Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[bjm76]

On Wednesday 13 June QF23 SYD to BKK was about 40 mins late departing SYD and 40 mins late arriving into BKK. I was on the flight. Was caused by using the 'bus' gates i.e. 26 at SYD. Gate agent said due to a broken aerobridge somewhere else at the airport. No doubt some WPs were annoyed as the bus transfer doesnt really enforce priority boarding.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 13 June QF23 SYD to BKK was about 40 mins late departing SYD and 40 mins late arriving into BKK. I was on the flight. Was caused by using the 'bus' gates i.e. 26 at SYD....No doubt some WPs were annoyed as the bus transfer doesnt really enforce priority boarding.

bjm76, thank you for a great 'man on the spot' report.

Unfortunately QF23 is one of the worst performing QF flights for running to time. This was not true a couple of years ago, but the last few months have been bad. Not sure why this flight is such a worse performer than say QF129 to PVG, as one would have thought mainland Chinese military use of airspace was a constraint affecting 'the 129' but not 'the 23.'

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 14 June 2018, QF19 departed SYD 75 late at 1325 hours with MNL arrival suggested as 55 late at 1925 tonight. This will delay QF20, the scheduled 2000 hours redeye back down to SYD.

 

[bjm76]

bjm76, thank you for a great 'man on the spot' report.

Unfortunately QF23 is one of the worst performing QF flights for running to time. This was not true a couple of years ago, but the last few months have been bad. Not sure why this flight is such a worse performer than say QF129 to PVG, as one would have thought mainland Chinese military use of airspace was a constraint affecting 'the 129' but not 'the 23.'

I was wondering too Melburnian1. Perhaps few connecting flights onwards from BKK? But as we were waiting in the queue to go downstairs to have BPs scanned and board the bus, I noticed a few other pax had onwards boarding passes for PG flights so the newish codeshare with PG must be a success.

Anyway such a full flight for a Wednesday so good to see QF filling the planes when TG offers a competitive service on 747s. TG is often cheaper than QF too.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Thursday 14 June, QF97 departed BNE at 1140 hours, 55 late so HKG arrival is suggested as 1925, 85 late.

QF8 is not late as often as QF12, but on Wednesday 13, 'the 8' departed DFW at 2313 hours, 84 late so SYD Friday 15 arrival has become an estimated 0646 hours, 41 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 14 June 2018 saw QF19 arrive MNL 86 late at 1956 hours. The returning QF20 departed at 2115 hours, 75 late with Friday 15 arrival in SYD suggested as 45 late at 0655 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 14 June 2018's QF30 (A333 VH-QPF) departed HKG at 2206 hours, 116 minutes late with Friay 15 arrival suggested as 0937, 122 late. This was due to QF97 on Wednesday from BNE to HKG being delayed on approach to HKG, and then QGF98 on Wednesday night and QF97 on Thursday also being late.

QF29 on Friday should depart MEL back to HKG at 1030, 55 late - but if formed by QF30 this will understate the delay - with QF claiming HKG arrival at 1815 tonight, 55 late.

UPDATE: QF has revised the expected departure of QF29 to 1100, which is much more realistic. NJot sure why the computer or the inputter did not "know" this already: it was obvious. HKG arrival is suggested as 1845 hours, 85 minutes late.

QF23 from SYD to BKK is predicted to depart 100 minutes late at 1130, with arrival suggested at 1825 tonight, 105 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 15 June 32018, QF29 departed MEL at 1147, 132 minutes late. Predicted HKG arrival has ballooned out to 1906 hours, 106 minutes late.

QF23 departed much as predicted at 1121 from SYD: BKK arrival is estimated at 1820, 100 minutes behind schedule.

QF129, the 0930 hours SYD - PVG did not commence pushing back until 1157, so arrival in this major mainland Chinese city has become 2032, 127 minutes late.

QF81, the 1015 hours morning SYD - SIN is not often late but today it was 74 minutes late in departing with arrival forecast for 1806 hours, 76 minutes late.

