Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-EBQ on the 1210 hours SYD - MNL (not 'MEL' as I write the other day) departed at 1245 hours on 2 April 2018.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Monday 2 April, QF7 from SYD to DFW, the 1235 hours now that daylight saving has ended did not depart until 1741. Arrival should be at 1745 instead of 1300 hours same day.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Easter Monday (2 April 2018), QF2, the A388, departed SIN at 2000 hours, half an hour late despite arriving 14 early at 1711. SYD arrival on Tuesday 3 is predicted as 0602 hours, 52 minutes tardy.

Earlier today the B744 on QF63 pushed back in SYD 27 late at 1122, with arrival suggested as 1740, 40 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QE127 (1035 hours Easter Tuesday, 3 April 2018) SYD - HKG departed 41 late at 1116 hours. Arrival should be at 1845 tonight, 45 minutes tardy.

QF143, the 0955 hours midmorning TransTasman SYD - AKL (A332 VH-EBC) did not take off until 1102 so arrival is estimated at 1607 hours, 67 late.

The 1055 hours SYD - JNB B744 is predicted to depart as QF63 an hour late with arrival 50 late at 1750.

 

[docjames]

Today’s QF93 delayed 45m to a new dep time of 0945.

Lounge staff advising “because of the late inbound aircraft and how long it takes to clean an A380” (!), but that would appear to be balony with QF36 which appeared to be forming the operating aircraft arriving exactly on time (as was QF94). Supposedly now scheduled to be 20m late into LAX.

Guess we’ll see.

 

[docjames]

Turns out there was an aircraft swap and the 94 was subbed in. Now ready to go a little over an hour late.

Turns out a passenger died on the Sin-Mel flight whose aircraft was to operate 93 so that aircraft was held up with extra customs, cleaning etc.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Turns out a passenger died on the Sin-Mel flight whose aircraft was to operate 93 so that aircraft was held up with extra customs, cleaning etc.

These sad events (RIP) are 'random' in the sense of 'unpredictable' but it would be interesting to know for each airline how often this happens.

Once every 10,000 flights on average? Certainly, and thankfully, not an everyday event.

QF93 on Wednesday 4 April departed at 1003 hours. LAX arrival is suggested as 0710, 45 minutes late.

 

[milehighclub]

Last stats I heard was that it averages out at about once a month

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 4 April has QF33, the fairly recently introduced 1015 hours SYD to KIX not having pushed back until 1054 hours. It took off at 1118. Arrival should be at 1967 tonight, 47 minutes behind schedule. VH-QPJ is the A333.

This Airbus had arrived 25 minutes late at 0850 this morning on QF130 ex PVG, so that may explain the delay.

 

[jb747]

Turns out there was an aircraft swap and the 94 was subbed in. Now ready to go a little over an hour late.

Turns out a passenger died on the Sin-Mel flight whose aircraft was to operate 93 so that aircraft was held up with extra customs, cleaning etc.

In those circumstances, when the aircraft arrives, the local authorities (police, AQS, etc) take charge and very little can be done until they release the aircraft/cargo/passengers. Most cleaning can't be done, nor can catering. The Australian authorities are pretty good about it, but I've seen it take a couple of hours before the pax are even allowed to deplane.

 

[Melburnian1]

...The Australian authorities are pretty good about it, but I've seen it take a couple of hours before the pax are even allowed to deplane.

If the death was obviously not suspicious, granted a doctor would have to board to examine and certify that as fact, but why then wouldn't passengers be able to immediately alight, provided the deceased's belongings had been identified and safely stored?

Surely this would give space for the deceased to be sensitively unloaded from the plane, probably via the steps down to the tarmac near the aerobridge.

 

[jb747]

If the death was obviously not suspicious, granted a doctor would have to board to examine and certify that as fact, but why then wouldn't passengers be able to immediately alight, provided the deceased's belongings had been identified and safely stored?

We're talking about multiple jurisdictions, and countries here. In some cases, getting the passengers off is pretty simple, but others treat it as a crime scene, and it takes time.

Surely this would give space for the deceased to be sensitively unloaded from the plane, probably via the steps down to the tarmac near the aerobridge.

From what I have seen, family members tend to want to stay with the deceased as long as they can. Down to the tarmac is neither sensitive or necessary. The various authorities, may be helpful, or not, but they still want their paperwork done.

 

[JessicaTam]

Surely this would give space for the deceased to be sensitively unloaded from the plane, probably via the steps down to the tarmac near the aerobridge.

From what I have seen, family members tend to want to stay with the deceased as long as they can. Down to the tarmac is neither sensitive or necessary.

Agreed. Try taking a stretcher down a flight of stairs with 100kg on it and you will soon see why.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 3 April 2018, QF12 departed LAX at 2321 hours, 51 minutes behind time. Thursday 5 arrival should be at 0706, 36 minutes tardy.

The BNE-bound QF16 was 82 late, departing at 0042 hours this morning so it should be at its destination at 0710, 65 late. In theory this won't affect timekeeping of tomorrow morning's QF15 back to LAX.

Also on Tuesday, QF8 (scheduled 2150 hours DFW - SYD) did not depart until 0021 hours on Wednesday 4. Thursday 5 arrival should be at 0825 hours, 140 minutes late.

On Wednesday 4, QF768 from PER to MEL (A332 VH-EBK) is arriving at 2224 hours, 54 minutes late.

