 VH-EBB should arrive at 1104, 119 minutes late, adverse winds presumably preventing any net gate-to-gate gain on the timetable.

Sibling VH-EBE on QF485 (0905 hours MEL - PER that was airborne at 0943 hours) should pull in at 1146, 31 late.

The BNE - LAX long flight (QF5, a B744) is expected to depart 70 late at 1130 this morning; same day arrival should be at 0705 hours, 65 minutes late, which for the umpteenth time will delay its next flight, QF11 from LAX across to JFK. QF12 on Thursday 28 ex JFK is likely to be at least a little delayed.

The increasingly unpunctual QF23 was expected to depart SYD 55 late at 1045 this morning for BKK but by 1050 had yet to do so. Months ago, this flight was pretty close to clockwork in its timekeeping. It has become quite variable and on many days is at least half an hour late arriving in the major Thai city. In contrast, TG (not an airline we hear much about these days) remains punctual most days out of MEL and SYD (apologies, I don't observe its flights from other Oz cities much.)

UPDATE: QF23 departed at 1058. Subject to revision depending on how long the taxiing takes, it should arrive BKK 50 late at 1730 late this afternoon local time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Thursday 28 September, QF144 from AKL to SYD, the 1415 hours that took off at 1457 (A332 VH-EBO, as QF has been using these due to the AKL fuel crisis that is now dissipating) is arriving at 1522, 32 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 27 September's QF9 departed MEL a minute late at 2246 but did not arrive DXB until about 0809 hours today (Thursday 28), 64 minutes late. It then departed at 1045, 100 minutes tardy with the predicted LHR arrival 1508, 58 late. The FR24 playback indicates the aircraft (A388 VH-OQI) did quite a number of racetrack circuits in a hold near Munay (southeast of DXB) so that may account for the loss in time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Media (The Age, SMH) is reporting that a worldwide fault with Amadeus Altea software means passengers are unable to check in. I do not have a list of which airlines use this software.

QF is affected, but it says that flights are continuing to depart. As I write (2120 AEST) it is a major check in time for a number of flights ex southeast and north Asia to east coast Australia. Sometimes these stories can be exaggerated as such problems might be fixed after a couple of hours. A bit early to tell...

Probably unrelated, but the Wednesday 27 September QF12 ex LAX departed 51 minutes late at 2321; arrival on Friday 29 in SYD should be at 0650, half an hour tardy. QF16 (LAX - BNE) is a predicted 40 late and shpould also be at its BNE gate at 0650 hours.

Friday 29 September's arriving QF2 is expected to be at its SYD gate at 0668, 48 late as on Thursday 28 it departed from DXB 97 minutes late at 1052 hours.

The BKK - SYD QF24 is displaying as delayed by 40 minutes in its departure tonight to 1850 hours with consequent SYD arrival on Friday 29 at 0700, half an hour behind schedule. However by 1905 Thai time (2205 hours AEST) it had not begun pushback.

QF25, the 2045 hours SYD - HND is showing as delayed by an hour in its departure but that time has passed. It will be at least 50 minutes late into Japan in the morning, which is most unusual.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 29 September sees QF1510, the early morning 0630 hours CBR - SYD cancelled, as is QF1514, the 0800 hours ex CBR. So is QF2009 (0825 TMW down to SYD.) QF1529, 0845 hours from CBR down to MEL has also got the boot as has an unusually numbered flight, QF1317, a scheduled 0915 hours SYD - MEL.

QF80, the A333 from NRT overnight to MEL is estimated to arrive at 0848, 53 minutes late. This looks to be forming QF29, the 1020 hours MEL - HKG so in theory the latter should be able to punctually depart.

QF1500, first of the morning from HBA to MEL arrived at around 0803, 33 late while QF2280 from LST to MEL is a suggested 55 late with arrival likely at 0845 hours.

QF1501 (B717 VH-YQS), the 0815 hours MEL - HBA did not take off until 0905 so arrival is likely at about 1005 hours, 35 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Friday 29 September 2017, QF63 (1050 hours SYD long haul to JNB) departed at 1244 with arrival expected, same day, at 1855 not 1700. This will delay the returning QF64 ex JNB tonight local time.

The 0835 hours SYD - windy WLG (QF161) commenced its travel 31 late, arriving at 1524 hours, 39 minutes behind the eight ball. QF164 back from WLG departed at 1627 (32 minutes behind the timetabled) with SYD arrival forecast for 1730, 50 late.

QF23 was again tardy with an 88 minute late push back at 1118 this morning; arrival should be at 1750, 70 late, unfortunately delaying QF24, the BKK - SYD redeye.

The 0935 hours QF129 from SYD up to PVG pushed back half an hour behind schedule at 1005 but arrival has been delayed until a suggested 1930, an hour late, meaning QF130 tonight will be tardy.

Another very long sector, QF27 (1230 SYD - SCL B744) departed 61 late; same day arrival is predicted as 1245, 35 late, slightly delaying departure of QF28.

The AKL - SYD QF146 (A332 VH-EBS, the 1620 hours that took off at 1825 almost two hours late) should pull in to its allocated gate at roughly 1858 hours, 123 minutes behind time.

QF465 (1900 hours SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-VXK) did not take off until 1956, so arrival is suggested as 35 minutes late at 2110 mid evening.