Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Yet more on 19 August, with the 1630 hours SYD up to MCY (QF1579) expected to push back at 1745 hours.

QF2702 (1540 hours BNE up to ISA, F100 VH-UQC and operated by Alliance Airlines) took off at 1604 so arrival is estimated as 1848, 33 late.

B717 VH-NXJ on QF1750 (1410 hours BNE - CNS) is badly late, having become airborne at 1647. Arrival looks to be 1919 tonight, 164 late.

QF442 is the 1500 hours mid afternoon MEL up to SYD that took off at 1631 with A332 VH-EBL. Arrival is predicted for 1733, 68 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delivery flight of B789 VH-ZNF is QF6026 with this EVT - MEL journey arriving at about 1833 hours, 39 minutes late on Sunday 19 August 2018. Strangely it is showing on FR24 with a '1754' hours arrival as per a timetable: unusual in Oz for arrivals to be timed to other than a multiple of five minutes.

QF579 was formed by A332 VH-EBR that arrived at 1130, 320 minutes late on QF20 ex MNL. This may account for some of the delat as 581 took off at 1614, 99 minutes after its 1435 hours departure time, so arrival in PER is suggested as 1848, 68 minutes behind.

QF447 (1600 hours SYD down to MEL that was in the sky at 1701, B738 VH-VYI) should arrive at 1817, 42 late.

VH-VXN on QF690, the 1510 hours mid afternoon ADL across to MEL that took off 50 minutes later should arrive at 1737 hours, 37 minutes late.

 

[snabbu]

almost every SYD departure this afternoon/evening is delayed along with numerous cancellations, due to strong winds and only one runway in operation.

 

[Milboo]

My parents were supposed to be on QF1584 from Hobart to Sydney this morning which was cancelled.

Sounds like the communication was less than ideal - they got a text message early telling them and saying to call or go online. Gave up waiting on hold after 50 mins and QF website was timing out.

They decided to head to the airport. Get there and are told they’d been rebooked on the flight that had departed already...not sure how they were supposed to have known this!

Thankfully routed through Melbourne instead - heading back to Auckland.

Said the communication and information from QF staff wasn’t great.

 

[Melburnian1]

almost every SYD departure this afternoon/evening is delayed along with numerous cancellations, due to strong winds and only one runway in operation.

I was going to suggest the southbound NSWTrainLink XPT (depart Sydney Central 2035 hours, arrive Melbourne Southern Cross 0730 tomorrow morning (and the same for the northbound that picks up at Broadmeadows at about 2010 tonight) but both, unsurprisingly, are showing as booked out.

Time for us to get high speed trains.

One wonders collectively how much these airline delays and cancellations cost business in Australia, plus inconvenience and stress (even to leisure travellers).

AFF contributor AviatorInsight commented earlier this weekend that delays were in part due to a shortage of ATC staff. I know someone who years ago applied, did some training but was considered 'unsuitable' as apparently are the vast majority of applicants, given the need for a sense of 3D as well as other mathematical skills. A well paid job but has shift work and must, despite these individuals' cool and calm demeanours be stressful with so many aircraft either on the ground taxiing or in the air, particularly at busier times.

 

[Melburnian1]

My parents were supposed to be on QF1584 from Hobart to Sydney this morning which was cancelled...Sounds like the communication was less than ideal - they got a text message early telling them and saying to call or go online. Gave up waiting on hold after 50 mins and QF website was timing out.

...Said the communication and information from QF staff wasn’t great.

Milboo, one problem may be that with so many passengers affected when things go awry, staff are just totally overwhlemed.

That's been my experience with VA in particular over the years, so logical for QF to have similar problems.

There's a lot to be said for both passengers and staff trying to remain calm in such circumstances but like it or not, some travellers really need to get to their destination on time or close to it and may not be all that forgiving, especially if they know part of the problem is a shortage of on duty Airservices Australia air traffic controllers.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Sunday 19 August, QF865, the 1555 hours OOL down to SYD took off at 1703 with B738 VH-XZB. Arrival should be at 1826, 61 late.

QF2230 has Q400 VH-LQM and is also a mid afternoon flight in the shape of the 1640 hours WGA to SYD that was in the sky at 1724, meaning arrival suggested as 1824 hours, 39 minutes tardy.

The 1615 hours afternoon MEL up to SYD, QF468 (B738 VH-VXG) was airborne at 1817, about 105 minutes late so arrival will be after 1920 hours instead of at the timetabled 1640.

