Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[kamchatsky]

Adding to the 'lottery' status of SYD - MEL flights, the Thursday 12 July 0830 hours did not take off until 1122 with A332 VH-EBV. Arrival should be 156 minutes late at 1241 this arvo. The aircraft had arrived at the international terminal at 0814 hours, 44 minutes late on the usually punctual QF42, the redeye from CGK, but then would have had to be transferred to the domestic terminal that takes time.

This looks to be forming QF426, the 1100 hours MEL - SYD that has been changed to depart at 1320 for a 1445 hours arrival, 140 minutes late. 39 minutes is probably inadequate time to 'reverse' this A332 so it may arrive in SYD somewhat later this arvo.

I was on Qf468 when the guy sitting next to me that he was on 0830 flight for day trip to work. He said the aircraft went tech so they had to bring another aircraft to replace it as all other flights were full. So essentially he came to Melbourne for 1 hour meeting and flew straight back as our flight back to Sydney was a 1615 flight.

 

[Flyerqf]

why would an airport have issues with an airline diverting to it?.
Wonder what the real issue is

Money. CBR want a formal agreement in place which I assume means they make cash.

 

[Flyerqf]

Yesterday’s QF27 to SCL diverted to CHC due to a medical emergency. As a result tonight’s QF28 arrival into SYD is delayed until 2235.

 

[vandy]

Adding to the 'lottery' status of SYD - MEL flights, the Thursday 12 July 0830 hours did not take off until 1122 with A332 VH-EBV. Arrival should be 156 minutes late at 1241 this arvo. The aircraft had arrived at the international terminal at 0814 hours, 44 minutes late on the usually punctual QF42, the redeye from CGK, but then would have had to be transferred to the domestic terminal that takes time.

This looks to be forming QF426, the 1100 hours MEL - SYD that has been changed to depart at 1320 for a 1445 hours arrival, 140 minutes late. 39 minutes is probably inadequate time to 'reverse' this A332 so it may arrive in SYD somewhat later this arvo.

If the A330s swap between international and domestic flights, would this suggest that people like me who do regular MEL-SYD hops should be looking at the flights operated by a 737 for a higher chance of getting a punctual flight?

 

[Himeno]

why would an airport have issues with an airline diverting to it?.
Wonder what the real issue is

It seems the airport is complaining that it was an unplanned 747. I'm guessing that CBR wasn't listed as a diversion point for the flight and they just landed there after being unable to reach a planned diversion point such as OOL, BNE or MEL?
It appears that CBR is suggesting that unplanned arrivals by large aircraft disrupt the airport too much to be safe for normal operations.

Maybe CBR should build some more large aircraft parking bays.

 

[Melburnian1]

If the A330s swap between international and domestic flights, would this suggest that people like me who do regular MEL-SYD hops should be looking at the flights operated by a 737 for a higher chance of getting a punctual flight?

The A333s certainly most often swap if seen on a domestic flight. There are 10 of these.

The 18 A332s are probably more likely to be undertaking a series of domestic flights, but bear in mind there are different configurations. Those set up for QFi are probably more likely to have been swapped between an international and a domestic flight, or are to undertake that in reverse.

moa999 kindly commenced a very popular QF A330 thread some years ago, so that gives all the information ever needed (plus some) on the seating configurations.

Many travellers like widebody planes a lot more and try to avoid A320s, A321s, B738 and other single aisle planes that are in 3-3 economy class configuration, so that may also enter into your equation.

On the FlightStats website you can look up the punctuality (and reliability, as in 'cancellations') performance of a particular fligtht number so that may be the best guide. A flight having been late one day doesn't mean it will be delayed the next day, but constant late running tells us there's some sort of a problem.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Maybe CBR should build some more large aircraft parking bays.

Himeno, with the airport having expanded in recent times, would it have the room to do this, given that large aircraft also need larger turning circles?

