Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

B789 VH-ZNF arrived in LHR on the overnight delayed QF9 (ex PER) at 2011 hours on Tuesday 4 September, 906 minutes late.

It then quickly turned around for QF10, departing at 2150, 515 minutes tardy. PER arrival tonight is predicted at 2137 hours, 517 late.

This aircraft will then 'reverse' and depart on the delayed QF9 at a claimed 2255 - seems very optimistic to me, unless 'the 10' can arrive earlier than QF forecasts - that would be 250 minutes late. LHR arrval on Thursday 6 September is estimated at 0910 hours, 245 late.

These two quick turnarounds mean no time for anything more than the most cursory maintenance, so it will be interesting to see whether tonight's flight is further delayed.

FR24 suggests that this afternoon's 1515 hours MEL to PER initial sector of QF9 is again an A332.

At least one AFFer claimed months ago that there wouldn't be delays from this intensive working of B789s.

While these aircraft have yet to face the rigours of the northern hemisphere winter, events in the last couple of days show that even in early northern autumn, there can still be delays to the redesigned QF9/QF10 schedules.

 

[Melburnian1]

The KIX website is down at the moment.
It appears that the other airports in the area (Osaka-Itami and Kobe) are open.

A media report claims that the 24 year old KIX will not reopen until at least Wednesday evening (5 September).

The tanker that hit the bridge in wild seas has knocked out road lanes in one direction with a noticeable gap where one section of the roadway is below another. Trains are not running but the picture I saw does not make it clear whether the railway line (and overhead) has been damaged: it probably has.

Japanese are incredibly efficient so no doubt they will work diligently to rebuild the bridge. Will it be totally reopened (including for trains) within three months?

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Wednesday 5 September, QF24 arrived in SYD (ex BKK) at 0809 hours, 104 minutes late due to QF23 yesterday departing so much behind the timetable.

 

[Himeno]

A media report claims that the 24 year old KIX will not reopen until at least Wednesday evening (5 September).

The tanker that hit the bridge in wild seas has knocked out road lanes in one direction with a noticeable gap where one section of the roadway is below another. Trains are not running but the picture I saw does not make it clear whether the railway line (and overhead) has been damaged: it probably has.

Japanese are incredibly efficient so no doubt they will work diligently to rebuild the bridge. Will it be totally reopened (including for trains) within three months?

It doesn't appear to have much damage. The tanker was anchored in the bay, the wind pushed the ship off anchor and into the bridge. One section, on one side of the bridge, has been lifted up out of position and is sitting on the ships superstructure.
That bridge is very over built, I don't see it being closed for long once they are able to get the ship moved.

It appears the damage is on the airport end of the bridge where it lowers to connect with the island and the bridge levels flatten out. For most of the bridge, the rail lines run under the road deck (3 lanes in each direction). As it nears the airport end, the road deck splits and the rail moves in between the two directions.

 

[serfty]

...

.
And a video here showing a small tanker and the bridge to KIX.
Osaka Kansai Airport Has Been Flooded And Closed By A Typhoon - One Mile at a Time
We are scheduled to fly out of KIX on the 22nd of this month.fingers crossed.

 

[Melburnian1]

 

[Melburnian1]

serfty, Himeno and other experts, with that amount of water, I assume that any asphalt overlay would have at least miniscule cracks and there'd be water ingress.

Will this damage the concrete or asphalt runway, apron and other areas?

When Rockhampton was affected by floods in recent times, the airport reopened reasonably quickly, but this KIX damage must be far more extensive.

 

[Himeno]

KIX has been sinking since the airport was built. They expected that with the manmade island, but they had to add more soil into the island when it was sinking faster then expected. The sinking issue is resolved within expectations and they have plans in place to deal with related issues. The airport is designed to handle water damage to the runways.
The airport has already said that they expect to reopen the runways tonight.

They've now moved the ship and gotten a clearer view of the damage to the bridge.
As expected, it appears to only be one section of the road deck, however it's been dislodged and is partly sitting above one side of the rail line damaging the overhead lines. It looks like they'll have to remove the section of road, repair the rail power and replace the damaged road deck.
Most of that is fairly easy, and with previous examples with Japanese work crews, done quickly. The biggest issue would be if they have any replacement road sections in storage or if they have to make a new prefab section.
NHKニュース on Twitter

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Wednesday 5 September 2018, QF7 from SYD to DFW is expected to depart 55 late at 1330 with arrival (same day) at 1355 for no gain in time.

 

[admin]

In further on Monday 3 September, QF63, the 1055 hours SYD - JNB is departing at a projected 1400, so it will be a long wait for passengers on tonight's QF64.

I was on QF64 last night. Meant to depart at about 7pm. Was informed that the flight was delayed for 3 hours, due to late arrival. Eventually boarded at 10:30pm. After waiting on runway for "paperwork to be signed", ended up departing at midnight! Really poor communication from technical crew, with very little explanation.