QF628 (VH-VYJ, the 1720 hours MEL up to BNE that took off at 1805) looks to be arriving at about 2008 hours, 38 late.

Southbound QF451 (VH-VYC, the 1715 hours SYD - MEL in the sky at 1817) is arriving at 1936 tonight, 46 late.

QF1578 (the scheduled 1630 hours SYD up to MCY airborne at 1811 with B717 VH-NXQ) should pull in at roughly 1937, 87 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

One I missed earlier on Sunday 19 August 2018 was QF97, the 1045 hours morning BNE - HKG that departed at 1254 with A333 VH-QPD. Arrival should be at 1945, 105 minutes late.

A332 VH-EBO on QF19 (1210 hours SYD - MNL that took off at 1345, about 80 minutes late) arrived at 1953, 83 late. This will delay QF20, the 2000 hours MNL - SYD until at least 2120.

 

[Melburnian1]

Still more on 19 August has QF6127 operating what may an empty ('ferry') flight south from SYD down to MEL, having taken off at 2132 with A332 VH-EBM. Arrival is predicted as 2241 hours. Not sure why it couldn't convey passengers - or is it a charter?

QF479 is not far behind. This is the 1945 hours SYD - MEL that was in the sky at 2136 with b738 VH-VZD. Arrival is predicted for 2250 tonight, 90 late.

The 1915 hours SYD - MEL, QF493 has VH-VXJ and took off at 2150 for a forecast 2306 hours arrival, 136 minutes past what the timetable states.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF20D, the Friday 17 scheduled departure delayed by two nights in MNL was to be an 0800 hours. That was changed yesterday to 2000 hours and has just become 2100 hours. As noted above, QF20 is also delayed because QF19 northbound ex SYD was tardy.

QF555 (B738 VH-VYJ, the 2005 hours BNE - SYD that was in the sky at 2107) is arriving at 2224 hours, 44 late. VH-XZL on the following QF557 should be at its SYD arrival gate at roughly 2247, 37 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 19 August 2018, the two day delayed QF20D (should have been Friday ex MNL) departed that locality at 2215 hours (instead of its revised 2000 anticipated departure) and is arriving in SYD at 0945 on Monday 20.

QF20, meanwhile, the 2000 hours Sunday night 'normal' MNL - SYD pushed back at 2234 but is arriving at 0930, 200 minutes late but strangely ahead of QF20D given the latter was first to push back last night.

QF20 looks to be forming QF33, the thrice weekly 1015 hours SYD - KIX that is showing an amended departure time of 1035, but if so, it will depart SYD later as a 65 minute turnaround would be very fast.

The LAX - MEL QF96 (B789 VH-ZNB) should arrive on Monday 20 August at 0919 hours, 54 late.

QF130, the redeye from PVG is arriving in SYD at 0941 hours, 76 late on Monday with A333 VH-QPB.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 20 August, QF51, the 1200 hours 'high noon' BNE up to SIN is delayed until 1300 in its departure.

QF61 (0935 hours BNE - NRT) departed 22 minutes late with arrival expected at 1830 early this evening local time, 35 late.

QF33 was away from SYD 55 minutes behind at 1110 so KIX arrival is estimated at 1954, 44 late.

The 1000 MEL up to OOL (QF880) was not airborne until 1147. B738 VH-VZU should arrive at 1341 this afternoon, 96 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 20 August, QF51, the 1200 hours 'high noon' BNE up to SIN is delayed until 1300 in its departure...
.

Projected delay to QF51 has become 90 minutes, not an hour ex BNE.

 

[docjames]

Tonight’s (17/8) QF96 is delayed to an 0800 departure tomorrow.

Pax already at LAX already are being moved forward on QF94.

Have family member at LAX who was on QF96 called to desk in lounge to be told has been moved onto 94 due to 96 being delayed to 0800 tomorrow!

But email updates still saying 0020

QF94 now going. Latest update in lounge still saying 25m delay to 96 - not sure what’s going on but perhaps whatever the issue was with 96 was resolved?

Interesting. The 96 left 70m late. Not sure why the contrary info - on QF will ever know I guess.

I can't find any reference to there ever being an issue with the 96. As far as I can tell, the crew were never going at 0800. They do seem to have been delayed somewhat for the 12 from NYC, as was the 380 to Sydney.

As to why the Melbourne 380 normally departs without waiting....the main issue is that of crew hours. Unless they've been held at the hotel, their CASA clock has started. A two hour delay can potentially become quite messy. If a combination of bringing passengers forward from the 96, and transferring the 94's passengers from NYC onto the 96 (and others) works, then the aircraft generally doesn't wait. A longer delay might have to be handled by diverting the aircraft to replace the crew.

