Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF's newest and arguably most over hyped plane, B789 VH-ZNA is on the 1830 hours MEL - SYD QF460 on Thursday 23 November.

There have been and continue to be a fair few thunderstorms around MEL, though from observations until about 1900 not directly above Tullamarine. The aircraft had arrived from PER about 20 minutes late at 1648 on QF772, so in theory it has had plenty of time to form QF460.

As at 1910 hours, this flight had yet to commence pushing back so it will be at least half an hour late arriving at its NSW major airport arrival gate. Perhaps some AFF members are on board for the relative novelty. Advice as to whether ATC-imposed delays due to the adverse weather, or some other reason is the cause of the delay would be great.

UPDATE: QF460 departed at 1912 hours from MEL and was airborne at 1927. QF puts the arrival time at gate (adding the usual five minutes from the website's display of a landing time) 25 minutes tardy at 2020, but this might be somewhat optimistic.

The B789's next duty is allegedly QF497, the 2200 hours late night SYD down to MEL, so QF is continuing to schedule generous turnarounds which is understandable as crews have to acquaint themselves with the conveyance, and there's also possibly the 'ooh...aaah' factor even though many of us have already travelled on other airlines' B789s to and from Australia, or elsewhere.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with a stormy Thursday 23 November 2017 in and around MEL (and around SYD), QF459 was in quite an unusually creative holding pattern above Tallangatta, Vic while on this scheduled 1800 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 1836. Estimated arrival is 2019 hours, 44 minutes tardy.

QF478, the 1845 hours northbound was in the sky at 2007 with VH-VZD. SYD arrival is estimated at 2121 hours, 71 late.

Another B738, VH-VYJ on QF484, the 1915 hours ex MEL should arrive in SYD at around the 2125 hours mark, 45 late.

A332 VH-EBN is on the 1930 hours ex MEL, QF464 that was airborne at 2021; arrival should be at 2142, 47 minutes tardy in SYD.

The 2000 hours MEL - SYD (QF490, B738 VH-VXF) is also delayed with its takeoff at 2114. Arrival is forecast an hour behind time at 2225.

Following it is QF492, the 2030 hours northbound with VH-VXN that was pointing skywards at 2116. It should pull in to its allocated SYD gate at around the 2227 hours mark, 32 late.

QF494, the last for the night QF northbound on Australia's busiest air route has A332 VH-EBQ, having taken off at 2142. It will scrape in prior to the 2300 hours SYD curfew with at gate arrival suggested as 2255, half an hour behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPA on the redeye from BKK to SYD, QF24 should arrive on Friday 24 November at about 0800, half an hour late.

While QF127, the A333 from SYD to HKG only departed four late at 0934, suggested arrival is 1623, 33 late.

QF81, the 1135 hours late morning from SYD up to SIN has been delayed until a predicted 1220 hours in its departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Friday 24 November, QF626 (B738 VH-VZC, the 1610 hours MEL - BNE that took off at 1735) klooks to be arriving at roughly 1841 hours, 81 minutes late.

QF1, the 1655 hours SYD - DXB did not take off until 1838. DXB arrival is suggested as 0143, 63 late on Saturday 25 but with a reduction in the intermediate stop duration and a good run, an on or close to time arrival at LHR is possible.

 

[Melburnian1]

With stormy weather around Melbourne mid evening on Friday 24 November, many aircraft on the busy Sydney - Melbourne route have been holding above Omeo, Vic. as the rains pass through.

QF459 (B738 VH-VXN, the 1800 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 1907, about 52 minutes late) was still in that hold at 2010 but the claim is that it will be at its MEL arrival gate at 2109 hours, 94 late. To lose more than 40 minutes on a gate-to-gate basis shows how adevrse weather affects flights (given overseas experience, far more than it would high speed rail that we have yet to build here.)

The 1835 hours CBR - MEL took off at 1934 with VH-VYJ. Arrival is predicted as 2047, 62 late but given that at 2013 it was in the same holding pattern as QF459, this may be an underestimate of the true delay.

QF463, also a SYD down to MEL flight (the scheduled 1840 hours that took off at 1917, about 32 late with VH-VXL) is estimated to pull in to the southern capital at roughly 2115 hours, 70 minutes behind time.

The 1645 hours MEL - AKL QF152 was in the sky at 1952 with B738 ZK-ZQC. Its arrival on Saturday 25 November should be at 0127 hours, 187 minutes late. To avoid the adverse weather, it has taken a most unusual route out of MEL, flying above Broadford and near Violet Town and then heading southeast towards Ensay, Vic.

