Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, fascinating: I'd seen one of the photos in the first article previously but the photography is terrific - especially the photo of all those trying to get the attention of the sole female Air India clerk: a classic.

I didn't know that the terminals were privately operated as on my visits to New York I have always arrived (thankfully) by Amtrak and not by air. Seems a failure of management of the Port Authority doesn't it.

The articles will be relevant to winter over there in six months' time. However jb747 remarked some time ago about summer thunderstorms also being an operating constraint into or out of New York so while not mentioned in either article, one wonders if that too is a scenario requiring some cessation of long distance flights.

Articles drive home that with rare exceptions in Australia, we tend not to face the extremely severe weather conditions seen elsewhere in a fair block of the world.

When there are delays to QF11/QF12 or whatever these flights become, or in time QF nonstops to JFK, I'll think of these articles!

 

[Melburnian1]

As an aside to delays, VH-OQK (A388) has been in DXB since 16 May being repainted in the new livery, a task best done there as MNL probably lacks ability to do that.

However VH-OQG doesn't look to have been anywhere since arriving in SYD on QF8 on about 12 May. Is it undergoing maintenance locally?

Utilisation of the A388s with the new timetable (reflecting changes to QF1/2/9/10 via SIN and PER respectively) is less compared to the previous timetable.. Even though VH-OQC was 17 hours late into SYD tonight on QF2, VH-OQL has been idle all day in SYD whuile VH-OQJ (on QF8) and VH-OQD (QF12) will arrive SYD early tomorrow morning, plus tomorrow arvo VH-OQA on the delayed QF2.

 

[Quickstatus]

A requirement of not only landing slot but a Gate assurance would be a rare occurrence.

The terminals are all privately and individually run so no oversight usually necessary as it all seems to work - until a snowstorms overwhelms. Appears they are putting in a layer of oversight next time or at least an agreed procedure.

I remember once that my aircraft had departed the ramp at DEN (to allow others to use the gate ) and then sat for a while. The pilots mentioned they were on a ground hold until clearance to land at LAX was given

I’m not sure that the crystal ball can be accurate for a project sunrise SYD-JFK flight that a gate can be clear in 20hrs time.

 

[serfty]

However VH-OQG doesn't look to have been anywhere since arriving in SYD on QF8 on about 12 May. Is it undergoing maintenance locally?

According to www.theqantassource.com , yes.

QANTAS A380-800 VH-OQG

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 30 May 2018 finds VA1513 (B717 VH-YQV, the 0810 hours MEL - CBR that took off at 0950 hours) that should arrive in the national capital at 1025 hours, 80 minutes late.

 

[Blackbird]

VZB is doing tonight’s QF10 PER-MEL. Arrinving 00:23 according to QF web site.

 

[Melburnian1]

Much later on 30 May, QF9, the 1515 hours mid afternoon MEL - PER departed at 1544, arriving at 1739, 24 late. However, departure for LHR was 71 late at 1956 hours, just a few minutes ago. The QF website suggests LHR arrival on Thursday 31 should be at 0545 hours, 40 late.

As AFF member Blackbird alludes above, QF9 was able to 'say hi' to QF10 in PER - unusual - as QF10 did not depart for MEL until 1857 hours tonight, 267 minutes tardy. QF95 does not operate tonight from MEL to LAX.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF63 has been cancelled lately (planned) on an extra day due presumably to May being a relatively low demand month.

On Thursday 31, it departed SYD at 1133, 38 minutes late with afternoon JNB arrival suggested at 1735, 35 late.

QF15, the 1010 hours also B744 from BNE across to LAX departed 65 late but is expected to only be 27 late arriving in movie city.

The 0510 hours scheduled SYD arruval of QF2 (ex SIN) was delayed by 38 minutes on 31 May.

QF1, the 1555 SYD - SIN has been altered to depart at 2145. On Friday 1 June, the stop should be at 0405 to 0530 with LHR arrival estimated at 1210 hours, 310 minutes late. QF1 (and QF2) have been late quite a few times lately.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delay to Thursday 31 May's QF1 has extended to a projected 2230 hours ex SYD, making it at least 395 minutes late.

This doesn't leave much of a margin before 'the delegate' will be called upon to consider whether an 'extension' should be granted so that it is exempt from the 2300 hours curfew.. At least with the relatively short 7.5 hours sector to Singapore (plus sign on and sign off time), there shouldn't be any pressure upon crew hours given that I assume their sign on was not 1500 or so but altered to around 2030.

