Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Wednesday 25 October, I am surmising that this 'loss of an engine' related to QF2207 that is due into ABX (ex SYD) at 1155 hours:

UPDATE: Real incident unfolds on plane during Albury Airport training drill | Photos

Yesterday (24 October) this flight apparently diverted back to SYD and then landed at Albury at 1430 hours, so difficulties on two consecutive days for it.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF12, the 1810 hours JFK across to LAX on Tuesday 24 October departed 63 late, arriving at 2156, 56 minutes behind schedule. QF12 (different aircraft) then departed the movie city at 2340 hours, 70 late. Thursday 26 October arrival in SYD is estimated as 0810, 50 minutes tardy.

When the transcontinental QF12 is delayed, QF94 to MEL often is allowed to depart on time but that was not so: it was off its blocks at 2308, 58 late and so Thursday arrival is suggested as 0835, 40 minutes late.

QF16 was the worst of the bunch, pushing back at 0043 today - 83 minutes delayed - so Thursday into BNE at the gate is predicted to be 0725, 75 late.

The only compounding delay should be relatively brief to QF93 tomorrow morning, the 1015 hours MEL - LAX.

 

[Mattg]

QF149 (SYD-AKL) is once again several hours late this evening. I've noticed that this flight has been late quite regularly recently, and one flight was cancelled last week. Anyone know why? It seems to be the same aircraft coming in from AKL as QF146.

I'm on this flight tomorrow. The scheduled arrival into AKL is 00:30 so I don't really fancy arriving much later...

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 26 October there is quite a lot of holding going on in the approach to MEL in the peak period morning.

Interestingly QF409 (0700 SYD - MEL that took off more or less on time with B738 VH-VXS) was made to do a couple of racetrack circuits over Mt Buller, but should still only be about 17 minutes late arriving in the southern capital. QF94, which as noted above last night was predicted to arrive MEL at about 0835 looks to have been slowed down, but it was effectively able to overtake QF409. VH-OQC should now arrive MEL at about 0852.

This is good work by ATC as the A388 has a pretty tight turnaround in MEL and with it already late, there is no chance of QF93, the 1015 hours MEL - LAX departing punctually. However its delay into MEL has been minimised, difficult as this is at a busy time of the morning. The QF409 treatment was a bit like a stopping all stations train being put in a loop so that the express could go through, or a truck driver placing his vehicle behind other slow moving heavy vehicles in the slow lane so that motorists could easily overtake.

B738 VH-XZL on QF605 (0600 hours, early but not the first BNE - MEL for the day) that took off at 0623 has been in a hold between Bendigo and Heathcote (Vic) with arrival estimated at 0958, 33 late after only taking off about 8 - 10 minutes late. This shows just how much time can be lost on a gate-to-gate basis with congestion in MEL. The weather in MEL is average (nothing extraordinary.) Delays seem to be worst on Thursdays to Mondays inclusive (exceptions are Saturday afternoon and evening, low demand periods, and sometimes Sunday morning.)

A320 ZK-ZQG on QF152 (Jetconnect-operated 0715 hours AKL - MEL that was in the sky at 0744, about 10 late) is arriving at 1001 hours, 36 late.

QF1529 (B717 VH-YQX, the 0845 hours CBR down to MEL that did not take off until 0931) is estimated to arrive at 1028, 33 minutes late.

A332 VH-EBQ on QF419 (0900 hours SYD - MEL, with takeoff at 0954) should arrive at approximately 1115, 40 minutes late but there is still some holding going on into MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Thursday 26 October, B744-operated QF73 was again late, departing SYD at 1636 hours (156 minutes late) with same day arrival predicted at 1140, 130 minutes behind schedule.

Earlier, another B744 flight, QF63 from SYD across the miles to distant JNB pushed back at 1226, 36 minutes past the allotted. Arroval is forecast for 1735 hours, 35 minutes tardy.

