Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

In further on Monday 23 April, QF79, the 0910 hours MEL - NRT is expected to depart at 1000.

QF610, the 0910 hours MEL - BNE has been cancelled as has QF488, the 0845 hours MEL - SYD.

The 0840 hours MEL - ADL, QF675 departed 47 minutes late with arrival suggested as 1025 hours, 55 minutes late. The 1000 hours on the same route (QF679) has been cancelled.

QF418 (0900 hours MEL - SYD) was supposedly to depart at 0950 but the delay has extended beyond this. QF420, the 0930 hours northbound that was meant to depart at 0955 is also further delayed, while QF422, the 1000 is showing as commencing pushback at 1035.

QF482 (1045 hours MEL - SYD) is predicted to depart half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with what has been a foggy Monday 23 April 2018 adversely affecting MEL flights, QF676, the 0905 hours from ADL that took off at 1002 is arriving with B738 VH-VYJ at 1153 hours, 58 minutes tardy.

Another flight ex ADL, QF678 (VH-VXQ), the 1005 hours that was airborne at 1100 should arrive at about 1228 hours, 33 minutes behind time.

QF419 and QF421, respectively the 0900 and 0930 hours southbound SYD to MEL (A332 VH-EBB and B738 VH-VYL) should arrive at 1155 and 1157, which in turn is 80 and 52 minutes behind schedule.

B738 VH-VZE on QF423 is not all that far behind with this timetabled 1000 hours SYD - MEL having become airborne at 1051. Arrival is anticipated at 1210, 35 late.

The BNE - MEL QF613, the 0900 hours that was in the sky at 0951 with B738 VH-VZB should be at its designated gate at 1205 hours, 40 minutes late. In the opposite direction, QF614 (1110 hours that was in the sky at 1159 with VH-VXC) should arrive at 1357, 37 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF79, the 0910 hours MEL - NRT was cancelled on Monday 23 April 2018. Yet both QF30 ex HKG (A333 VH-QPF) and QF80 ex NRT (A333 VH-QPH) operated into MEL pretty much as normal.

VH-QPH went north on the 23 April QF29 to HKG. QPF remains in MEL as at 1250 hours.

QF80 ex NRT overnight to MEL tonight also cancelled.

The fog continues to create delays with QF428 (1130 hours northbound MEL - SYD) having taken off at 1250 hours with B738 VH-VYJ. Arrival is expected at about 1400 hours, 65 minutes late.

The next northbound, QF430 (VH-VZB), the 1200 hours 'high noon ex the southern capital, was airborne at about 1300 so it should be at its mainland harbour city destination gate at roughly 1406, 41 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Monday 23 April, QF6101 (B738 VH-VXQ) is operating what I assume is a SYD - MEL positioning move, having taken off at 1552 mid afternoon. Many aircraft/crew are likely to be out of position given this morning's MEL fog.

A332 VH-EBB on QF475, the 1135 hours MEL - PER took off at 1333, Afternoon predicted arrival has become 1515, an even 90 late.

B738 VH-VXI on QF1015, the 1515 hours mid afternoon from MEL down to HBA was in the sky at 1608 and should arrive at roughly 1707, 37 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPF has not operated any flights since arriving from HKG on QF30 in MEL at 0801, 26 minutes late on Monday 23 April.

This is the second time in recent days that this aircraft may have failed. One wonders how QF dealt with passengers on cancelled QF79/QF80 today. Advice from travellers would be good.

 

[serfty]

A333 VH-QPF has not operated any flights since arriving from HK

It actually arrived at gate (3) 7:57 am ... I was off it by 8am and through landside by 8:05am. This was as fast as I could remember.

I had wondered why immigration/customs was so lightly passengered and I was through so fast - Fog. Knew it was around but since the landing was only a few minutes after that predicted on departure I had not thought it had been that big an issue.

I guess QF94 crew could not take a chance at an ~6am decision time, my flight was luckier.

 

[Melburnian1]

serfty, very important point. When there's fog, "luck" must play a part. Consider a couple of days ago at MEL when at least four international flights coming in at about 0630 hours diverted to SYD (see a few posts back) but the small number coming in around 0500 and many more arriving at 0730 hours were fine.

On Tuesday 24 April, QF107 (often punctual), the 1210 hours from SYD to PEK did not depart until 1403. Expected arrival is 2330 hours, 75 minutes late meaning that the 2345 hours redeye back to SYD (QF108) is expected to depart an hour late. Ut should arrive back in SYD tomorrow arvo at 1425, 65 late.'

QF459 (B738 VH-XZI, the 1800 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 1859) is arriving at roughly 2911, 36 minutes tardy.

The Monday 23 QF16 (scheduled from LAX at 2320 hours in the late evening) commenced pushing back 37 minutes late with Wednesday 25 arrival suggested at 0652, 47 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Quickstatus]

@Melburnian1
With the changes coming to the QF scheduling, do you see any tight spots?.

Farewell the previous ones QF10-9 (DXB-SYD-DXB) and QF94-93 ((LAX-MEL-LAX)

And farewell the DXB adventure?. I don’t think it was that good.

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, from one of our aviators who flew the route a lot to many passengers, what has struck me about DXB has been how the market 'spoke.'

The new QF1/2/9/10, in total, have about 25 per cent less capacity (to or from LHR) via SIN or PER than the previous all via DXB timetable. As you know, the cut has been achieved by a 50 per cent reduction in through LHR-MEL-LHR seats.

So to my mind it was distinctly unsuccessful. There has only been limited comments from QF as to how it went financially but these were sufficient to deduce it was unprofitable.

