Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF11D actually ended up leaving at 1430 behind the original estimate of 1315

Flyerqf, apologies, I was referring to today's (Monday's QF11 with departure at 1201 while you are correctly referring to the overnight delayed QF11D. The QF website says the latter departed at 1413 so 1430 must have been the time it was airborne. QF11D should arrive LAX at 0855 hours on Monday 8 January.

Sunday 7's QF96 departed LAX 50 late at 0025 on Monday 8. Tuesday 9 arrival should be at 1100, also 60 minutes behind schedule.

QF10 from DXB to MEL departed on Monday 8 January at 0114, only nine minutes behind time and then took off without undue delay at 0138 but arrival of A388 VH-OQE is not expected until 2156, 31 late. This will at least marginally delay tonight's 2325 hours QF9 from MEL back to DXB and wintry LHR.

Also on Monday 8 January, the 1755 hours late afternoon B744 from SYD to SFO, QF73 departed 49 late; arrival should be half an hour late same day at 1255.

QF75 (early evening 1915 hours SYD - YVR seasonal flight) departed 55 late at 2010 hours so its delayed arrival is expected to be 40 minutes behind time at 1445 mid afternoon, quite an attractive arrival time.

Earlier,.yet another B744, QF63, the 1135 hours SYD long haul westwards to JNB pushed back 26 late. Arrival should be at 1710, 35 late.

The evening (scheduled 1935 hours) redeye to HNL is showing as amended to depart SYD at 2030, but that time has just passed.

UPDATE: QF3 departed at 2051. Same day HNL arrival is likely at 0925 hours, 55 late, delaying the 1000 QF4 back to SYD by at least 40 minutes in its departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 9 January, QF11 (1130 hours SYD - LAX) is predicted to depart mid afternoon at 1530. This should be the usual B744 today, but FR24 is confused and is showing A388 VH-OQC on both yesterday's QF11 and today's. The delay is because on Monday 8, QF26, the 2200 hours HND - SYD did not depart until a most unusual 0213 hours on Tuesday 9, so its arrival in SYD will not be until 1335 this arvo, 240 minutes behind schedule. B744 VH-OEF is the aircraft.

Sunday 7 January's overnight delayed QF12D departed LAX at 1028 on Monday 8 January, 28 minutes later than the amended timetable. It should arrive SYD at 1950 hours tonight, Tuesday 9.

As a result the 1645 hours QF1 from SYD to DXB and LHR has been delayed to an expected pushing back at 2200 tonight, 315 minutes late. The intermediate DXB stop is expected from 0550 hours on Wednesday (310 minutes tardy) to 0715 (275 late, with the 85 minute stop having very occasionally achieved in the past, but about the minimum that can be allotted) and LHR arrival projected for 1105 hours on Wednesday 10 (260 late).

A worst case would be that QF1 fails to depart by 2300 tonight and hence passengers have to spend overnight in SYD if Transport Minister Barnaby Joyce's delegate does not grant an exemption.

While yet to be publicly displayed, if the above times become factual, Wednesday's QF10 (scheduled at 1155 hours from LHR) will be unable to depart for DXB and MEL until at least 1245. However it may pick up time enroute.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Tuesday 9 January 2018, the often punctual QF129 (1055 hours SYD - PVG) is expected to depart an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 9 January, the expected delay to QF11 (1130 hours SYD - LAX, today as normally on Tuesdays a B744) has blown out to 1625 hours in its departure.

QF129 departed SYD 73 late at 1208. PVG arrival should be at around 1935, 65 late: this will delay QF130 returning as the redeye overnight.

The 1440 hours mid afternoon long haul from SYD to DFW did not depart until 1534, so same day Texas arrival is estimated at 1332 hours, 32 minutes tardy.

QF51, the 1200 'high noon' BNE - SIN (A332 VH-EBV) did not depart until 1339 or take off until 1348 hours so expected arrival has become 1906 hours, 71 minutes tardy.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF64 has diverted to MEL to refuel

 

[Melburnian1]

As amended by QF, QF11 from SYD departed on 9 January at 1625 hours, 295 late. It is expected to arrive in LAX at 1005 hours, 225 minutes late.

 

[milehighclub]

Sunday 7 January's overnight delayed QF12D departed LAX at 1028 on Monday 8 January, 28 minutes later than the amended timetable. It should arrive SYD at 1950 hours tonight, Tuesday 9.

Because the Monday QF12 is delayed till Tuesday, the Sunday QF12 doesn't get a D attached since it is the only QF12 on Monday.

Because of the storm it didn't land till 2040

 

[Melburnian1]

The delay to Tuesday 9 January's QF1 has extended to at least 2235 ex SYD.

UPDATE: QF1 departed SYD at 2247 hours with A388 VH-OQL taking off at 2304 hours after curfew. DXB arrival on Wednesday 10 should be at 0605, 325 minutes late. While departure is estimated by QF at 0715 hours ex DXB, reducing the stop to 70 minutes is challenging with a more typical 'best' being around 80 minutes. LHR arrival is suggested as 1105 hours, 260 late, which will delay the 1155 hours scheduled departure of QF10 back to DXB and on to MEL.