The only good news was that Captain Ross Kelly (see Video shows smoke pouring from vintage plane before crash that injured Qantas pilots) was successfully medevaced on the flight. I think the reason for the delays was preparing the cabin for the medevac and changing the flight path.

 

[Melburnian1]

I was on QF64 last night...

The only good news was that Captain Ross Kelly (see Video shows smoke pouring from vintage plane before crash that injured Qantas pilots) was successfully medevaced on the flight. I think the reason for the delays was preparing the cabin for the medevac and changing the flight path.

Admin, a rare honour to receive a post from you.

Good news re QF pilot. Needs to thank The Lord and perhaps buy a Tatts ticket.

Was he placed in a row of four seats down the back in whY or did the staff somehow pop him in a J seat up the front?

I've never been on a flight with an (obviously) very ill passenger (and hope, for their sake as well as mine, not to be).

To clarify, you were on QF64 that departed JNB at 2355 (285 minutes late) on Monday 3 September, arriving SYD on Tuesday 4 at 1914, 259 late.

 

[admin]

Admin, a rare honour to receive a post from you.

Good news re QF pilot. Needs to thank The Lord and perhaps buy a Tatts ticket.

Was he placed in a row of four seats down the back in whY or did the staff somehow pop him in a J seat up the front?

I've never been on a flight with an (obviously) very ill passenger (and hope, for their sake as well as mine, not to be).

To clarify, you were on QF64 that departed JNB at 2355 (285 minutes late) on Monday 3 September, arriving SYD on Tuesday 4 at 1914, 259 late.

A makeshift hospital-style bed with a curtain was placed over a block of seats across 3 rows at the back of the whY cabin. As it was at the back right of the 747 cabin, there were just 2 seats in each row. A doctor, 2 medics, and a QF technical person were attending to Captain Kelly at all times. All in all, a pretty impressive operation. Just a pity about the late arrival - but, hey, we did arrive home safely - and thats all thats really important!

Yes, we were on QF64 departing JNB on 3 Sep which departed 285 minutes late. The route change and strong tail winds allowed us to make up about 25 minutes.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Wednesday 5 September, QF24 departed BKK 41 late at 1851 so Thursday 6 SYD arrival is predicted as 0658 hours, 33 minutes behind the eight ball.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 5 September 2018 saw the badly delayed QF10 arrive PER at 2119 hours, 499 minutes late. Itr was on its way back to LHR at 2309, 264 late so London estimated arrival has become 0920, 255 late.

In theory this should not delay Thursday 6's 1315 hours LHR back down to PER (QF10).

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 6 September, QF407 (0715 hours from SYD to MEL that took off at 0756 with B738 VH-VYI) should arrive half an hour late at 0920 hours.

A higher capacity flight on the same route, QF411 (A332 VH-EBC) is the 0730 that was off its blocks at 0837, suggesting a 58 minute late, 1003 hours arrival in the southern capital.

QF129 (SYD - PVG) is expected to depart 50 late at 1020.

 

[Melburnian1]

The new B789 flight (QF15) at 1010 hours from BNE to LAX was only eight late departing on Thursday 6 September but arrival is suggested as 0635, 35 late.

QF61 was much worse, with this 0935 hours BNE - NRT pushing back 182 late at 1237 for a predicted 2035 arrival tonight, 160 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Heavy rain is tumbling down around MEL as QF881, the sole QF flight from OOL to MEL (B738 VH-VXA, the 1245 hours departure that took off at 1423) is arriving at 1632 hours, 87 late on Thursday 6 September. The aircraft was briefly held above Tocumwal. Earlier, it had arrived QQOL 22 minutes late at 1227 hours on QF880 from MEL, but had a much lengthier stay than timetabled at the Gold Coast airport.

 

[Melburnian1]

Mid evening on 6 September 2018, the ADL - MEL QF694 has B738 VH-XZC and is arriving at 2042 hours, 47 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[jb747]

A makeshift hospital-style bed with a curtain was placed over a block of seats across 3 rows at the back of the whY cabin. As it was at the back right of the 747 cabin, there were just 2 seats in each row. A doctor, 2 medics, and a QF technical person were attending to Captain Kelly at all times. All in all, a pretty impressive operation. Just a pity about the late arrival - but, hey, we did arrive home safely - and thats all thats really important!.

It may look makeshift, but it’s anything but. The entire arrangement is a standardised and approved fitting (like everything in aircraft). I haven’t seen one in the 380, but I have carried very ill people on the 767 and 747. I recall a couple of motorbike accidents.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Friday 7 September 2018, QF81, the 1015 hours SYD - SIN departed at 1130, so arrival is expected at 1759, 69 late.

QF7 from SYD to DFW departed 89 late at 1404 so arrival has become an estimated 1411 hours same day, 71 late.

QF445 (1530 hours southbound SYD - MEL that was in the sky at 1644 with B738 Vh-XZE) should arrive at 1805, an hour late.

The 1555 hours QF1 (SYD - SIN and on to LHR) departed 36 late with SIN arrival anticipated as 40 late at 1635 hours.