QF583 (A332 VH-EBM, the 1945 hours SYD across to PER that was airborne at 2112 hours) should arrive at 2348 late tonight, 58 late.

UPDATE: A388 VH-OQA departed SYD at 2242, taking off at 2258. SIN arrival should be at 0445, 390 minutes late with suggested departure at 0600 for a LHR arrival tomorrow at 1235 hours, 340 late. VH-OQA had arrived yesterday (Wednesday) at 1739, 12 hours plus late on QF2D ex SIN so no standout reason for today's lateness given that SYD is a QF A388 base.

 

[Melburnian1]

The first day of winter - and what a beautiful day in 'Mexico' - sees QF130, the redeye from PVG down to SYD (A333 VH-QPI) - likely to arrive SYD at 0939, 74 minutes late.

Yesterday's QF1 that 'escaped' SYD only a few minutes before the 2300 hours curfew has lost further time as its SIN stop this morning (1 June 2018) was from 0457 hours (402 minutes late) to 0726 (451 minutes behind schedule.) LHR arrival should be at 1330 this afternoon local time, 395 late. This should not by itself mean a late departure for tonight's QF2 as there is still a generous layover for the latter is a mid evening departure.

QF402 (B738 VH-VYG, the 0745 hours MEL up to SYD that took off at 0828) is arriving at a suggested 0948 hours, 38 late. The following flight, QF414, the 0800 hours was in the sky at 0925 so arrival should be at 1038 hours, 73 minutes late. It has A332 VH-EBD.]

The 0845 hours ex MEL is also delayed with BV738 VH-XZH taking off at 0946 for a forecast 1059 hours at gate time in SYD, 49 late.

QF861 is pretty similar but approaching from the north as this OOL - SYD (VH-XZK) should arrive at 1007 hours, 42 late.

UPDATE: QF1's arrival at LHR has been further revised to 1350, 415 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

From observation (as no published figures), QFi flight ex BNE seem more punctual than ex MEL or SYD. However on the first day of winter, the BNE - HKG QF97 is bucking the trend with its 1045 hours scheduled departure put back by an expected two hours. Arrival is predicted at 1950 tonight, 110 late. I cannot see any QFi flights using this type of aircraft that were late arriving in BNE this morning, so again no standout cause for the significant delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Friday 1 June 2018, QF23 (the 0950 hours SYD - BKK, A333 VH-QPI) took off at 1219 but has apparently returned to Sydney.

The flight is displaying as delayed until 1540 in its departure, meaning BKK arrival at the earliest at 2215 hours tonight, 335 minutes late.

I couldn't get FR24 to do a playback, but FlightAware suggests that the flight took off at about 1220, turned around at 1233 and landed at 1317 hours. Further advice would be appreciated.

QF24 will be hours late into SYD tomorrow, that's for sure.

 

[Comoman]

In further on Friday 1 June 2018, QF23 (the 0950 hours SYD - BKK, A333 VH-QPI) took off at 1219 but has apparently returned to Sydney.

The flight is displaying as delayed until 1540 in its departure, meaning BKK arrival at the earliest at 2215 hours tonight, 335 minutes late.

I couldn't get FR24 to do a playback, but FlightAware suggests that the flight took off at about 1220, turned around at 1233 and landed at 1317 hours. Further advice would be appreciated.

QF24 will be hours late into SYD tomorrow, that's for sure.

Further info here:

Qantas plane circles over Sydney, returns to airport

 

[Melburnian1]

Defective A333 VH-QPI was replaced by colleague VH-QPH that had arrived in SYD at 1016 this morning, 34 minutes early on QF118 ex HKG last night.

QF23 then departed at 1602, taking off quite expeditiously at 1616 hours. BKK arrival is suggested as 2241 hours, 361 minutes late.

QF24 is then expected to depart at around 2350 by QF (which seems to be slightly optimistic) with Saturday 2 June SYD arrival at a projected 1155 hours, 330 minutes behind the timetable.

Although not nearly as bad as yesterday's 2242 hours pushing back, QF1 was again tardy this afternoon with its 1 June departure 76 late at 1711 (A388 VH-OQC), meaning the estimate of the SIN stop is 2325 to on Saturday 2 June 0040 hours and LHR arrival at 0735, 40 minutes late.

QF41 on Friday 1 June departed 11 late at 1356 but on a gate-to-gate basis is predicted to lose time with CGK arrival at 1915 hours, 35 late. A332 VH-EBM is the taskmaster.

