Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Mid evening on Monday 30 July 2018, the PER - SYD QF582 is arriving with B744 VH-OEF at 2125 (landing as I write at 2120), an hour late. the delay was because QF581 this morning, the 1025 hours ex SYD took off at 1139, about an hour late.

This was the first return flight operated by a B744 for a long while between the Indian Pacific (as the famous train is named) capitals.

QF583 (1945 hours SYD - PER) is also a B744 today (VH-OJS) but took off at 2000 so unlike the earlier flight, it is on time.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 30 July, QF79 arrived NRT at 2036, 121 late, so QF80, the 2005 hours NRT down to MEL departed at 2257 with A333 VH-QPI, but did not take off until 2339. Arrival on Tuesday 31 was 1033, 168 minutes late.

QF29, the 0935 hours MEL - HKG has been changed to depart at 1445 this afternoon (310 minutes late) with suggested arrival tonight at 2235, 315 late. This will mean either QF30 tonight to MEL or QF98 to BNE is badly late.

The so often delayed QF23 is expected to commence pushing back in SYD at 1120 hours (90 late) for its flight to BKK, with suggested arrival at 1805 early this evening, 85 late. QF24 will be tardy pushing back in BKK.

QF129 (A333 VH-QPA), the 0930 hours SYD - PVG departed at 1040. Arrival should be at 1930 hours, 65 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPH on QF81 (1015 hours SYD - SIN) took off at 1344 with arrival likely tonight at 2013, 193 late.

 

[Silvia]

QF29, the 0935 hours MEL - HKG has been changed to depart at 1445 this afternoon (310 minutes late) with suggested arrival tonight at 2235, 315 late. This will mean either QF30 tonight to MEL or QF98 to BNE is badly late.

And apparently passengers on QF29 are still still with no revised departure.

 

[kermatu]

Doesn’t warrant a separate thread, but wanted to test thoughts on 3 delays I’ve had in 5 flights over past few days.
First - SYD-BNE on Friday, flight delayed one hour on tarmac. Passenger with checked luggage a no-show. Not QFs fault but one hour to offload bag? Pax on the right hand side of plane and crew noted it looked like every single bag was offloaded then re-loaded. Is that really how it’s done?

Second - PER-SYD early Monday. A330. Tail APU failed so needed connection to manual carts to start engines. Took close to an hour on departure. Then on arrival, needed to be connected to aerobridge power before shutdown. That failed. Another 20 minutes wait onboard, but then it worked.

Third - SYD-AKL A330 After pushback while sitting on apron, advised the air con had failed. Tried a fix while on apron, but captain advised it failed so we returned to a gate. Advised in about 20 minutes that it was fixed but engineers needed to test it again with both engines running. All fine. But over an hour gone.

So, question - have I just had a bit of bad luck, or are more problems emerging on QF? I’ve not had such a series of problems (albeit small and not too big a deal).

 

[Melburnian1]

Doesn’t warrant a separate thread, but wanted to test thoughts on 3 delays I’ve had in 5 flights over past few days....
.

kermatu, with the first delay, I assume it was a B738.

With the manual loading of bags on these aircraft, there may be a problem in QF not knowing exactly where the bag is in the hold. That may have been what took the most time. Bags will be stacked on top of one another as well. I agree though it was very lengthy (and irritating) delay.

As you may note from this thread, I don't often cover the TransTasman sectors extensively as I concentrate on domestic and SEAsian or longer distance international flights for all carriers. One of us cannot monitor everything.

As a general comment, all airlines have delays but especially with its larger aircraft, QF seems to have a lot of problems. I am not an engineer but it is at least arguable that the larger aircraft fleets are being overworked. Today was benign weather at most major Australian airports, if not all, yet QFi has had quite a few delays.

You've been very unlucky to strike delays on three flights (I assume out of four) in quick succession though.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 31 July, QF63, the 1055 hours SYD - JNB departed 91 minutes late. Expected arrival is 1815 hours, 75 late, which in turn will mean a tardy QF64 tonight JNB time.

 

[kermatu]

kermatu, with the first delay, I assume it was a B738.

Yes it was a 737 flight. Pretty sure I’ve experience offloads on these before that have been done in 10 minutes. Probably just unlucky.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1514 (Wednesday 1 August 0755 hours CBR up to SYD with B717 VH-NXE that was in the sky at 0855) should arrive at 0929 hours, 39 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 1 Auigust, QF23 is late again, with departure from SYD at 1041 51 minutes behind schedule. Arrival should be at 1741, 61 late.

A332 VH-EBO on the 0900 hours SYD down to MEL was not airborne until 1148, so arrival for this QF419 should be at 1308 this afternoon, 153 minutes late.

As a result, QF475 (1135 hours late morning MEL across to PER) is likely to commence pushing back at around the 1400 hours mark, so arrival in PER will be after 1600 hours (QF optimistically says 1545) instead of the timetabled 1345. At this stage from the gate numbers, the aircraft is subsequently on QF566, the 1620 hours PER across to SYD that is timetabled to arrive at 2225 tonight. Always possible that there'll be an aircraft swap so that an arrival from MEL can form the SYD-bound flight to minimise the chances of it 'missing curfew.'

