Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

There are what to laymen appear seem pretty strong winds at MEL during the late evening of Friday 13 April, gusting to 50kmh.

QF499, the 2100 hours SYD - MEL (B738 VH-VXR) took off at 2215 hours, following the identically timed VA flight by three minutes. Expected arrival is 2324 hours, 49 late.

The BNE - CBR QF1553 has B717 Vh-YQY and should arrive at its gate at 2335 hours, 105 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF568, the 2355 hours Friday 13 PER to SYD took off at 0023 on Saturday 14 but diverted to MEL with airconditioning problems. It arrived in MEL at 0623 but the QF website falsely gives the impression that it landed at 0618 hours in SYD.

The media is widely reporting this, implying it was some major event. Probably exaggerating.

Apparently passengers have been placed on local MEL - SYD flights although one would have thought with the lower number of flights on Saturdays, an airline might struggle to quickly find seats for upwards of 250 passengers (assuming 'the 568' was well loaded.)

This must mean that an A333 (QPF) will be out of position today for an international flight ex SYD.

This could be QF23, the 0950 hours SYD - BKK that has been altered to depart at 1230 this afternoon. Expected BKK arrival is 1915 hours tonight, not 1640, so 155 minutes late.

Due to this, QF24, the 1810 hours BKK - SYD is highly likely to not depart prior to 2030 hours but QF is yet to post this on its site. Hopefully passengers are receiving a suitable message on their devices.

Meanwhile, unrelated, QF24 from BKK down to SYD arrived at 0712 on 14 April, 47 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Winds gusting to 54kmh are the order of the Saturday 14 April morning at MEL with a bankup of aircraft waiting to take off as at 1025 hours.

QF796, the 0930 MEL - ASP is well back in the queue. Aircraft is B738 VH-VZT so it will be at least half an hour late.

UPDATE: QF796 was airborne at 1034 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF117, the scheduled 1420 hours mid afternoon Saturday 14 April SYd to HKFG A333 has an overnight delay and will depart instead on Sunday at the rather unattractive time of 0700 hours, meaning for anyone checked into hotels in Sydney by QF because they're connecting from intra or interstate an 0400 hours start to the morning, or earlier.

Also not much good if one was connecting to rail or air in Hong Kong to travel elsewhere, such as mainland China.

A333 VH-QPD is showing on FR24 as having been rostered for this morning's delayed QF23, and then for this QF117, but it departed SYD on QF23 at 1237 hours. Arrival remains predicted for 1915 hours tonight, with the redeye back to SYD, QF24, suggested as departing BKK at what may be a slightly unrealistic 2020 hours for Sunday 15 arrival at 0840 hours, 135 minutes tardy.

Weather in Melbourne has been rain (at long last) and fairly strong winds. QF427 (B738 VH-VXL, the 1100 hours that took off right on 1200 'high noon') should arrive at roughly 1337 hours, 62 minutes late.

The identically timed departure from CBR, QF853 did not take off until 1220 hours. VH-VXK should arrive at around 1348 this afternoon, 98 minutes delayed as it was in the classic Mt Buller (Vic) holding position for quite some racecourse-like jaunts.

Earlier, QF79 from MEL to NRT departed 31 late at 0941 with this evening's arrival suggested as 1910 hours, 35 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on a blustery Saturday 14 April - we've had sun after rain (only in Melbourne!) longhaul QF9, the B789 much promoted flight with 'nighmareliner' seating in Y - is expected to depart MEL at 1615, an hour late. PEr arrival is predicted 45 late at 1800, so the aircraft will be a little delayed from its timetabled 1845 hours pushing back for LHR tonight.

QF is aiming for a 1925 hours departure with LHR Sunday 15 arrival at 0550 hours, 45 late.

UPDATE: QF9 did not depart until 1657 hours, 102 minutes late.n

Its PER stop is estimated as 1840 to 2010 (both 85 late) with LHR arrival at 0625, 80 minutes behind time. It will be interesting to see what occurs, even though Sunday morning at LHR may be less busy than many weekdays.

A333 VH-QPF remains on the ground at MEL (see previous post above re diversion of QF568 this morning.)

Although the Saturday QF117 from SYD to HKG was earlier advised as departing at 0700 hours on Sunday 15, this has become 0930 with a forecast arrival at gate of 1715, more than 19 hours late.

 

[maomaocat]

Although the Saturday QF117 from SYD to HKG was earlier advised as departing at 0700 hours on Sunday 15, this has become 0930 with a forecast arrival at gate of 1715, more than 19 hours late.

Will this have a flow-on effect for the QF117 scheduled for Sunday, 15 April 2018? It is showing as cancelled at the moment, and the telephone queue is over an hour long.

 

[Melburnian1]

Oh dear.

QF117 today (14 April) has just been altered for the third time. First it was to depart on time; this became 0700 on Sunday 15 April, then 0930 hours and now - heaven forbid - 1300 hours on Sunday for a suggested arrival at 2045 hours on Sunday, almost 23 hours late.

Adding insult to injury, QF117/QF118 on Sunday 15 have been cancelled SYD - HKG - SYD.

The Saturday night 2325 hours QF118 from HKG back down to SYD is displaying as departing at 1840 hours on Sunday 15, but this is unlikely to be correct unless an arrival from MEL (QF29) or BNE (QF97) forms it.

Anyone in HKG may want to take careful note of these changes.

Advice form travellers as to what steps QF takes to provide you (of applicable) with accommodation, meals and buses, plus how it gets you to your destination including when would be great.

 

[Melburnian1]

Will this have a flow-on effect for the QF117 scheduled for Sunday, 15 April 2018? It is showing as cancelled at the moment, and the telephone queue is over an hour long.

maomaocat, I must have forgotten to update my browser as I didn't see your post before I updated the information above.