 

[Flyerqf]

As a result the 1645 hours QF1 from SYD to DXB and LHR has been delayed to an expected pushing back at 2200 tonight, 315 minutes late. The intermediate DXB stop is expected from 0550 hours on Wednesday (310 minutes tardy) to 0715 (275 late, with the 85 minute stop having very occasionally achieved in the past, but about the minimum that can be allotted) and LHR arrival projected for 1105 hours on Wednesday 10 (260 late).

A worst case would be that QF1 fails to depart by 2300 tonight and hence passengers have to spend overnight in SYD if Transport Minister Barnaby Joyce's delegate does not grant an exemption.

QF1 pushed back at 2247 - a delay of just short of 6 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Like its colleague a night earlier, QF12 ex LAX on Monday 8 January was delayed overnight, this one probably due to minimum crew rest requirements. It departed on Tuesday 9 at 1051, later than the suggested 1000. Wednesday 10 January SYD expected arrival is 2055 hours, 745 minutes late.

QF93, the Wednesday 10 1115 hours from MEL to LAX is expected to depart at 1250 hours with same day arrival at 0805, 90 late. This is because the Monday 8 2230 hours LAX - MEL (QF94) did not depart until 0037 hours yesterday, so arrival is predicted for 1110 hours, 130 late.

An hour 40 minutes turnaround for an A380 is often optimistic and would almost be the best observed, which is an hour 38 minutes for QF. Presumably some other airline has got it down a little further.

QF16 (B744 VH-OJU), the 2320 hours Monday LAX - BNE pushed back at 0221 hours yesterday (after QF12 arrived LAX at 2244 ionstead of 2055 hours ex JFK) and should arrive in the Sunshine State capital at 0935 hours, 140 minutes late. QF expects that there will only be a slight resultant delay to QF15 of 20 minutes to a revised departure time of 1140.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 10 January, QF10 departed DXB at 0138 hours, 34 minutes late. Arrival in MEL late tonight should be at 2214, 49 late, which will delay QF9, the 2325 hours scheduled departure to at least 2355. It may pick up time on a gate-to-gate basis to DXB, by cutting the intermediate stop length or on the second sector to LHR.

 

[Himeno]

QF11 this morning had a 2 hour delay departing SYD. Pushing back at 1331. (Sister is on board heading to LA and Barbados for some sport thing and mum is wanting to know why it's late)
The status entry on expertflyer says:

SYD ESTIMATED TIME OF DEPARTURE 1330
LEFT THE GATE 1331
TOOK OFF 1347
AIRCRAFT FORCED TO RETURN
ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL 0740 LAX

Flightradar currently shows it just south of New Caledonia heading NE.

Anyone know why it is late? Just flow on effect from the recent A380 delays?

 

[milehighclub]

The QF11 was delayed for reasons unrelated to recent delays, as the aircraft would have been here this morning.

I notice that expertflyer says the the aircraft was forced to return, but I don't think it ever left the gate until 1331 (as a return to gate triggers a pattern change for the crew, and I don't see this entry for that flight)

 

[Melburnian1]

I commented above about 'best observed' A380 turnaround times. In MEL on Wednesday 10 January, QF94 arrived at 1111; QF93 then departed at 1324, which is more than half an hour above the best effort. Same day LAX arrival should be at 0850 hours, 135 minutres tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 9 January 2018, QF11 arrived JFK 38 late at 1708 hours. QF12 then departed at 1911 hours, 71 minutes late as further proof of another AFFer's observation that the turnaround times at JFK almost always increase if 'the 11' is late. LAX arrival was at 2137, 42 late.

QF16 is expected to depart 70 late at 0030 hours on Wednesday 10 with BNE Thursday 11 arrival estimated as 0805, 50 late. QF94 is delayed until a predicted 2355 out of LAX (110 late) with a 1020 hours Thursday arrival predicted for MEL (80 late) so once again QF93 will be delayed, this time on Thursday 11 January.

Tuesday's QF1 that departed 357 late at 2247 stopped in DXB from 0534 (294 late) to 0719 (279 minutes behind schedule) on Wednesday 10 with LHR arrival suggested as 1105 hours, 260 late. QF10 ex LHR, the 1155 hours, is forecast to depart 80 late at 1315 with the DXB stop from 0020 hours Thursday, 75 late. No departure from there or arrival estimate into MEL tomorrow night is yet shown. Some previous turnarounds in LHR have taken around three hours.

Wednesday's QF27 departed SYD 43 minutes behind schedule at 1333 hours with SCL arrival predicted as 1140 hours, half an hour tardy.

QF3 is expected to depart 55 late at 2030 hours with arrival in HNL at 0915, 45 late.

UPDATE: QF3 departed at 2048 hours.

The 2000 hours AKL - MEL, QF156 (B738 ZK-ZQC) took off at 2105 so arrival has become 2250 hours, 35 late.

QF1 arrived LHR on Wednesday 10 at 1107 hours, 262 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 10 January, QF10 had a quick 'reversal' in LHR, managing to depart at 1310 hours, only 74 late. DXB arrival was at 2343, just 38 minutes late.

