Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Quickstatus]

QF2 VH-OQD DXB-SYD routed directly to PER in the wee hours of Feb 7 (departed DXB Feb 6)

Reported as medical.

Arrival into SYD 2.5 hrs late

 

[ayebee]

Nice to see you back Melburnian1. I am always amazed with your diligence.
I am on QF9 tonight, so have an interest in the inbound QF10 which left DXB about an hour late, and currently showing about 30 mins delay with arrival around 22.00.
QF9 is still showing schedule departure 2325. Hoping that holds true.

 

[Quickstatus]

Nice to see you back Melburnian1. I am always amazed with your diligence.
I am on QF9 tonight, so have an interest in the inbound QF10 which left DXB about an hour late, and currently showing about 30 mins delay with arrival around 22.00.
QF9 is still showing schedule departure 2325. Hoping that holds true.

Unlikely to be departing at the scheduled time. However there is a bit of catch up time available enroute. (Qf padded their timetables meaning the timetable displays flight times which are a little longer than actual

 

[ayebee]

Unlikely to be departing at the scheduled time. However there is a bit of catch up time available enroute. (Qf padded their timetables meaning the timetable displays flight times which are a little longer than actual

I figured that but was being naively optimistic.
QF website is still showing QF9 for on time departure.
Wondering when QF ops decide to communicate ?

 

[Quickstatus]

I figured that but was being naively optimistic.
QF website is still showing QF9 for on time departure.
Wondering when QF ops decide to communicate ?

When the flight is schedule to depart.

For minor delays it’s actually better for the airline to leave everything as is publicly while working behind the scenes to minimise any delays

 

[jb747]

When the flight is schedule to depart.

For minor delays it’s actually better for the airline to leave everything as is publicly while working behind the scenes to minimise any delays

I hate it when flights are retimed for slight delays.

Firstly it negates any chance of us reclaiming any of the lost time. But worse, that passenger who was going to be 10 minutes late boarding for the first time, will now be 10 minutes late for the updated timing.

 

[ayebee]

So QF9 boarding tonight was showing as 22.45 right up until that time when it was announced it was delayed 20 minutes.
Reality more like 45 mins.
Push back at 00.05 so 40 mins behind.
Shutting down...

 

[Quickstatus]

The closer to actual departure the more accurate the prediction of delay

 

[jb747]

So QF9 boarding tonight was showing as 22.45 right up until that time when it was announced it was delayed 20 minutes.
Reality more like 45 mins.
Push back at 00.05 so 40 mins behind.
Shutting down...

It might work in your favour. Heavy fog is forecast for tomorrow morning in Dubai. Getting there a little later might mean that the holding patterns have started to shake out those who can't stay, and could conceivably reduce your own time in the pattern.

 

[ayebee]

It might work in your favour. Heavy fog is forecast for tomorrow morning in Dubai. Getting there a little later might mean that the holding patterns have started to shake out those who can't stay, and could conceivably reduce your own time in the pattern.

It was certainly murky in Dubai.
I lost track of timings in and out of DXB, but some time was made up so we got into LHR about 30 late. That allowed me to make my connection to Vienna 65 mins later.

 

[Quickstatus]

It was certainly murky in Dubai.
I lost track of timings in and out of DXB, but some time was made up so we got into LHR about 30 late. That allowed me to make my connection to Vienna 65 mins later.

I suspect what you experienced was the “padding” in the scheduled timetable.

An aviator might be able to comment if flying faster in cruise section of the flight can make up significant time on a long flight like this AND still having enough fuel to hang out in the sky while the delays due to the fog plays out below AND then have enough fuel to arrive at destination without having to go somewhere undesirable.

Flying faster can mean inefficient fuel consumption

 

[Flyerqf]

Friday’s QF108 from PEK is delayed overnight. Now due into SYD at 0930 Sunday morning.

 

[jb747]

I suspect what you experienced was the “padding” in the scheduled timetable.

As I've said a number of times, there is NO padding of the flight times. They are based on historic flight times, with actual achieved taxi in and out times. I forget the actual figure but I think flight time is the 75th percentile. If anything, there would be a reason to reduce the planned times, but to increase turnaround, as that could have the effect of reducing crew costs.

An aviator might be able to comment if flying faster in cruise section of the flight can make up significant time on a long flight like this AND still having enough fuel to hang out in the sky while the delays due to the fog plays out below AND then have enough fuel to arrive at destination without having to go somewhere undesirable.

It is never as simple as that. Firstly flight plans are delivered with dynamic cost indexes...which means that a late flight may already be planned to go a bit faster. You don't always have to have holding or diversion fuel. And alternatively, if it's going to be poor weather, you could actually be better off by going fast, burning into whatever fuel you have, and diverting early. That way you'll get a better choice of alternate, and might be first in the queue to go when things improve...

Flying faster can mean inefficient fuel consumption

Not can. Will. You can go 1-2% faster. The fuel cost will be 2-3%.

 

[ayebee]

As I've said a number of times, there is NO padding of the flight times....
.

My impression was any time picked up was by reducing time on ground in DXB.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF2 LHR-DXB and QF9 MEL-DXB arrival 10/2 both diverted to DWC due to weather.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF24 from BKK to SYD on Saturday 10 February, operated by A333 VH-QPF for the second time in three days took off at 2019, with predicted Sunday 11 arrival at 0934, 124 minutes behind the timetable.

QF23 and 24 were previously very punctual, as a rule, but during the past few months have become increasingly unpunctual, in contrast to TG which while having lowered its profile in Oz tends to be on time most days, most flights. I can vaguely recall in the 1980s that TG was a keenly promoted airline by travel agents or itself but that has long changed. TG has been inconsistent in its financial performace. Mind you, that could also be said of QF if one reviewed the last decade.

There will not be a single reason for these delays but it would be fascinating to know the three most common causes. Obviously on occasion a late arrival of an A333 in SYD in the morning that is slated to form 'the 23' may be one reason.

This is the second time in a week that QF24 will be more than an hour late arriving in Sydney.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 9 February MEL departure QF9 is expected to arrive at the LHR gate at 1605 on Saturday 10, which given the diversion to DWC is not too bad. In theory this should mean no delay to QF2 ex London 11 Feb.

The 10 February ex MEL same flight number took off at 0040, about 50 late so should also be delayed, at least to DXB.

I wonder given the end of this flight soon via the Middle East whether bookings are starting to taper off more than usual for this time of year. It may not suit some to return on EK if they have a lengthy stay in the Middle East or elsewhere via connections.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday 11 February arrival of QF12 in SYD is expected 80 late at 0950 hours. Given the generous turnaround times typical for A380 QF flights in SYD, this should not result in any delayed long distance departures.

 

[jb747]

QF2 LHR-DXB and QF9 MEL-DXB arrival 10/2 both diverted to DWC due to weather.

It made for a long day....

The weather in London was also pretty poor, with about 55 knots of wind at about 3,000, low cloud and drizzle.

 

[Happy Trails]

QF24 from BKK to SYD on Saturday 10 February, operated by A333 VH-QPF for the second time in three days took off at 2019, with predicted Sunday 11 arrival at 0934, 124 minutes behind the timetable.

This is the second time in a week that QF24 will be more than an hour late arriving in Sydney.

Make that three times.
QF23 left 48 minutes late this morning, but the return QF24 is now showing a 2hr 10min delay.