 

[docjames]

Thanks jb747, this was explained upon boarding re: delays incurred and I think most were pretty accepting given the circumstances. My post didn’t cover this as it was rushed as I was making sure I got it done before “phones off”!

Now sitting in LAX where we copped a slow down just prior to
trip of descent, presumably due to low cloud so eventual arrival was just after 0745 local.

QF11 was held and has just pushed back 0930 local.

jb747 is there a more “usual” arrival runway or is it reasonably mixed? Today we arrived on the northernmost runway whereas typically on the 93s I’ve been on they have landed on the southern side inner runway (sorry not sure numbering’s) allowing a very rapid taxi to TBIT.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 5 April 2018, after holding east of Bendigo, QF605 is arriving in MEL at 0903 hours, 38 late with B738 VH-VYD. It is the 0600 hours ex BNE that took off about 25 minutes late at 0638.

A333 VH-QPG on QF80 ex NRT is worse with MEL arrival likely at 0907 hours, 82 minutes late. It has however made up some time as this 2005 hours scheduled flight from Japan did not take off until 2215 last night, almost two hours behind schedule.

As at 0900 AEST, QF407 (B738 VH-VZM), QF409 (VH-VXU) and QF411 (A332 VH-EBR) were all in the usual Mt Buller, Vic holding pattern position on the SYD - MEL run.

Respectively, arrival is estimated as 0923 (33 late), 0925 hours (50 minutes tardy) and also 0923 (18 minutes late), but these are all likely to be an underestimate of the delays. QF413 (0745 hours SYD - MEL) was further north in a hold over Mt Beauty) and while displaying as only 13 minutes late, this is also likely to not reflect the actual delay to passengers.

QF415 (the 0800 SYD - MEL that took off about 35 late at 0851 with VH-VZW) is showing as 34 late (arrival 1009) but if it is held further south, this will underestimate the delay.

The 0640 hours ADL - MEL, QF674, took off at 0718 with VH-VYB, another B738. Its arrival is forecast as 45 late at 0915 hours.

UPDATE: Showing how delays can at times be more extensive than calculated, QF407 ex SYD is arriving in MEL at 0937 hours, QF409 at 0935 and QF411 at about 0942.

QF413 (the 0745 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 0804, VH-XZM) should arrive half an hour late at 0950 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing the late flights into and out of MEL on Thursday 5 April, QF809 (0845 hours CBR - MEL that took off at 0937, B738 VH-VXJ) is arriving at 1051 hours, 56 minutes tardy.

QF417 (A332 VH-EBV) is ahead of 809, with 417 coming in at 1048, 43 late. This is a SYD - MEL flight.

The 0935 hours SYD - LAX (QF11) departed 66 minutes late. Same day arrival should be at 0725 hours, 65 minutes tardy, which will delay QF11 (the B744) across to JFK. Meanwhile QF15 left BNE at 1051 (41 late) with LAX arrival suggested as 0640 hours, 40 late.

QF127 (B744 VH-OEH, the 1035 hours SYD - HKG) departed at 1149 though takeoff did not take long (1203 hours.) Arrival is expected at 1844, 44 late. The redeye back to SYD, QF128 should be able to depart from about 2025, versus the timetable of 2000 hours.

 

[jb747]

jb747 is there a more “usual” arrival runway or is it reasonably mixed? Today we arrived on the northernmost runway whereas typically on the 93s I’ve been on they have landed on the southern side inner runway (sorry not sure numbering’s) allowing a very rapid taxi to TBIT.

Runways on the north side of the complex are 06/24, and on the south 07/25. On the north, 24L is closest to the terminal, whilst it's 25R on the south side.

Generally 24R is used for our 380 arrivals, and 24L departures. On the south side, it's 25R for departures, and 25L arrivals. The 380 cannot use 25R at all, as there is insufficient clearance from aircraft on the adjacent taxiway. Most of our departures are from 24L, with arrivals on 24R. If forced to by take off performance, we can use 25L, but it normally entails quite a lengthy taxi.

If we land on 25L, even though relatively close to the terminal, it can take a while to get across the adjacent runway. The same problem doesn't seem to exist on 24. From leaving the runway to arriving at the gate it's generally in the order of 5 to 7 minutes.

Whilst we can't use 25R, and the 747 and smaller can, it really doesn't cost us anything. 24L is normally not congested, so the taxi is rapid. The 747/777 can't use 24L for long haul operations, but the queue to use the 25s can be long. The 380 can go at max weight off 24L, which the Boeings cannot.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further for Thursday 5 April, QF29, the timetabled 0935 hours mid morning MEL - HKG did not have its blocks/chocks removed until 1108, so arrival is said to be 1812 early this evening local time, 52 late.

The lengthy PEK down to SYD QF108 (A332 VH-EBL, which has now been to PEK tens of times) is arriving at 1355 hours, 35 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 4 April's 2320 hours late night QF16 from LAX to BNE did not depart until 0055 hours on Thursday 5, so Friday 6 arrival should be at 0720 hours, 75 minutes late.

Thursday 5 has seen the second biggest delay to flagship QF1 since it recommenced operations via SIN. This 1555 hours scheduled SYD departure was not off blocks until 1734 late this afternoon, meaning suggested SIN times of 2330 hours (75 late) to a likely 0050 (at least) on Friday 6, and a probable LHR arrival past 0730 compared to timetabled arrival of 0655.