The 0930 hours SYD - PVG departed 45 late. Its arrival in Shanghai should be at 1935, 70 late.

QF29 is another flight that has been unpunctual a lot in recent days. It should push back in MEL at 1240 this afternoon, 185 late for arrival in HKG at 2005, 165 late. This will delay one of the redeyes down to east coast Oz.

 

[jb747]

So, question - have I just had a bit of bad luck, or are more problems emerging on QF? I’ve not had such a series of problems (albeit small and not too big a deal).

It's just bad luck...but, as you were one of the common features, please don't fly with me!

 

[kermatu]

It's just bad luck...but, as you were one of the common features, please don't fly with me!

That’s a bit harsh!

But I recall seeing your schedule earlier and you are safe.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 1 August 2018, QF1 ex SYD is expected to depart 35 minutes tardy at 1630 this afternoon.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF446 (1 August 2018, the 1600 hours MEL up to SYD that was in the sky at 1712 with B738 VH-VXJ) looks to be arriving at 1822, 57 late. The plane was 25 minutes late arriving MEL at 1625 on QF772 ex PER.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 1 Auigust...QF29 .. should push back in MEL at 1240 this afternoon, 185 late for arrival in HKG at 2005, 165 late. This will delay one of the redeyes down to east coast Oz.

QF29 looks to be arriving in HKG at about 1957. QF98 from HKG down to BNE, the 2015 hours is delayed until a rather optimistic prediction of 2105 for its departure. Arrival on Thursday 3 should be at 0800 hours, 55 late.

Tuesday 31 July's QF16 departed LAX at 2352, 32 late with Thursday 2 August BNE arrival suggested as 0635 hours, 35 late. This should not result in QF15 to BNE departing late tomorrow.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1562 (Thursday 2 August 2018, the 0615 hours CBR - BNE that was airborne at 0801 on a wintry morning) has B717 VH-YQU and should be at its destination gate at about 0928 hours, 93 minutes behind the schedule.

B789 VH-ZNC on QF12 ex LAX down to MEL is arriving at 0859, 34 late. A few posts above, milehighclub gave a terrific explanation as to why this flight is so often delayed ex Movie City.

QF924 has B738 VH-VXK and is the 0710 hours SYD - CNS that took off at 0803. Suggested arrival has become 1053, 33 minutes behind the eight ball.

The 0825 hours SYD - PER transcontinental QF575 is expected to depart 50 minutes late, arriving half an hour late at 1200 'high noon.'

Midmorning QF159, trhe 1045 hours MEL to AKL should depart at 1140 hours.

QF130 from PVG down to SYD has A333 VH-QPE and should arrive at 0944, 79 late.

UPDATE: QF575 has A333 VH-QPG and should arrive at 1206 hours, 46 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

B744 VH-OJT on QF15 (the 1010 hours Thursday 2 August 2018 BNE - LAX long flight) departed at 1132, becoming airborne at 1158.

Arrival is suggested as 0655 hours, 55 late that in turn will delay the Thursday transcon. USA QF11, the 0820 hours LAX - JFK and in turn the evening QF12 back to LAX and then probably QF16 from LAX to BNE (the Saturday morning arrival in the latter).

It's also probable that QF12 ex LAX on Thursday evening will be tardy.

QF129 departed SYD 110 minutes late at 1120 for PVG, where at gate arrival should be 1950 hours this evening, 85 late.

A332 VH-EBK on the transcon QF581 (1025 hours SYD - PER) was in the sky at 1142, so arrival should be 1414 hours, 44 late.

The SYD up to PEK QF107 is forecast to commence pushing back at 1235 hours, 25 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 2 August 2018, QF81 (1015 hours SYD - SIN, A332 VH-EBS) was in the sky at 1150. Expected arrival is 1830 tonight, 100 minutes late.

Wednesday 1's QF12 pushed back in JFK at 1850 hours, 40 minutes behind time with LAX arrival expected shortly at 2225, 85 late. The different aircraft operating the next sector is expected to depart an hour late with SYD Friday 3 arrival 65 late at 0735.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQH on QF1, the flagship 1555 hours from SYD to SIN and on to LHR was yet to commence pushing back as at 1657. QF is suggesting that it will depart at 1700, so it will be late ex SIN tonight. However this flight has been tending to pick up time on a gate-to-gate basis, particularly on the second sector.

A333 VH-QPI on QF4 ex HNL is arriving in SYD at 1755, 45 late.

QF453 (1700 hours SYD down to MEL with A332 VH-EBJ) pushed back at 1733. A 56 minute late arrival in MEL at 1931 is expected.

UPDATE: QF1 departed 103 late at 1738 hours, so should be at least 90 late into SIN. QF expects SIN arrival at 2350 hours, 95 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQK is arriving in MEL (ex LAX) on QF94 at 0811, 41 late on Friday 3 August 2018 after a brief holding pattern above Bendigo.

QF96 on the same route (B789 VH-ZNE, QF's newest plane) is worse with MEL arrival suggested as 0929, 64 late.