QF479 from PER (A332 VH-EBC) is suggested as arriving at 2114 hours in MEL, 54 late.

These mid evening storms must be a nightmare for staff in the operations department given the huge constraint of Sydney imposing a 2300 hours touchdown curfew. While 'the delegate' of the Federal Minister has lately been seemingly supportive in allowing passenger planes to land after 2300 hours, this is not guaranteed and three criteria are supposed to be met as approval preconditions.

 

[coriander]

Adding to the chaos, QF 493 the 1915 SYD-MEL was only 15 minutes out of MEL when it returned to CBR a/c low on fuel - pilot told pax (which include Mrs C) that the holding pattern over MEL was one hour. When I commented it would be a "splash 'n' dash" she texted back that there would be no "dash" until the flight was assured of a landing slot in MEL. So currently sitting on ground in CBR.

 

[coriander]

QF493 from our "(wo)man on the spot".....
EDIT: Announcement telling pax in QF493 in CBR that htere will be a two hour delay and probably deplaning into the terminal. Looks like a long night ahead for Mrs C.

 

[coriander]

Plan B: QF 493 leaving CBR now.

 

[Melburnian1]

coriander, fantastic on the spot report from Mrs C. Please compliment her (bearing in mind that you two complement - not the spelling - each other.)

I cannot cover every delay but they include QF487 B738 VH-VXO, the 1945 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 2130 - arrival expected at 2229 hours, 69 late. QF489, the 2015 hours ex SYD (VH-VZD) pointed skywards at 2133 so its expected 2246 hours arrival in MEL will be 56 minutes behind time. QF491 by comparison, the 2030 hours ex SYD is incorrectly showing on FR24 a silly arrival time but will probably be at its allocated MEL gate at roughly 2255 to 2300 hours makes it 50 to 55 late.

Northbound (MEL - SYD) QF464, the 1930 hours with VH-XZK is arriving at 2206 hours, 71 late. QF484, the scheduled 1915 hours ex MEL was in the sky at 2108. Its conveyance VH-VXI looks set to arrive at 2219 hoyrs, 99 minutes behind the schedule.

The 1945 hours MEL - SYD (QF466, B738 VH-XZF) took off at 2124 so its at gate time up in SYD has become a suggested 2231 tonight, 81 minutes late. QF490, the 2000 hours ex MEL with VH-VXR is anticipated to arrive in SYD at 2240 hours, 75 late.

QF10 from DXB (A388 VH-OQB) had to hold above Bendigo so its arrival is estimated at 2219 hours, 54 late. QF9 tonight will be delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 24 November, QF494, the 2100 hours from MEL to SYD commenced pushing back at about 2200. Aircraft is B738 VH-VYL, taking off to the west at 2212.

It looks as if this flight may have a (Federal Minister for Transport) delegate's exemption to land in SYD post the 2300 hours curfew.

QF653 (the mid evening 2040 hours MEL - PER, A332 VH-EBC) had not taken off by 2226 hours.

QF493 with VIP passenger and AFF member Mrs Coriander on board (we hope) looks to be arriving in MEL at about 2257 (127 late) with B738 VH-VZE.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF29 (0945 hours MEL - HKG on Saturday 25 November) is expected to depart three hours late with suggested arrival at 1905 hours, 170 minutes tardy.

UPDATE: The expected delay to QF29's departure has extended to 1715. Arrival is projected as 2335 instead of 1630. A delay to one of the returning flights tonight (QF30, QF98 or QF128) is yet to be publicly displayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 25 November, QF81 (1135 hours SYD - SIN) departed 18 late; arrival should be at 1725 hours, 40 minutes behind the timetable.

QF29 is further delayed to an expected 1800 hours departure from MEL, 495 minutes late with HKG arrival estimated at 0020 on Sunday 26, 485 late. Advice from anyone at the gate or a QF lounge would be great.

QF30 ex HKG tonight has been cancelled. This appears to be unbalanced because QF117/118/97/98 are all operating.

 

[jenib]

QF38 Singapore >Melbourne 25 November 2017 cancelled. I've been rebooked on QF
8404 (EK404).

