Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

There is late running again on what used to be the troublesome MEL - HBA route. On Saturday 30 September, B717 VH-YQX (QF1501, 0815 hours MEL - HBA that was in the sky at 0913) should arrive in the island capital at 1019 hours, 49 minutes behind time. QF1500, the 0610 hours from HBA this morning with the same aircraft was early into MEL so it is unclear what led to the delay for the southbound.

Again, QF23 is delayed, this time 40 minutes to 1030. In contrast, HS-TGG, the youngest Thai Airways B744 at just under 14 years of age was already number two in the queue by 1033 hours for SYD 'in the sky' on the almost always punctual TG476, the 1000 hours SYD - BKK.

Tonight's BKK - SYD QF24 will inevitably be late departing, as it was into SYD this morning with arrival 69 late at 0739.

TG has had a very low profile in the last few years with some reviewers suggesting it has been resting on its laurels, but it beats the pants off QF at present for punctuality on the SYD - BKK and return medium haul length route.

QF61, the usually on time 1055 hours BNE up to NRT has been delayed in its pushing back until a suggested 1130 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 30 September, QF11 (which is often punctual) is operated by class leader A388 VH-OQA, departing 72 minutes late at 1102. Arrival is still showing (same day) on time at 0630 but the QF website often revises this once a flight is at cruising altitude.

QF1042 (1025 hours mid morning SYD - BME, B738 VH-XZB) was in the sky at 1059. Resultant arrival is forecast at 1418, 38 minutes tardy.

QF23 managed to depart as predicted right on 1030; arrival in BKK should be 47 late at 1727 late this afternoon local time.

Long haul QF15 from BNE to LAX departed 40 minutes behind schedule at 1100 sharp. Same day arrival is forecast as 0643, 43 late.

With QF1500, QF1501 and QF1502 all operated by the same B717 that departed HBA late for MEL on the first named, it's no surprise that the latter is also delayed, with VH-YQX taking off at 1112 hours and expected in MEL at 1221, 51 late.

 

[OATEK]

In further on Saturday 30 September, QF112 (which is often punctual) is operated by class leader A388 VH-OQA, departing 72 minutes late at 1102.

QF12? Good old Nancy Bird Walton.

 

[Melburnian1]

Apologies, OATEK, it was QF11. Corrected.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 1 October sees QF23 (1050 hours SYD - BKK) departing 35 minutes late with arrival predicted as 1710, half an hour tardy.

Although long flight QF15 from BNE to LAX only departed 16 late at 1036 this morning, same day arrival is not expected until 0640 hours, 40 late.

QF79 (1035 hours MEL up to NRT) has been delayed until an expected 2200 hours this evening in its departure, some nine and a half hours behind schedule. NRT arrival should be at 0635 hours on Monday 2 October in lieu of 1900 hours tonight. Consequently QF62 from NRT down to BNE, the scheduled 2050 hours on Sunday 1 October is predicted instead to depart at 0655 hours tomorrow morning, arriving in the Sunshine State capital at 1925 hours in the early evening of Monday 2 rather than the timetabled 0655 hours.

QF129 (1035 hours SYD - PVG, A333 VH-QPG) was worse, departing 59 late; arrival is suggested at 1940 tonight, 70 minutes late, meaning another delay for the southbound redeye QF130.

B744 VH-OEJ on QF127 (1100 hours SYD - HKG) took off at 1226, so its predicted 1808 hours arrival will be 48 minutes behind schedule.

QF29 (1120 hours MEL up to HKG) began its medium haul trip at 1247, so arrival is put back to around 1910 hours, 70 late.

The 1125 hours SYD - SIN QF81 commenced its push back at 1211 early this afternoon. It should be in the Lion City at its allocated airport arrival gate at 1750, an hour later than timetabled.

QF51 (1200 sharp 'high noon' BNE - SIN) started out 48 minutes late; arrival should be at 1849, 34 minutes late.

QF27 (1230 hours SYD across to SCL) was unusually late, starting its long haul 96 minutes late, but is expected to pick up time and be only 35 minutes late in its same day arrival at approximately 1145 hours.

The 1305 hours SYD to MNL, QF19, departed 39 late; arrival should be 35 minutes tardy at 1835 early this evening local time.

QF107 from SYD up to PEK, the 1325 hours, departed 40 late. Arrival is forecast at 2250 tonight, 35 minutes behind time.

B744-operated QF73 from SYD to SFO departed at 1540 hours, 100 minutes behind time, so its suggested 1030 hours arrival will be an hour later than timetabled.

Probably not the most punctual start QFi has ever had for the southeast Australian commencement of daylight saving.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Sunday 1 October 2017, QF1781, the 1430 hours ISA down to BNE (B717 VH-NXR) was in the sky at 1516 with arrival expected at 1718, 38 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 2 October 2017 has QF1592 (1000 hours ADL - BNE that was in the sky at 1051, B717 VH-YQX) suggested as arriving at about 1238 hours, 48 minutes tardy.