Thursday night's QF2 (VH-OQD) departed London at 2155 hours, 40 down and is showing as arriving SIN at 1755, half an hour late. Departure is then expected not until 2015, 45 late with Saturday 2 June arrival in SYD at 0605, 55 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 1 June, QF365, the 1900 hours SYD down to MEL (B738 VH-VYE) was in the sky at about 1953 so arrival at about 2105 will be half an hour behind schedule.

B738 VH-VYI on QF743, the 1830 hours SYD across to ADL airborne at 1926 should arrive at 2045 hours, 35 late.

 

[redwoodw]

Surprised it wasn’t covered but the QF117 departed 5 hours late and is still airborne. The return QF118 is likely going to be delayed til 0330 HKT tonight. Looks like the QF98 to BNE took the inbound aircraft from QF29 MEL and departed on time, leaving the QF30 to MEL 3 hours late. A weird decision I can’t wrap my head around. Chaotic day at HKG

 

[Melburnian1]

Surprised it wasn’t covered but the QF117 departed 5 hours late and is still airborne. The return QF118 is likely going to be delayed til 0330 HKT tonight....

Apologies redwoodw, I'm fallible and sometimes miss things, and wasn't monitoring that flight yesterday.

The badly delayed QF23 (which had the engine problems on the original A333, meaning a return to SYD and plane swap) arrived BKK at 2250 hours on Friday 1 June with QF24 turning around extremely quickly and departing at 2353 hours. SYD arrival on Saturday 2 June should be at 1155, 330 minutes late.

QF117 (A332 VH-EBL), the 1420 hours 1 June SYD - HKG second flight indeed took off at 1908, arriving at 0221 hours today instead of 2200 hours on Friday night. The same aircraft formed QF118, taking off at 0403 hours with estimated SYD arrival this afternoon at 1443 hours, 233 minutes tardy.

Also on 1 June, VH_QPJ (A333) on QF97 from BNE to HKG was further delayed from the two hours originally expected, as takeoff was at 1425 and arrival at 2153 instead of 1800 hours. This aircraft then formed QF30 from HKG, the redeye down to MEL, departing 181 late at 2311 and taking off at 2336 with arrival suggested at 1034 hours in the southern capital, 179 late.

On Saturday 2 June, QF29 from MEL to HKG is showing as delayed from 0935 to 1130 but this may be an underestimate.

redwoodw, swapping QF29 ex MEL in HKG to then run back down to BNE on QF98 and the reverse with QF97 to QF30 seems quite common, and it's something I've remarked on before. Not quite sure why QF does it: unlikely to be for maintenance, as these aircraft tend to turn around again in MEL and BNE, and it's the same number of stressful takeoffs and landings, so perhaps not to do with flight cycle numbers.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 2 June, following its return to SYD yesterday due to engine problems on the SYD - BKK QF23, A333 VH-QPI remains out of service.

The 1210 hours SYD up to PEK, QF107, is expected to depart at 1550 hours and arrive at 0200 on Sunday 3 June, 225 minutes late. QF108 that should normally arrive tomorrow at 1320 is unlikely to be in SYD much before 1600 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Saturday 2 June, whiloe QF29 from MEL to HKG was estimated to depart two hours late at 1135, it did not so do until 1202 hours. Estimated arrival is 1945 hours, 145 minutes late. A333 VH-QPJ is the aircraft.

FR24 annoyingly shows this flight as hardly late, because it seems to take the amended departure time as gospel. However the true schedule is an 0935 hours departure and 1720 hours arrival. FR24 has started to do this a lot and not just with QF.

Tonight, QF30 is estimated to depart HKG 50 late at 2100 hours for a Sunday 3 June MEL arrival at 0815 hours, 40 late.

QF107 departed SYD at 1607, 243 minutes behind schedule with A332 VH-EBL, as the plane had arrived at 1426, very late, on QF118 ex HKG.

PEK arrival should be at about 0200 on Sunday 3, but a more accurate time may be popped on the QF website once the aircraft is at cruising altitude given the variability in taxiing times.

The 1420 hours SYD - HKG, QF117 (A333 VH-QPC) was late for the second consecutive day, departing 177 minutes behind at 1717 hours. This was because it had arrived in SYD on QF108 at 1410 this afternoon. HKG arrival should be at 0045 hours on Sunday 3 June, 165 minutes late.

The returning QF118 is (too optimistically) predicted to depart at 0150 hours, 145 late with SYD Sunday arrival expected at 1320 hours, 150 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 2 June 2018, QF3, the early evening medium to long flight from SYD up to HNL is expected to depart half an hour late.