Something obviously got lost in translation between ops and the F lounge at LAX. Or between F lounge and my family member (who was booked in J on 96 but ended up in F after taking his seat in J on 94!).

 

[Melburnian1]

B744 VH-OEF is arriving in SYD on Monday 20 August at about 1600, 65 late on QF64 ex JNB.

Earlier today, QF129 (0930 hours SYD up to PVG) was showing as likely to depart punctually but that proved incorrect, with pushback at 1218 hours. Arrival tonight should be at 2040, 135 late. This will delay QF130, the 1950 hours ex PVG redeye to at least 2200 in its departure, meaning SYD Tuesday 21 August arrival at around the 1000 mark, 95 late.

Interestingly today is A333 VH-QPB's third consecutive day of operating QF129/QF130. QF tends not to do this as often as some other airlines.

QF51, Monday 1200 'high noon' BNE- SIN departed at 1413 so arrival should be 1952 tonight, 97 late. The returning '52' is expected to commence pushing back an hour late at 2140 with Tuesday 21 August BNE arrival suggested as 0700 hours, 55 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF23, the 0950 hours SYD - BKK on Tuesday 21 August is predicted to depart at 1025 hours.

The 1200 'high noon' BNE up to SIN has been cancelled. Redeye QF52 had arrived BNE at 0721, 76 late this morning as 'the 51' was tardy yesterday, as noted above.

UPDATE: QF23 departed at 1038; arrival is suggested as 1715, 35 late. This should only marginally delay QF24, the redeye back down to SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 1515 hours QF9 from MEL to PER/LHR is normally punctual but on Tuesday 21 August 2018, pushback was not until 1548, so arroval is suggested as 1745, half an hour behind. Tjhis will delay departure of the onward leg by 25 to 30 minutes to around 1910-15 going by past observations.

A tardy departure I missed earlier today (apologies) was QF129 that departed SYD 92 minutes late at 1102 hours for PVG, where arrival should be at 2001 tonight, 96 late. QF must not have adjusted the departure time as it remains at a projected 2035, 45 late. To turn around an A332/A333 in 34 minutes when carrying passengers in both directions would be a world record or close to it.

The B744 on QF63 pushed back 40 late in SYD at 1135 hours so arrival in JNB should be at 1745, 45 late, minimally delaying the redeye back to SYD, QF64.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on 21 August, QF497 has B738 VH-VXO and is the evening SYD - MEL due to depart at 1930. Takeoff was at 2017, about half an hour behind schedule, so arrival should be at 2137 tonight, 32 late.

Further west but in a northeast direction, QF634 in the shape of relative newbie B789 VH-ZNB is the 1925 hours MEL up to BNE that took off at 2010. Sunshine State capital at gate arrival should be at around the 2202 hours mark, 37 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

What in the last year has become QFi's worst international flight for delays, the QF23 from SYD to BKK should depart an hour behind at 1050 hours on Wednesday 22 August 2018 with arrival estimated at 1730, 50 minutes tardy. This will delay the returning QF24.

This morning, QF24 arrived 32 late at 0657 which for it is a minor delay.

These two flights are so unreliable that anyone travelling between the two would be well advised to use TG if on a busy schedule that requires the best chance of a punctual flight.

The delays may be because of the high number of leisure travellers: hence QF unofficially 'picks' QF23 as the flight to be delayed if an arrival is late and it has a choice as to which outbound flight from SYD to delay.

QF117, in contrast, is usually pretty good but today this 1420 hours afternoon SYD - HKG should push back at 1740. Predicted arrival is 0105 on Thursday 23 instead of 2200 tonight, so that means at least 0230 before QF118, normally the 2325 hours redeye pushes back in HKG for the flight down to SYD.

QF33 has had a few delays lately, unlike most of the JL, NH and QF Japan-bound or originating flights by which one could set a watch. Today this 1015 hours thrice weekly from SYD to KIX is expected to depart 70 late with arrival likely at around the 2005 hours mark, 55 late, meaning a tardy departure forn the redeye QF34.

 

[Quickstatus]

Do many BKK QF customers connect onwards?

AY BKK to HEL is in the morning IRC
There are a lot of leisure connections to HKT, USM, CNX, and elsewhere like REP, KUL,SIN, SGN departing after 6pm. So those booked connections may be tight. I think if they miss these there are later connections

Has the 787-900 improved overall punctuality across the group ?