A332 VH-EBG on the redeye from PEK down to SYD, QF108 should pull in to its allocated airport gate at roughly 1450, half an hour behind.

QF430 (A332 VH-EBD, the 1200 sharp 'high noon' MEL - SYD that took off at 1334 hours, more than an hour late) should arrive in the northern capital at 1449 hours, 84 minutes behind the eight ball. It may next be undertaking a long flight to PER but that is yet to display.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 2 October, when I last checked, Queensland's Bundaberg had received an amazing 171mm of rain since 0900 this morning (and Queensland time it's only 1600 hours as I write.)

Probably not a surprise, but the afternoon QF2329 and QF2325 (respectively the 1450 and 1720 hours BDB - BNE QantasLink flights) have been cancelled. The airfield s probably under water. It's not so long ago that ROK was closed for about 10 days due to flooding.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF24 ex BKK arrived in SYD at 0806 on Tuesday 3 October, 36 minutes late.

QF23 from SYD to BKK, the 1050 hours is expected to depart 35 minutes late. Three times in the last week, this flight has been more than an hour late arriving in Bangkok while only once has it been punctual. This has become a pattern for QF23, which months ago was among Qantas' more punctual international flights. It is not clear why so many QF23s are more than half an hour late both departing from SYD and arriving in BKK, as the HKG and PVG flights that depart at similar times do not seem as bad timewise.

UPDATE: QF23 did not depart until 1155, 65 late, with BKK arrival changed to a suggested 1721 hours, 41 late, meaning another late push back for QF24 this evening ex the Thai capital.

Unexpectedly, QF81 from SYD up to SIN (A332 VH-EBN), the 1125 hours, departed 51 minutes tardy; arrival should be at 1732, 42 minutes late.

QF129 from SYD to PVG, the 1035 creditably departed only nine minutes behind schedule but arrival is predicted at 1902, 32 late, presumably due to adverse winds.

Lomghaul QF27 from SYD across the Pacific to SCL has been delayed from 1230 to an estimated 1515 hours in its departure. Predicted arrival in the Chilean major city is 1335 hours, 145 minutes late, so passengers on Tuesday's QF28 should expect to twiddle their thumbs for quite some time. If this aircraft forms QF25 on Wednesday evening from SYD to HND, it should still be punctual (departure is timed with the onset of AEDT to 2145 not 2045 hours) unless there is a further sudden delay between QF27's arrival and QF28's departure in distant SCL.

 

[Simo]

Fog at the Sunshine Coast. I wonder if this is wide spread and will interrupt BNE and MCY

 

[Melburnian1]

Simo, from what I could quickly see, BNE is operating normally.

Also on Wednesday 4 October, A332 VH-EBS on QF475 (0710 hours MEL - PER) took off at 0750, so arrival has become an estimated 0850, half an hour tardy.

Further north, QF575 (0825 hours SYD - PER, A332 VH-EBV) took off at 0922. Forecast arrival in the WA capital is 1110 hours, 40 minutes tardy.

Smaller capacity QF593 (B738 VH-XZF, the 0645 hours ADL - PER that was not airborne until 0735 should be at its Western Australian destination's allocated airport gate at about 0826 hours, 46 minutes late.

QF129 (SYD - PVG) is predicted to depart an hour late at 1135 with arrival 50 minutes tardy at 1920 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Wednesday 4 October, QF79, a normally punctual flight as with all the Japan-bound offerings of JL, NH and QF, did not take off from MEL until 1247 this afternoon, 132 minutes after its timetabled 1035 hours push back. Arrival at NRT should be at 2027 hours, 87 late with A333 VH-QPI. This may delay QF62, the scheduled 2050 hours NRT down to BNE as more often than not the A333s on the flights from BNE and MEL seem to swap in Japan for the respective southbound redeyes.

Due to QF27's delayed arrival in SCL (ex SYD) on Tuesday 3, QF28 returning from SCL to SYD departed at 1623 hours yesterday, 173 minutes tardy. Wednesday 4 arrival is suggested at 2015 instead of 1740, 205 minutes tardy. However this B744 is overnighting in SYD and not forming QF25, the 2145 hours SYD - HND.

Also on 4 October, QF582 (1355 hours PER across to SYD, A332 VH-EBE) pointed skywards at 1610; arrival should be at 2142 hours tonight, 37 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to yesterday's late QF79, the Thursday 5 October arrival of QF62 (overnight NRT - BNE) is expected with A333 VH-QPI at about 0742 hours AEST, 47 minutes behind schedule.

Stablemate VH-QPE on QF52 (2050 hours overnight Wednesday 4 SIN - BNE that was not airborne until 0115 on 5 October) should arrive at 1034 this morning, 259 minutes tardy. It is unusual to have two BNE QFi morning arrivals late as the flights into BNE generally have good timekeeping. This aircraft is next on QF97, the 1050 hours BNE - HKG that is predicted to depart an hour late with minimum turnaround time of about 75 minutes, and resultant likely HKG arrival 45 minutes late at 1845 hours early this evening local time. If it then forms QF98, the 2000 hours redeye from HKG back to BNE, or QF30, the 2010 hours down to MEL it should - in theory - just be able to depart on time, but this assumes extremely efficient turnarounds in BNE and HKG today.