 

[Himeno]

Himeno, with the airport having expanded in recent times, would it have the room to do this, given that large aircraft also need larger turning circles?

The airport itself didn't expand much. They built a new, slightly larger terminal, reinforced the aprons and added some narrow body bays.
If they wanted to, there is enough space on the Fairbairn side of the airfield for taxiways and parking bays, and they could expand east along Pialligo Avenue towards Sutton Road

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 14 July, the delayed QF117 (1420 hours SYD - HKG) pushed back at 1744, so arrival is suggested as 0058 hours on Sunday 15 July, 178 minutes late. Returning redeye QF118 is optimistically predicted to depart at 0210 with SYD arrival tomorrow afternoon at 1325 hours, 155 minutes late.

 

[Quickstatus]

I get that sometimes airplanes need to make an unplanned arrival into an alternate airport. And I also get that an unplanned diversion can sometimes cause difficulty at an airport not usually setup for that particular aircraft potentially causing knock on delays at that airport.

But something is going on when an aircraft is prevented from taking off - by parking a vehicle behind it and then demanding a fee payable immediately by CC and the airline CEO remarking the airport is behaving like Somali Pirates.

Is it usual for an airport to have a formal contract in place with an airline for unplanned arrivals. Does it have similar agreements with other airlines that might use it as an alternate airport?

Usually when something is awry follow the money as @Flyerqf suggests (or lack of)

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on 14 July 2018, QF33 (1015 hours SYD - KIX) departed at 1201, so arrival has become 2045 hours tonight instead of 1910. QF34, the redeye back, will be delayed.

Although the B744 on the connecting JFK - LAX QF12 was only 11 minutes tardy arriving at LAX on Friday 13, the onward A388 on QF12 departed half an hour late so SYD arrival has become an estimated 0704 hours (34 late) on Sunday 15.

'The 16' should be at its BNE arrival gate on Sunday at 0640, a similar 35 late.

B789-operated QF96 was again late, departing 69 minutes behind schedule at 0104 on Saturday 14 July. Does a lack of available gates cause this? Sunday 15 MEL arrival is predicted an hour behind at 0925.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 15 July finds QF23, the often delayed SYD - BKK having pushed back at 1033, 43 minutes tardy. Arrival is suggested as 45 late at 1725. The aircraft, A333 VH-QPF had only been 25 late arriving SYD at 0635 on QF20 ex MNL overnight, so the reason for the QF23 delay is not obvious.

The 0930 hours SYD - PVG is predicted to push back at 1115 so arrival will not be until 2005 tonight, 100 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In firther on 15 July 2018, QF27, the 1235 hours SYD - SCL B744 long hail has been delayed to an estimated 1315 in its pushing back.

A388 VH-OQC on the often punctual QF35 (1155 hours MEL - SIN that connects, with a longish wait, to QF1 at Changi, took off at 1304 on Sunday 15 July so arrival is estimated as 1905 hours, 70 late.

The 1100 CBR down to MEL, QF853 is also afflicted time wise with B738 VH-VZC airborne at 1255 hours. Estimated arrival is 1350, 100 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 15 July 2018, QF27 departed SYD at 1319, 44 late and should arrive in SCL (same day) at 1345, 35 late.

The afternoon 1420 hours QF117 (1420 SYD - HKG) is predicted to commence pushback 60 late, meaning arrival is delayed until 2255 tonight, 55 late.

 

[Quickstatus]

If QF is still running high fleet utilisation, where are the current tight turnarounds (like the QF93-94 and QF9-10 of old)

 

[Melburnian1]

If QF is still running high fleet utilisation, where are the current tight turnarounds (like the QF93-94 and QF9-10 of old)

Tight turnarounds still the case with some TransTasman flights ( as one might expect) and at 'outstations' (by which I mean 'away from Oz') on routes like SYD - BKK, SYD - CGK, SYD - MNL, SYD - PEK and SYD - PVG plus MEL and BNE-NRT, and SYD - KIX.

