Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

In more on 21 September, QF63 departed SYD only nine minutes late at 1104 but arrival is delayed until 1805, 65 late. B744 VH-OJU did not become airborne until 1134 so that probably explains some of the delay.

Another B744 flight, QF27 SYD to SCL pushed back at 1218, 43 late so arrival same day has become a projected 1143, 33 late.

A third B744, QF73 (1245 hours SYD - SFO) is estimated to depart 135 late at 1500 with arrival likely at 1110 hours, 125 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[gapmatt]

QF79 VH-QPC from Melbourne to Tokyo has been delayed by over an hour and still waiting.

Mechanical issue/late arrival on the A330, delayed initial boarding by 40mins. Plane was taxiing to runway and stopped for about 10mins, and now has been pushed back to the airport awaiting engineer.

Overheard the captain say the issue happened yesterday as well.

Interesting to note that they are refueling so they can fly faster. Wish they could just fly as fast as reasonably possible every time!

 

[Melburnian1]

QF79 VH-QPC from Melbourne to Tokyo has been delayed by over an hour and still waiting.

Mechanical issue/late arrival on the A330, delayed initial boarding by 40mins. Plane was taxiing to runway and stopped for about 10mins, and now has been pushed back to the airport awaiting engineer.

Overheard the captain say the issue happened yesterday as well.

Interesting to note that they are refueling so they can fly faster. Wish they could just fly as fast as reasonably possible every time!

gapmatt, thanks: terrific info from a man-on-the-spot.

Yesterday can't have been too bad as QF79 departed MEL only 18 late at 0928 hours, arriving NRT in the evening 16 minutes behind schedule at 1851. That flight (21 September) was A333 VH-QPH, not QPC as today (22 September).

Today, as indicated, is worse with gapmatt's aircraft pushing back at 1115 (125 late) for projected NRT arrival at 2020 tonight local time, 105 minutes tardy. This will delay with QF80 to MEL or QF62 to BNE ex NRT overnight back down to Australia.

Given it is formed by QF36 with the new QF timetable and not the tight turnaround necessitated by QF94 to QF93, the latter is often punctual, but 22 September has seen it pushing back 41 late at 0941 for a suggested 0655, half hour late arrival in LAX. This may slightly delay the B789 from QF15 that makes the transcontinental USA journey as QF11.

Also on 22, QF63 is again delayed, having departed 25 minutes late at 1120 with JNB arrival suggested as an hour late at 1800. This will delay QF64 back overnight.

Friday 21's QF64 was 80 minutes late off blocks in JNB at 2030, meaning arrival today in SYD at 1603 hours, 68 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 21 September, QF3 operated uneventfully, with departure from SYD at 1912, three minutes early last night and HNL arrival at 0845 same day, 15 minutes tardy. The B744 was VH-OEE.

However QF4 is significantly delayed with suggested departure at midnight on Friday 21 instead of the usual midmorning 1030 hours, so arrival should be tomorrow morning (Sunday 23) at 0615 instead of 1640 this afternoon in SYD. The latter's 2300 to 0600 hours curfew may be a contributing factor to this long delay.

Unusually, the normally punctual (or early arriving in HND) QF25 from SYD tonight is delayed from 2050 until an expected 2230, meaning Tokyo arrival tomorrow at 0635, 80 minutes tardy. This almost certainly has something to do with the overnight delayed QF4 arrival.

UPDATE: QF4 departed at 0039 from HNL, so on Sunday 23 SYD arrival should be at 0620 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Saturday 22 September, QF1930 (B717 VH-NXL, the timetabled 1155 hours PER - BME that was in the sky at 1238 should arrive at 1456 hours, 31 minutes behind the eight ball.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 22 September, QF3, the 1915 hours SYD up to HNL departed 25 minutes behind the timetable. Same day arrival should be at 0915, 45 late.

FR24 suggests that the delayed 2050 hours QF25 (SYD - HND) tonight should have been operated by B744 VH-OJU but that aircraft is operating QF3, probably because QF4 is not arriving until 0620 hours on Sunday 23.

 

[Melburnian1]

B744 VH-OEI was on Saturday 22 September 2018 afternoon the aircraft on QF582, the 1430 hours PER across to SYD that took off at 1512, arriving at 2032, seven late.

With some fancy footwork the B744 then operated QF25 from SYD to HND, departing 102 late - almost as advised - at 2232 hours with suggested HND Sunday 23 arrival at 0631, 76 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 22 September, QF9 departed PER 12 minutes late at 1857 but arrival on Sunday 23 in LHR is not estimated until 0550, 45 late. B789 VH-ZND is the plane.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 22 September's QF11 did not depart LAX until 0956, 96 late, arriving JFK 66 late at 1746 hours. QF12 then departed at 1921, 71 late with LAX arrival suggested as 2210, 70 late, meaning a tardy departure for the onward QF12 (A388 not B789) to SYD.

Sunday 23 September is yet another day when QF63 from SYD to JNB is delayed, supposedly until 1155 in pushback but that time has passed.

Inevitably, QF64 back to SYD tonight will be tardy.

QF29, the 0935 hours Sunday 23 0935 hours MEKL to HKG morning flight is significantly delayed with a predicted 1245 hours departure.

UPDATE: QF29 commenced pushback at 1252 with arrvalm at HKG said to be 2000 hours, 160 minutes late.