A third Jumbo service, QF15 left BNE half an hour late at 1050. It should arrive in LAX at 0655 hours same day, 55 minutes delayed. This may at least slightly delay its next task, QF11 across the USA to JFK.

 

[Melburnian1]

There has been, and is continuing to be, quite a deal of rain in Canberra, although Newcastle and the NSW Central Coast have had much heavier falls. QF1515 (1530 hours mid afternoon SYD - CBR, B717 VH-YQT, took off at 1858 on Thursday 26 October with suggested arrival at 1936, 185 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

The BNE - MEL Thursday 26 October QF631 (B738 VH-VZT) looks to be arriving at 2104 hours, 39 minutes delayed.

Due to the poor weather in CBR, VH-VXG (B738) on QF833 (1835 ex CBR down to MEL) was airborne right on 2000 hours. Arrival should be at 2115 hours, 90 minutes tardy as the aircraft was in a hold for a while.

 

[Melburnian1]

The morning 1050 hours Friday 27 October 2017 QF11 from SYD to LAX departed 42 late. Arrival - same day - is forecast to be 0703, 33 minutes behind schedule.

The often punctual or arriving ahead of time QF41 from SYD to CGK, the 1350 hours departure is suggested as departing 65 late with arrival an hour late at 1940 hours this evening local time. This will delay the redeye return of QF42 ex CGK.

QF73 from SYD to SFO departs at 1400 hours at this time of year but is delayed for an hour, meaning likely arrival 55 late (again, same day) at 1025 hours.

Thursday 26's transcontinental USA trip for QF11's B744 saw push back 61 minutes tardy at 0921 hours, and JFK arrival at about 1727, 47 minutes behind time. QF12 then departed New York at 1858 hours, 48 late - a rare occasion when it hardly lost any further time on the ground once arriving late in the 'Big Apple' - with forecast LAX arrival of 2130, half an hour behind. This is expected to marginally delay the A388 QF12 departure by just 20 minutes to 2250 hours Thursday late night, Los Angeles time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 27 October, QF1535, the 1425 hours arrival in MEL ex CBR was cancelled.

B738 VH-VZD on QF871 (1135 from HTI down to MEL) did not become airborne until 1345 AEST, so arrival is expected at 1720 AEDT, 105 minutes late.

A332 VH-EBD on QF577, the 1400 hours mid afternoon SYD across to PER was in the sky at 1608. Suggested time at its PER gate is 1741 this afternoon, 96 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 27 October, QF481 (1735 hours MEL - PER, A332 VH-EBK) took off at 1841. Suggested arrival is at 1931, 46 minutes tardy.

Opposite number QF476 (VH-EBD, the 1310 hours PER - MEL that did not take off until 1505) is arriving at 2140, two hours late.

B738 VH-XZK on QF656 (1925 hours ADL - BNE that was in the sky at 2019) looks set to arrive at 2146 hours, 31 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 28 October 2017 has QF15, the 1020 hours BNE - LAX departing 69 minutes late with same day arrival estimated at 0715 hours, 75 minutes late. The next sector (LAX across to JFK) is expected to see pushing back commencing at 0915, 55 late for an hour late New York arrival at 1740, which in turn will delay the returning transcontinental USA leg of QF12, and in turn the Saturday very late night departure of QF16 back to BNE for its scheduled Tuesday morning arrival.

Another B744 flight (QF73, the timetabled 1400 hours mid afternoon departure from SYD for the bright lights of San Fran. is in the news again for all the wrong reasons, being expected today to depart at 1715. Arrival should be 200 minutes late (same day) at 1250 hours.

 

[Pleb Status]

Looks like a few delays BNE-TSV over the past day -

No Cookies | Townsville Bulletin

 

[Melburnian1]

Further to two posts back, QF73 on Saturday 28 October eventually departed SYD at 1739 hours - 219 minutes tardy - with same day SFO arrival suggested as 1250 (as before), 200 minutes behind the schedule. This aircraft (B744 VH-OEF) had arrived in SYD today as QF64 from JNB at about 1508, marginally late (scheduled arrival is 1455 hours) so one assumes there must have been a failure of another B744.