The 1035 hours SYD - HKG, QF127 is showing as departing at 12250 hours with arrival predicted for 1955, 115 minutes late.

The B744 on the 1055 hours SYD - JNB, QF63 is expected to shortly depart at 1300 hours with likely arrival at 1845 tonight local time, 105 minutes late. QF64 returning overnight will be tardy.

The 1210 hours SYD - MNL A332, QF19 should depart at 1305.

QF7, the longhaul A388 from SYD to DFW is delayed 25 minutes to an estimated 1300 hours.

The B744 on QF73 (1245 hours SYD - SFO) should depart at 1350 meaning a 70 minute late estimated arrival at 1015 hours, same day.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the expected arrival of QF63 on Friday 15 June in JNB at 1905 hours, 125 minutes late, the returning redeye QF64 is predicted to depart JNB at 2050 hours (100 minutes late) and arrive SYD on Saturday 16 afternoon at 1645 hours (110 minutes behind schedule.)

Also on Saturday 16, QF24 from BKK should arrive in SYD at 0750 hours, 85 minutes late while QF20 from MNL )A332 VH-EBG - more often on SYD - PEK QF107) should be 65 late arriving at 0715 hours. QF130 is estimated to be at its SYD gate at 1025, two hours late.

Thursday 14's QF12 departed LAX 79 late at 2349 but on a gate-to-gate basis should trim some of the deficit with SYD Saturday arrival estimated as 47 late at 0717 hours.

The LAX - BNE QF16 B744 departed 70 late with arrival on Saturday suggested as 0647 hours, a similar 42 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In addition to the delayed arrivals noted above, on Saturday 16 June, QF98 from HKG arrived in BNE 33 minutes tardy at 0738 hours.

QF130 is arriving in SYD at 1029 this morning, 124 minutes late (ex PVG) and is turning around to operate a delayed QF23, the scheduled 0950 hours to BKK that QF suggests will depart at 1150 hours, arriving BKK at 1845 hours local time, 125 minutes late.

In turn this will mean QF24 tonight ex BKK being unable to depart until at least 1955, 105 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 16 June, QF23 from SYD to BKK departed even later than predicted, at 1214 hours meaning suggested arrival tonight has become 1910, 150 minutes late. QF24, the 1810 hours redeye back to SYD should be able to depart from about 2025, meaning it ought be in SYD at around the 0800 - 0830 mark tomorrow.

The overnight JNB - SYD was unable to punctually depart due to late arrival of QF63 yesterday. The former commenced pushback at 2115 hours, 125 minutes late, so Saturday 16 arrival has become 1702, 127 minutes behind time.

QF29 (0935 hours MEL up to HKG) departed 122 late at 1137 with forecast arrival 1850, 90 minutes late.

The 0930 hours SYD - PVG, QF129 departed 34 late at 1004. Arrival is forecast for 1915, 50 minutes behind the schedule.

Befitting its number, QF127 was 27 late departing SYD at 1102 so arrival in HKG has become 1838, 38 late.]

QF63, the long B744 flight from SYD across to JNB departed 59 late at 1155 so arrival is estimated at 1752, 52 late. QF64 will be at least marginally delayed.

'The 7' from SYD to DFW is expected to depart 35 late at 1310 but should still be on time (or early) arriving in Texas. QF73 (1245 hours SYD - SFO B744) should depart half an hour tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 16 June, QF97 from BNE to HKG was again late, with departure 64 minutes behind time at 1149 and expected arrival at 1900 tonight, an hour late.

QF623, the mid afternoon 1400 hours from BNE down to MEL (B738 VH-XZP that took off at 1457) should arrive at 1700, 35 late.

The 1420 hours SYD - HKG (QF117, A333 VH-QPA) was airborne at 1512, so likely arrival has become also 35 late at 2235 hours tonight.

A332 VH-EBP on QF19, the 1210 hours SYD - MNL departed at 1234 but is predicted to be 35 minutes late into the Philippine capital at 1905 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 15 June 2018, QF12 did not depart JFK until 2016 hours, 126 minutes late, arriving LAX at 2211, 71 late.