I had mixed experiences. When on QF9, it was at about 60 per cent load factor: QF10 was better, but my sample size was too small. Irrespective of BITRE load figures, published monthly, it's yields that are more important.

So far, punctuality has been reasonable most days on QF9/10 although there've been one or two instances of flights being hours late.

Last night, QF9 departed PEr 23 late and arrived LHR this morning 29 late at 0534 hours. Recently the arrival time has typically been 0540 to 0545 at gate, 35 to 40 late.

If for any reason it's late out of PER by more than half an hour, there may be at least a little extra holding into LHR because at 0500 there aren't many arrivals, but by 0600 both arrivals and departures are becoming much busier, unsurprisingly.

With QF1/2 via SIN, I didn't expect much if any late running, but again, there have been some instances of hours late departures from SYD in particular.

This arvo (Wednesday 25 April 2018) QF1 departed SYD at 1746, 111 minutes late. The SIN stop is expected to be from 0015 hours to 0150 on Thursday 26 with LHR arrival at 0645, 110 minutes behind schedule.

During the next northern winter may be the real test. It will be interesting to see if QF9 has to divert to a European airport.

QF95/96 have been reasonable although again there have been instances of unpunctuality.

I guess we need a full year's data to see whether seasonal weather patterns adversely affect some of these flights more often than at present. It's then that the relatively limited time southeast/east bound for QF9 may result in delays from which recovery isn't totally possible.

 

[OATEK]

With QF1/2 via SIN, I didn't expect much if any late running, but again, there have been some instances of hours late departures from SYD in particular.

This arvo (Wednesday 25 April 2018) QF1 departed SYD at 1746, 111 minutes late. The SIN stop is expected to be from 0015 hours to 0150 on Thursday 26 with LHR arrival at 0645, 110 minutes behind schedule.

They only towed it over about 15:45, so it got away reasonably smartly and ahead of the 18:00 they were suggesting as it was being towed.

 

[Melburnian1]

They only towed it over about 15:45, so it got away reasonably smartly and ahead of the 18:00 they were suggesting as it was being towed.

OATEK, thanks. Any reason given, or do you just believe it was 'maintenance?"

 

[OATEK]

OATEK, thanks. Any reason given, or do you just believe it was 'maintenance?"

Maintenance of some kind, but I was in T2 so didn't hear anything, just saw it being towed across.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF94 no longer has to do a quick turn around anymore to form QF93. It appears QF94 forms QF35 MEL to SIN departing after midday allowing some extra time up the sleeve.

So it could wait for some late MEL bound pax from JFK off QF12 transpac or do a splash and dash at SYD for fuel due to fog in MEL without being late for QF35

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 27 April 2018, QF73, the 1245 hours lunchtime SYD - SFO departed at 1358. Expected arrival is an hour late at 1005 hours.

Another B744, QF63 (1055 hours SYD - JNB) pushed back at 1150, meaning anticipated arrival at 1735, 35 late.

QF107 from SYD to PEK departed 40 late at 1250. Arrival should be at 2245, half an hour behind schedule.

Earlier, QF29 from MEL up to HKG was 93 minutes tardy, getting away at 1108 and arriving at 1823 hours, 63 late.

QF81, the 1015 hours morning SYD up to SIN departed 34 late, arriving in the Lion City at a similar 38 late - 1728 hours.

 

[jb747]

The quick turn arounds were an issue for both flights. Like so many things, they looked good on paper.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 28 April has QF38, the 2350 hours Friday 27 that took off at 0053 on Saturday likely to arrive at 0945 hours, half an hour late. A332 VH-EBN has the task.

 

[Quickstatus]

@Melburnian1
Which are the quick turnaround flights in the airline.

I understand the A330 flights from Asia to Australia then turnaround back to Asia have a tight turn around times?

What’s a tight turnaround time for an A330-200/300?

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, a quick turnaround is probably 75 - 80 minutes.

'What flight forms what' varies as we all know and like many airlines QF can, to some extent, 'swap' planes at very short notice, particularly if they have say two A333s coming in and one was late. It gets complicated when the 'equipment varies' to use that airline term as seating configurations are out of whack, disappointing some passengers.

An example of a tight tyrnaround is QF80, the NRT to MEL flight that arrives daily at 0745 before departing back to Japan at 0910 hours. However it is possible for the aircraft from QF30 ex HKG to form QF79.

Some tight turnarounds are at the Asian end.

For instance QF23 to QF24 in BKK has 90 minutes allowed, with QF23 having frequently become late in the last few months. QF19 to QF20 in MNL similarly has 90 minutes allowed, as does QF41 to QF42 in CGK.

This isn't an exhaustive list.

 

[jb747]

Something that affects turnarounds/transits is that maintenance requirements can vary depending upon where you are. MEL items that might be available for a turnaround in Singapore (etc) may not be available for the same fault if it were to occur in Melbourne. By the same token, an aircraft from one airline may be able to depart with a fault that will stop the same type departing if operated by another airline.

 

[Melburnian1]

MEL items that might be available for a turnaround in Singapore (etc) may not be available for the same fault if it were to occur in Melbourne. By the same token, an aircraft from one airline may be able to depart with a fault that will stop the same type departing if operated by another airline.

@jb747, simply out of interest, one might expect that 'minimum equipment list' - I put that in full because for new or occasional AFF users that might be confused with airport code for Melbourne - items would be more readily available in a major Australian port for Australian-domiciled airlines than in a foreign 'port' like Singapore.

Does this reflect how, in this airline's (QF's) case, it has some planes that are sent to SIN for repainting and hence a fair stock of spare parts is available?

Or is it that not much maintenance occurs in MEL for any airline (including QF) and hence these parts must in many cases be flown or surface freighted in?