This is unlikely to adversely affect Saturday 28's SFO - SYD QF74 as there is a generous turnaround of many hours timetabled for QF73 turning into QF74 in the 'Bay city.'

While it is too early to say whether it will be an ongoing problem, the QF B744s have experienced many delays in the past 10 or so days. Not good, given that we even had a Sydney - Japan flight (QF25) delayed overnight, and multiple problem days on the QF73 run.

 

[JohnPhelan]

Looks like a few delays BNE-TSV over the past day -

No Cookies | Townsville Bulletin

According to an airport staffer quoted on another forum, Cobham (the operator of the B717 Qantas Link fleet) is having some serious staffing/industrial issues. Apparently a significant number of 717 pilots are calling in sick, and others are refusing to fill in. Supposedly Cobham staff are unhappy at the big pay differential between them and QF mainline staff.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF73 is delayed until 1815 today and QF117 and QF127 have had an aircraft swap with the A333 on 127 and 744 on 117, which indicates a possible issue with 744. OEi currently showing as operating QF73, this is aircraft is currently inbound from JNB.

EDIT - QF127 / QF117 have swapped types for summer and will change back in March.

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnPhelan, it would be interesting to know how much any differential was between what Regional Express pilots receive and those at Cobham. I imagine the latter would be paid more as they operate higher gross tonnage aircraft (with a greater passenger capacity per plane.)

It looks like the Cobham pilots may be taking protected (i.e. authorised) industrial action as a ballot had been conducted with the majority in favour:

https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/documents/industrialballotsresults/afap/afap_2017709.pdf

QF1507, an afternoon MEL - HBA (1520 hours departure) has been cancelled on Sunday 29 October as has the returning QF1508 (scheduled 1715 hours ex HBA) but the other flights I quickly checked (not exhaustively) seem to be operating with delays of just a few minutes.

Interestingly the TWU has identical approved industrial action possible against National Jet:

https://www.fwc.gov.au/documents/documents/industrialballotsresults/twu/twu_2017707.pdf

What should be astounding is that QF has chosen not to inform its passengers. Presumably it doesn't want the community to know that pilots subcontracted to it are allegedly unhappy. And yet the Qantas CEO is very eager to talk about some other pet subjects, one in particular.

 

[JohnPhelan]

The argument supposedly is that the Cobham pilots and crew wear QF uniforms, fly aircraft painted in QF livery - but feel they are treated as second class. They see themselves as more aligned to QF mainline than, say, Rex, given that QF Link (Cobham) flies lengthy jet routes like BNE-TSV, BNE-ISA, CBR-BNE, SYD-BNE (at weekends), SYD-HBA.

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnPhelan, what percentage salary rise per annum (or per hour flown), or how much in dollars per week or month are they angling for?

I don't disagree that these flight crew are closer to QF than ZL, even if one used the size of jets flown and forgot about the distance.

The flights are never promoted as 'Cobham' but always 'Qantas.'

One assumes that QF mainline flight crews would be neutral in this dispute.

QF has a responsibility to inform its passengers, yet it still appears not to have done this.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 28 October's QF15 from LAX to BNE, the very late night scheduled 2320 hours departed at 0039 today (Sunday 29) so Monday 30 arrival is estimated at 0729 hours, 79 late.

QF12, the A388 from LAX to SYD was 50 minutes late departing. Monday arrival looks to be 0750, half an hour behind time.

QF1509 (1915 hours MEL - HBA, B717 VH-YQY) took off at 2051 on Sunday 29. Forecast arrival is 2127 hours, 57 late. Note comments about protected industrial action by Cobham flight crew above.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF149 took off late last night (some 2 hours behind schedule) and then diverted to MEL and is expectec to travel onwards to AKL at 1000 this morning.

QF108 is delayed 24 hours. Looks like the flow on effect will be for several days, with QF108 showing significant delays for next three days.