The 1210 hours SYD - MNL departed 44 late with anticipated arrival as 1915, 105 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 23 September 2018 has seen QF62, the 1955 hours NRT down to BNE depart at 2141 with Monday 24 arrival expected at 0735, 100 minutes late. The aircraft is VH-QPI (A333) that had only arrived in NRT (ex MEL) at 2025 tonight (110 minutes tardy) so a quite speedy turnaround. The best that I've observed is about 70 minutes but 75 is impressive given the multiplicity of tasks.

The SIN to SYD QF2 departed at 2011 (41 late) so SYD Monday 24 arrival is suggested as 0540, half an hour late.

 

[Himeno]

Sunday 23 September 2018 has seen QF62, the 1955 hours NRT down to BNE depart at 2141 with Monday 24 arrival expected at 0735, 100 minutes late. The aircraft is VH-QPI (A333) that had only arrived in NRT (ex MEL) at 2025 tonight (110 minutes tardy) so a quite speedy turnaround. The best that I've observed is about 70 minutes but 75 is impressive given the multiplicity of tasks.

They didn't really shave that much time off. The normal 79 > 62 turn is scheduled for 80 mins.
They also had the NRT curfew to deal with. Take too long, or arrive too late, and they aren't going anywhere until 6am.

 

[Melburnian1]

The long delayed QF4D from HNL down to SYD is arriving on Monday 24 September at 0752 hours. It had been amended to depart at midnight on Saturday night but this became takeoff at 0224 hours. Aircraft is B744 VH-OJU.

Sunday's QF63 was later than expected arriving in JNB, at 1839, 99 minutes behind schedule. The returning QF64 pushed back at 2038 with Monday 24 SYD arrival anticipated as 1630 hours, 95 minutes late. QF73 is now a varying schedule with a 1910 hours departure from SYD three nights a week including tonight, so that means if it is formed by the arriving QF64 it should depart on time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 24 September, QF582 has the 'treat' of B744 VH-OJS ex PER to SYD that on this 1430 hours mid afternoon flight from the West took off at 1519. Arrival looks to be 2111 hours, 46 minutes late.

Earlier, the plane arrived in PER on QF581 at 1349 hours, 39 late so that explains the delay. Before that, it was only six minutes late arriving at 0701 ex HKG on a redeye, QF128.

VH-OJS is the oldest large mainline aircraft QF has as in six days (30 September) it will have its 19th birthday. As always though, maintenance is key.

 

[Melburnian1]

....QF73 is now a varying schedule with a 1910 hours departure from SYD three nights a week including tonight, so that means if it is formed by the arriving QF64 it should depart on time.

One can speak too soon. QF73 on 24 September was 48 minutes late away from SYD at 1958 hours with expected SFO arrival 1605,, 35 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 24 September, the third B744 SYD - PER flight (VH-OEJ, QF583, scheduled at 1945 but that took off at 2114 hours) is also late. Arrival is quite some time off but estimated as 2351 tonight, 81 late.

It seems to be then forming QF568, the 2355 hours ex PER as the redeye to SYD. This may be able to depart from about 0135 if all goes well, meaning a probable SYD arrival after 0730 instead of 0605 hours on Tuesday 25.

From the gate numbers, the aircraft may then be operating QF575 on Tuesday, so expect that to be delayed as well. The cycle continues.

The delay was because this morning, the plane was tardy on QF575, arriving PER at 1203, 58 minutes late. It then ran back across to SYD, taking off at 1335 despite a timetabled 1235 hours pushback as QF580, arriving at 1907, 42 late.

However it has then lost further time on the ground in Sydney.

 

[jb747]

Interesting to note that they are refueling so they can fly faster. Wish they could just fly as fast as reasonably possible every time!

They do. There is generally very little margin on the 'faster' side. Ignoring the extra fuel burn, which is generally excessive for the amount of time saved, it also means that running into any relatively minor wind changes can also put you over the max allowed speed.

If you want to save time, it normally involves flying lower...and the fuel burn increase can be huge.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF93 on Tuesday 25 September commenced pushing back at 0924, 24 late but arrival is not expected (same day) until 0707, 42 late.

The 0910 hours MEL - NRT, QF79 has been delayed until an estimated 0700 hours on Wednesday 26 ex the southern capital, meaning NRT arrival at 1610 tomorrow instead of 1835 hours this evening. This bad delay partly reflects the strict curfew times at NRT, as AFF member Himeno keeps reminding us. While

QF30 from HKG arrived in MEL at 0810 this morning (35 late) with A333 VH-QPG that since then has not carried any passengers so presumably it has failed.

The mid afternoon 1420 hours SYD to HKG, QF117 was predicted to depart at 1500 hours. It may be a little later away.

 

[RooFlyer]

QF117. SYD-HKG on25th delayed 40 mins to prevent early arrival on quick forecast flight time.

Now delayed a bit more post bording due to fuel indication glitch. Being looked at.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF117. SYD-HKG on25th delayed 40 mins to prevent early arrival on quick forecast flight time.

Now delayed a bit more post bording due to fuel indication glitch. Being looked at.

QF indicates a (re)revised departure of 1545 hours ex SYD for HKG arrival at about 2250, as winds must be favourable. That would only be 50 minutes tardy.

Because of the overnight delay to Tuesday 25 September's QF79 (MEL - NRT) discussed above, QF80 tonight, the 2005 hours is predicted to commence its trip at 1830 hours tomorrow evening (Wednesday 26) with MEL arrival at 0615 on Thursday 27 instead of 0745 on Wednesday.

 

[RooFlyer]

Pilot just announced that engineers couldn't measure fuel properly. Need to order more, add it in, then put the dipstick back and have a look.

At least 45 mins more, making ETD 16:30.

Somuch for a quick trip up!