QF11 did not leave LAX until 1113 hours, 173 minutes late so JFK arrival is estimated at 1835, 125 minutes late.

A480 VH-OQA on QF118, the main overnight HKG - SYD flight looks to be arriving at 1015, half an hour behind time.

 

[meljfk]

Interestingly (first hand experience here), QF11’s 3hr delay out of LAX was not due to holding the flight for the delayed SYD/MEL pax. I arrived on QF93 at 8:45am and was rebooked on a 10:35am Virgin America flight. Interesting carrier choice for J pax given there were a few lie-flat options on United, Delta, and AA available...

The recent horrible operational performance of the long-haul fleet surely has to lead to a rethink of the summer 18/19 peak scheduling approach.

 

[Melburnian1]

...The recent horrible operational performance of the long-haul fleet surely has to lead to a rethink of the summer 18/19 peak scheduling approach.

meljfk (great username!), with increasing use of B789s there will be changes in any case.

The intensive long haul B744 and A388 fleet utilisation (with only Tuesdays and Wednesdays being relatively less so outside of Christmas school holidays) may be good for shareholders but has been disastrous for punctuality and avoiding cancellations.

The greatest USA scheduling difficulty with a lack of nonstop flights Oz east coast to and from New York on any carrier due to range issues for aircraft is that QF is trying to provide relatively 'seamless' travel with connections to and from JFK for passengers ex or to MEL and SYD as well as BNE. The latter B744 aircraft usually works BNE - LAX - JFK and return with fairly tight turnarounds.

Whether with wintry conditions or in summer thunderstorm activity, JFK is apparently a challenging airport. A standout is that if QF11 into JFK is late, the time that it takes to 'reverse' to form QF12 tends to increase beyond the permitted allowance, so then QF12 can be even later, although it might pick up some time on the schedule back to LAX.

Flights such as QF96 can help in enabling connections ex JFK so that say QF94 can depart punctually, but that's only valid if there are spare seats.

AFF members have indicated in the past that QF temporarily abandoning JFK until aircraft that have the range can be introduced is not an option due to New York's importance as a business centre (so consequently fares can be high, giving good yields) and the prestige in flying there along with good demand from leisure travellers originating at each end.

The other issue is how poorly the B744s and to a lesser extent the A388s are performing. Getting to the bottom of this will be vital for the QF management. Laymen might consider that provided transport equipment is well maintained - bearing in mind that over the years many components are replaced - age by itself shouldn't be an issue, but these aircraft appear to be having consistently more operational problems as they become older.

 

[Skiski]

meljfk (great username!), with increasing use of B789s there will be changes in any case.

The intensive long haul B744 and A388 fleet utilisation (with only Tuesdays and Wednesdays being relatively less so outside of Christmas school holidays) may be good for shareholders but has been disastrous for punctuality and avoiding cancellations.

The greatest USA scheduling difficulty with a lack of nonstop flights Oz east coast to and from New York on any carrier due to range issues for aircraft is that QF is trying to provide relatively 'seamless' travel with connections to and from JFK for passengers ex or to MEL and SYD as well as BNE. The latter B744 aircraft usually works BNE - LAX - JFK and return with fairly tight turnarounds.

Whether with wintry conditions or in summer thunderstorm activity, JFK is apparently a challenging airport. A standout is that if QF11 into JFK is late, the time that it takes to 'reverse' to form QF12 tends to increase beyond the permitted allowance, so then QF12 can be even later, although it might pick up some time on the schedule back to LAX.

Flights such as QF96 can help in enabling connections ex JFK so that say QF94 can depart punctually, but that's only valid if there are spare seats.

AFF members have indicated in the past that QF temporarily abandoning JFK until aircraft that have the range can be introduced is not an option due to New York's importance as a business centre (so consequently fares can be high, giving good yields) and the prestige in flying there along with good demand from leisure travellers originating at each end.

The other issue is how poorly the B744s and to a lesser extent the A388s are performing. Getting to the bottom of this will be vital for the QF management. Laymen might consider that provided transport equipment is well maintained - bearing in mind that over the years many components are replaced - age by itself shouldn't be an issue, but these aircraft appear to be having consistently more operational problems as they become older.

I think the major problem with QF delays isn't so much the reliability of the aircraft but the overall fleet numbers. In the past if an aircraft went US or was late release from maintenance they could swap an aircraft that was either due to depart later that day or was not scheduled out to the following day. Now they don't have that luxury and delays just snowball. The QF11 on Sunday the 7th whilst it got away from SYD around 1415 Monday was further delayed on the ground in LAX with passengers still in immigration 3 hours after touchdown.
JFK is a major issue with delays for all airlines and perhaps QF should be more realistic in its scheduling if they look at the history of the flight.

 

[Townsend]

I think that Qantas’s communication regarding delays is terrible. I am waiting to leave on QF93. It is now 12.15pm and the screens are all saying boarding at 11.35am. The delay is now 2 hours and there is no indication of it boarding anytime soon!