Despite Wednesday 4 October's QF11 departing LAX 20 late at 0840 hours and arriving JFK on the USA east coast at 1620, 20 early - a good performance - QF12 did not depart the latter until 1857 hours, 47 minutes late. Arrival in LAX with the B744 that normally proceeds on to BNE as QF16 is estimated at 2140, 40 down, meaning at least a marginal delay for the LAX to SYD A388-operated QF12.

 

[Melburnian1]

Although QF80 arrived about 12 minutes early at 0843 this morning (5 October) in MEL ex NRT and is forming QF79, the 1035 hours back to NRT, the latter's departure had not occurred by 1118 hours.

QF81 is expected to depart SYD an hour late at 1225 for SIN this afternoon with a 65 minute late arrival at SIN (1755 hours) indicated.

The 0955 hours CBR up to SYD short hop, QF1516, took off at 1140; arrival of B717 VH-YQV should be at about 1`217 hours, 87 minutes late.

UPDATE: QF79 departed 55 minutes late at 1130; arrival in NRT should be at 1941 tonight, 41 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 5 October, A332 VH-EBN on QF81 (1125 hours SYD up to SIN) was originally showing as delayed by an hour in its departure, but ended up departing 80 minutes late and taking off at 1301 in the afternoon, so arrival has become a predicted 1755 hours, 65 minutes late.

A333 VH-QPG on QF29 (1120 hours MEL up to HKG) was in the sky at 1221 early this afternoon. Its arrival is predicted for 1849, 44 minutes behind the timetable.

QF117 (A333 VH-QPA), the 1225 hours second QF SYD - HKG flight took off at 1319, so arrival is likely at 1940 hours, 35 late.

Due to the late QF52 this morning, QF97 from BNE to HKG, the 1050 hours, took off at 1211. HKG arrival is estimated at 1847 hours, 47 minutes tardy for A333 VH-QPE.

The overnight quite long flight QF108 (PEK - SYD, the usual 'special' A332 VH-EBL) should arrive at 1451 this afternoon, 31 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 6 October 2017, QF94 (LAX - MEL, A388 VH-OQA) is arriving at about 0831 hours, 36 minutes late. In theory this is just in time to form a punctual departure of QF93, the 1015 hours back to LAX - in practice, this one hour 45 minute turnaround - the lowest observed is about an hour and 38 minutes - is not always achieved.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Friday 6 October, QF73 (1400 hours SYD - SFO, normally a B744) has been altered to depart seven and a half hours late at 2130 tonight. Arrival is predicted at 1705 same day instead of 0930, still in plenty of time for a punctual QF74 back to SYD.

QF573, an uncomfortably long period to spend in B738 VH-XZD is the 1525 hours BNE - PER. Takeoff was at 1706 so arrival has blown out to 2008 hours, 68 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The expected delay to QF73 on 6 October ex SYD has become a further revised departure at 2215. While not quite 'panic stations', it wouldn't want to be another hour's delay *given the curfew) unless 'the delegate' was in a good mood.

Expected same day SFO arrival has become 1725, not 1705 as advised above. Interestingly, this is an anticipated further 25 minute gate-to-gate gain on that calculated previously. QF73 could be B744 VH-OEB that arrived about 15 minutes late at 1610 this afternoon from JNB.

UPDATE: QF73 departed SYD at 2259 on Friday 6 October, and so took off after the 2300 hours curfew at 2315. Arrival in SFO is estimated at 1745, more than eight hours late. VH-OJT was the B744 not VH-OEB. VH-OJT had sat in SYD since arriving on QF12 on Thursday 5, early, at about 0700 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 7 October sees QF23 (1050 hours SYD - BKK) estimated to depart 40 minutes late.

UPDATE: By 1105, the delay had increased to a suggested departure at 1130. This flight has become one that is often delayed departing, and also frequently more than half an hour late arriving in Bangkok. The reasons are probably many and various, but some other morning departures such as QF129 to PVG (also an A333) do not seem as adversely affected.

Is the BKK route largely a leisure one (in comparison to say the PVG and HKG routes) and hence QF sometimes (where there are feasible choices) quietly puts it at the bottom of the pecking order if one A333 flight ex Sydney has to suffer a delay due to, say, a late inbound?

QF23 ended up departing at 1142. BKK arrival is suggested as 1720 hours, 40 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

The quite lengthy sector from SYD to PEK usually sees QF107 and operated by one of the two unrefurbished Airbuses that have suitable galleys and crew rest facilities for the trek. On top of that the flight is most often punctual, but on Saturday 7 October 2017, A333 VH-EBL did not become airborne until 1437 (72 minutes after scheduled pushback.) Arrival is predicted as 2318 hours, 68 minutes tardy.