This followed an aborted takeoff Finnair 1534 Geneva ->Helsinki where the captain told us he was 'fairly sure' (!!) the issue had been addressed and we went straight back and rejoined the takeoff queue. 2nd takeoff attempt fine.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF29 from MEL to HKG ended up departing later, at 1843 this evening. SIN arrival estimate has become 0121 hours on Sunday 26, not 1615 this afternoon.

Qantas earlier suggested that QF30 tonight ex HKG was cancelled, but as I remarked above this was 'unbalanced. The website has altered to suggest that QF30, normally scheduled at 1805 hours ex HKG will instead depart at the unattractive time of 0600 tomorrow morning. MEL Sunday early evening arrival is estimated at 1830 instead of 0625, so 12 hours late. A333 VH-QPC is the aircraft that had arrived in MEL ex NRT on QF80 this morning, so it must then have required repairs.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the volcano again erupting in Bali, Indonesia, some flights are beginning to be cancelled.

On Saturday 25 November, QF43 (1655 hours SYD - DPS) departed two minutes late, but diverted to DRW, arriving at 2149. It is supposedly then departing for DPS at 1000 on Sunday 26 for an 1120 hours arrival, exactly 15 hours late. B738 VH-XZA is the aircraft for the second day in a row.

 

[Flyerqf]

Due to the delayed QF30 from HKG, today’s QF29 is operated by the aircraft which was designated for QF23 SYD-BKK.

23 is now delayed until 1945 awaiting the inbound QF4 from HNL.

 

[Melburnian1]

In addition to the delays highlighted by Flyerqf for Sunday 26 November, QF19 from SYD to MNL is expected to depart at 1835, 70 minutes tardy.

Saturday 25's QF12 departed JFK 66 minutes late at 1906 but picked up time, arriving in LAX at 2128 hours, 33 minutes late.

The 0945 hours MEL - HKG (QF29) departed at 1122; arrival should be at 1805, 110 minutes tardy.

The B744 from SYD to SCL, QF27 departed 53 late at 1343. Arrival should be at 1202 hours (same day), 52 minutes late, so QF28 will be late away.

The SYD - CGK QF41 is mostly punctual (or early in arriving in Jakarta) but it departed 113 minutes late at 1543 for an estimated arrival at 1840, 70 minutes down.

QF51, the 1200 hours 'high noon' BNE - SIN is also normally on time but it commenced pushing back at 1240 hours, so Lion City at gate time has become a suggested 1838, 43 late.

QF24 should depart BKK eight hours late at the unattractive time of 0200 hours on Monday 27 for a SYD arrival at roughly 1505 instead of 0730 hours, 455 minutes behind schedule. A333 VH-QPH should be the aircraft as it is arriving in SYD at about 1743 hours on Sunday 26 ex HNL as QF4: it will then operate the much delayed QF23.

The 1805 hours HKG - MEL on Sunday 26 is predicted to push back an hour late, with Monday 27 arrival at 0740 hours 65 late.

On Monday 27 November, probably due to the late running QF23 today and its return QF24 overnight, QF127, the A333 at a timetabled 0930 hours from SYD to HKG is to get the flick. QF128, the 1750 hours overnight back from HKG to SYD is also cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Sunday 26 November, A333 VH-QPC on QF30D (delayed) departed HKG at 0617 (727 minutes later than the normal 1805 hours) with arrival in SYD suggested as 1823.

Advice from other AFFers as to why this flight is operating to Sydney and not to Melbourne would be appreciated.

 

[Flyerqf]

Continuing with Sunday 26 November, A333 VH-QPC on QF30D (delayed) departed HKG at 0617 (727 minutes later than the normal 1805 hours) with arrival in SYD suggested as 1823.

Advice from other AFFers as to why this flight is operating to Sydney and not to Melbourne would be appreciated.

Flight departed bound for MEL but has diverted to SYD. Not sure on the reason.

It could be operational (as the aircraft needs to go to SYD) but i wouldn’t expect that to cause a diversion? I could understand that reason if a preplanned route change but not a diversion.

 

[Melburnian1]

Flyerqf, re QF30D, the other issue is that assuming passengers' ultimate destination (for the majority was MEL and not SYD), how the heck does QF (even with its subsidiary JQ's flights) get travellers down from SYD to MEL tonight given that most would be unlikely to clear customs until at least 1910 hours?

Sunday night usually sees domestic flights on the SYD - MEL route full or very close to it.

QF477 (26 November 1815 hours SYD - MEL that was airborne at 1902, B738 VH-VYA) should arrive in the southern capital at 2023, 33 minutes behind time.