The 'flow on effect' if we can call it that is exactly what you have noted: QF117/QF118 on Sunday (the normally scheduled that day departures) are not operating. QF would not publicly post this on its website for a joke.

Please let us know how you (or those you know who are travelling) get on. I feel sorry for you if you're affected: hope you have a little bit of time up your sleeve. You may well receive messages from QF to your device.

These two return flight changes probably affect upwards of 1000 travellers so it's no minor matter.

 

[Flyerqf]

They must be pushing back the delay until a similar time as the cancelled Sunday QF117 so that they can consolidate some of the pax from both flights.

If QPF is not back in service then they are short to operate the normal schedule let alone an extra flight to make up for Saturday’s QF117/118

 

[Melburnian1]

They must be pushing back the delay until a similar time as the cancelled Sunday QF117 so that they can consolidate some of the pax from both flights.

If QPF is not back in service then they are short to operate the normal schedule let alone an extra flight to make up for Saturday’s QF117/118

Yes, that's what I thought too re the time.

No sign yet of QPF being back in service.

I assume in these circumstances QF would first look for spare seats on its other flights to/from HKG, and then find seats on competitors.

Across in Perth, the 1500 hours CBR - PER that took off at 1626 (B738 VH-XZL) is arriving at 1838, 58 minutes tardy.

 

[Flyerqf]

Anyone know why QF568 went to MEL when ADL was much closer?

 

[Melburnian1]

ADL curfew and hence lack of available staff?

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 13 April, QF94, the 2240 hours LAX - MEL departed 66 late; Sunday 15 arrival should be at 0905 hours, 95 minutes behind schedule.

The B744 on QF16 departed LAX 90 late at 0050 hours on Saturday for a Sunday expected arrival at 0750 hours, 105 minutes late.

These delays are because QF12 (B744) departed JFK 71 late at 1921 on Friday, arriving LAX at 2238, 98 late. QF12 (A388) then departed at 2338 (68 minutes tardy) with Sunday SYD arrival forecast as 0736, 66 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 15 April's QF15 has been delayed from its usual 1010 hours departure ex BNE to an anticipated 1210, meaning a 95 minute late projected arrival in LAX at 0735 hours. This will delay the 0820 hours QF11 across to JFK.

Following its diversion to MEL yesterday on the ex-PER QF768, A333 VH-QPF inoperable remains in MEL (assuming FR24 is accurate.)

QF51, the 1200 'high noon' BNE - SIN has also been cancelled on Sunday 15 April as has the returning QF62, the 2040 hours redeye ex SIN.

The often unpunctual QF23, currently the 0950 hours SYD - BKK departed at 1045 hours so arrival of A333 class leader VH-QPA has become a suggested 1721 hours, 41 minutes late. This will slightly delay tonight's QF24 redeye back down to SYD.

QF6147, either a positioning or maintenance move, or special is approaching SYD for landing at roughly 1145 after a trip down from BNE. B738 VH-VZB is the aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

Anyone know why QF568 went to MEL when ADL was much closer?

jb747 has kindly answered this in AFF's 'Ask the pilot' section.

On Sunday 15 April, QF19 departed SYD 27 minutes late at 1237; MNL arrival is suggested as 1900, half an hour behind.

As well as the almost 24 hour delay to yesterday's QF117/QF118 SYD - HKG return and cancellation of both it and QF51/52 BNE - SIN - BNE today, QF129, the 0930 hours SYD - PVG is expected to depart shortly at 1300, the same time as the long delayed QF117. PVG arrival should be at 2145 hours, 200 minutes late.

QF124 tonight will be unable to depart before 2255 - QF estimates '2300.' SYD arrival on Monday 16 should be at around the 1135 hours mark, 190 minutes tardy.

QF143, the 0955 hours midmorning scheduled across to AKL from SYD (A332 VH-EBK) took off at 1256 so arrival has become 1720 hours, 140 minutes behind schedule. Return flight QF146, the 1535 hours is displaying as departing at 1735 but this will become 1830 or later for a SYD arrival around 1955 tonight.

 

[Quickstatus]

Why did the aircon 568 fly NE? (At least initially)

 

[Melburnian1]

The Saturday 14 April QF117 from SYD departed on Sunday 15 at 1316 hours for HKG with A333 VH-QPD. This aircraft had arrived at 0857, 152 minutes late on QF24 ex BKK.

Delay to the Sunday QF129 (SYD - PVG) has extended another 40 minutes to an estimated 1340 hours.

 

[docjames]

QF96 also late departure 13/4 (~45m) and arrival 15/4 (~60m). Late arrival also meant no gate and therefore more deals with remote gate and bus to terminal.

Anyone know why QF568 went to MEL when ADL was much closer?

I'd suggest "service recovery" is easier in MEL than ADL, especially combined with ADL curfew.

 

[Flyerqf]

VH-QPF is about to position to BNE maintenance from MEL so remains out of service.

VH-QPC is stuck in HNL. Saturday QF4 is delayed until Sunday morning and now due in SYD on Monday. This means QF3 tonight may be delayed.

QF123 BNE - AKL returned to BNE after take off. VH-EBR is the aircraft.

This means there are 3 x 330s out of rotation.

 

[Melburnian1]

...This means there are 3 x 330s out of rotation.

Thanks Flyerqf.

At a minimum, even if each aircraft only operated two sectors a day - one out and one back - that means at 75 per cent occupancy roughly 2600 passengers a day that have to be 'reaccommodated' - transferred - to other flights.

Not significant in terms of the total number QF conveys each day, but complex because as we all know, lots of passengers using international flights are not 'OD traffic' - they connect from or to other destinations, and sometimes both.