Given that aircraft such as A333s returning to SYD don't always form a morning SYD departure on consecutive days to the same southeast or northeast Asian destination, late running of 90 minutes or more can in some cases mean a 'cycle' of tardy departures is repeated.

As you know, Quickstatus, some Asian A330 flights are typically an A333, others more usually A332 (for instance QF19/20 are rarely an A333 though VH-QPF went there yesterday) and QF107/108 should most often have the two A332s fitted with better crew rest and a larger galley for these longish Asian flights.

Perhaps we could include QF27/28 and QF63/64 (SYd - SCL/JNB). There will be others.

The Oz-HKG and Oz-SIN turnarounds don't seem quite as tight but particularly with HKG this may be an historic case as to when slots were originally taken up, with demand subsequently making them scarce.' Other considerations such as SYD curfew may enter into the equation.

 

[Himeno]

If QF is still running high fleet utilisation, where are the current tight turnarounds (like the QF93-94 and QF9-10 of old)

Any of the Asian ports with a approx 10 hour flight time will have a tight turn around, as does HNL. They tend to have a 90 min scheduled turn around. If there is a delay on the outbound or during the turnaround, it has the potential to delay the aircrafts next planned flight out of Australia.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 15 July finds...

The 0930 hours SYD - PVG is predicted to push back at 1115 so arrival will not be until 2005 tonight, 100 minutes late.

This was a severe underestimate of the delay. QF129 (A333 VH-QPE) departed at 1326 hours this afternoon, 236 minutes late. At 2008 AEST it was over Davao, Philippines so arrival in Shanghai won't be until 2205 tonight, 220 minutes behind schedule.

Redeye QF130 back down to SYD may be able to depart PVG at 2320 as the QF software realistically indicates for a Monday 16 July SYD arrival at 1130 hours, 185 minutes tardy.

This is a good example of how delays may not be recovered much due to a 'tight turnaround' as discussed above by AFFer Flightstatus, Himeno and me.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF462, the 15 July 2018 MEL up to SYD scheduled to depart at 1900 has B738 VH-VXC, It took off at 2001 and is arriving at 2100 hours, 35 late.

B717 VH-YQS on QF1550, the 1720 hours CBR - BNE that did not take off until 1952 on Sunday 15 July should be at its destination gate at roughly 2111 hours, 131 minutes behind the timetable.

Earlier, YQS was 32 minutes late arriving on QF1551 in CBR at 1802 hours (ex BNE), so not sure what caused the lengthy delay. At least it was not cancelled.

QF1756, the 1940 BNE - CNS appears to be the next flight rostered for YQS, as it has been altered to depart 140 minutes tardy at 2200 hours late this evening with arrival predicted as 0030 on Monday 16 July, 145 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 16 July 2018 sees QF94 from LAX to MEL (A388 VH-OQI) suggested as arriving at 0807 hours, 37 minutes late. As this aircraft normally forms QF35, the 1155 hours MEL - SIN under the new timetable, the latter is unlikely to be delayed. Not like the previous timetable that had 'the 94' turning around quickly to form QF93, with the latter subject to incessant delays.

QF96 from LAX to MEL with B789 VH-ZNA is similar, with Monday arrival forecast for 0905 hours, 40 late.

The 0730 hours SYD - MEL (QF411) got out ahead of QF409, the 0700. The latter has B738 VH-VXP and took off at 0804, making estimated arrival about 0918, 43 late.

QF128 from HKG down to SYD (A388 VH-OQH) should arrive at 1018 hours, 203 minutes late as on Sunday nights its scheduled 2000 hours departure became 2331. It had only been 16 minutes late arriving in HKG on QF127 at 1816 early yesterday evening.

A333 VH-QPE on the PVG to SYD redeye, QF130 should be at its arrival gate at roughly 1156, 211 minutes late due to QF129 being delayed yesterday.