The ongoing flight QF12 with its different aircraft pushed back in LAX at a much delayed 0145 hours, 195 late, so Sunday 17 arrival has become 0911, 161 late.

QF16 from LAX to BNE departed at 0106, ahead of QF12 (quite unusual), which was 106 late. Sunday arrival in BrisVegas should be at 0705, 60 late.

QF94 to MEL left LAX 50 late but is expected to be three minutes early into the southern capital.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 16 June, QF10 departed PER 45 minutes late at 1515, arriving MEL at 2038, 43 late. QF95 from MEL to LAX is expected to depart half an hour late at 2210 hours as a result.

Earlier, the 1015 hours SYD - KIX QF33 departed at 1115 hours, an hour behind, arriving at 1927, 77 late. QF34 back overnight to SYD should depart 65 late at 2145 for a Sunday 17 June estimated arrival at 0830, an hour late. VH-QPC is the aircraft.

The large number of A333/A332 delays on QFi during the last few days is a further example of how this airline is pushing that part of its fleet too hard. The weather has been fairly benign, yet many flights are at least an hour late arriving.

Not good enough, and not the case with many foreign-based competitors even though Australia is not their base.

QF badly needs to have a bit more redundancy in its flight schedules. This won't prevent aircraft failing, but it should minimise delays, especially ex SYD. As I've noted before, BNE for QFi tends to be a better performer than MEL of the two smaller east coast QFi ports, but even QF97 (BNE - HKG) has had some delayed departures (and hence tardy arrivals) in the last week.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Sunday 17 June 2018, QF63, the 1055 hours morning SYD - JNB departed at 1123 with expected arrival similar at 1730, half an hour tardy.

Another B744, QF27 was 40 late away at 1315 this arvo. Estimated arrival is 1145 hours, 35 minutes later than the timetable states.

QF29 (0935 hours MEL - HKG) has been late quite a bit in recent days. Today was not an exception with pushing back occurring 72 late, and arrival 55 late at 1815 hours.

QF35 from MEL up to SIN was 63 late departing at 1258. Arrival was 45 late at 1840 early this evening local time.

The SYD - DFW '7' is often timely but today departure was 87 late at 1402. Arrival is forecast for 1405, 65 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Much later on Sunday 17 June, QF487 (B738 VH-VXJ, the 2000 hours SYD - MEL that was airborne at 2144) is likely to arrive at 2255 hours, 80 late.

Northbound QF492, B738 VH-VZP on this schduled 2030 hours flight ex MEL took off at 2157, so arrival is predicted as 2302, 67 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 18 June 2018, QF33, the 1015 thrice weekly SYD - KIX departed at 1107. Expected arrival at 2006 hours will be 56 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monay 18 June 2018 finds QF107, the scheduled 1210 hours lunchtime SYD - PEK that had been showing as delayed until 1240 now further delayed until an expected 1300 hours, meaning arrival late tonight local time at 2300 hours, 45 minutes behind the schedule.

This flight usually has a good timekeeping record. Mostly it is one of the two unrefurbished A332s, VH-EBG and --L with their increased galley space and more suitable crew rest facilities, but occasionally it becomes an A333, although more often than not the latter are fully utilised.

Some flights continue to be cancelled on a 'planned' basis. QF79, usually a daily morning MEL - NRT is not running today.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 18 June 2018, QF459, the 1800 hours SYD down to MEL was airborne at 1903 with B738 VH-VZL. Arrival is predicted at 2017 hours, 42 late.

QF665 (VH- VZU, the 1810 BNE down to ADL that was airborne at 1907) is set to arrive at 2106 hours, 36 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF94 from LAX to MEL is arriving on Tuesday 19 June 2018 at an expected 0901 hours, 91 late with A388 VH-OQJ. As this aircraft normally next goes to SIN on QF35 at 1155, that should be on time. Not so long ago this would have resulted in a late departure for QF93 but no more.

The PVG down to SYD redeye QF130 (A333 VH-QPC) should arrive at about 0857, 32 late after a hold above Pokolbin as SYD arrivals is congested.