Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Silvia]

Continuing today, QF64 JNB-SYD service (VH-OEF) has a revised arrival of 16 40, 65 tardy.

Also, QF153 MEL-AKL (A333 VH-QPB) was airborne at 13 53, this means that arrival is now suggested to 19 05, 65 behind. This is also going to delay the leg back, QF158 which now has a revised departure of 20 00.

Speaking of QF158, this leg was severely delayed yesterday as it departed a day later at 11 01, with arrival at 13 06, a woeful 941 min behind original schedule. VH-EBN was operating that sector.

To add to the list, QF923 (A332 VH-EBP) CNS-SYD was slightly delayed due to engine issues. Arrival is suggested at 16 42, 42 tardy.

QF1474 CBR-SYD 12 05 service was cancelled
QF444 MEL-SYD 15 30 service, QF446 MEL-SYD 16 00 service, QF450 MEL-SYD 16 30 service, QF532 SYD-BNE 15 00 service are also cancelled

 

[Melburnian1]

...
QF444 MEL-SYD 15 30 service, QF446 MEL-SYD 16 00 service, QF450 MEL-SYD 16 30 service, QF532 SYD-BNE 15 00 service are also cancelled

Two return trips is not a huge percentage of the number of flights QF operates on the MEL - SYD route on weekdays, but it's a tad surprising.

Aircraft or crewing problems, or lower bookings than usual due to far fewer business trips and those travelling for leisure not making up for the shortfall in business passengers?

 

[Silvia]

Two return trips is not a huge percentage of the number of flights QF operates on the MEL - SYD route on weekdays, but it's a tad surprising.

Aircraft or crewing problems, or lower bookings than usual due to far fewer business trips and those travelling for leisure not making up for the shortfall in business passengers?

Interestingly, I would have expected that flights would be fuller coming closer to Xmas as people would be flying interstate or overseas. I usually fly to DFW but do the MEL-SYD leg around mid December and I usually find flights relatively full. I am flying on Xmas eve, although just MEL-SYD so would be interesting to see the percentages.

I have seen historically very low numbers on NYE eve day, perfect day to score upgrades, even from DFW.

 

[Melburnian1]

Updating the late QF35 (delayed due to tardy arrival of QF94 in MEL on Thursday 20 December 2018), it pushed back at 1304 hours, meaning likely SIN arrival at 1750 late this afternoon, 45 late.

QF1 had an uneventful trip to SIN on the afternoon and evening of Wednesday 19 December, arriving at 2204, a minute head of time.

However it then turned pear-shaped, with departure not 2355 last night but 0759 this morning. That strikes me as too short a gap for a restful hotel stay (even if one was on offer) by the time one (if not staying at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport) was transported by bus and checked in, and out, but a long time if at the airport.

Arrival at LHR on Thursday 20 should be at 1433 hours instead of 0505, or 568 minutes late. This should not affect Thursday night's 2045 hours LHR - SIN.

 

[Melburnian1]

Very heavy rain looks like it is rapidly approaching SYD. It may hit the airport. No delays yet as far as I can see.

 

[Pushka]

Very heavy rain looks like it is rapidly approaching SYD. It may hit the airport. No delays yet as far as I can see.

Maybe QF28 diversion to Mel as reported by @Mrmaxwell just now.

 

[jb747]

Two return trips is not a huge percentage of the number of flights QF operates on the MEL - SYD route on weekdays, but it's a tad surprising.

Aircraft or crewing problems, or lower bookings than usual due to far fewer business trips and those travelling for leisure not making up for the shortfall in business passengers?

More of the nasty thunderstorms I expect.... Sydney is currently surrounded by them.

 

[Melburnian1]

More of the nasty thunderstorms I expect.... Sydney is currently surrounded by them.

Pushka and jb747 may like to look at this VA flight noted here. Very rare flight pattern:

Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

Flight Tracker | Flightradar24 | Track Planes In Real-Time

It may not be alone, although other flights may be held from departing by ATC.

B738 VH-VYH on QF537, the afternoon 1405 hours BNE - SYD took off at 1429, only about 10 late, but was held over the Central Coast and is approaching SYD subsequently from the south with arrival amended to a suggested 1722, 42 late.

 

[Silvia]

Many flights are on holding pattern, will be a matter of time to see potential diversions to MEL and CBR

 

[jb747]

Pushka and jb747 may like to look at this VA flight noted here. Very rare flight pattern:

It's unusual, mostly because ATC can't have aircraft wandering around trying to find their own way through the weather, but that's more or less what he's done. He's using the radar to look at the weather about 80-100 miles ahead, and then making a plan based on that.....

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 20 December, QF562 (1630 hours SYD up to BNE, B738 VH-VYJ) took off at 1810 so forecast arrival has become 1821 hours, 81 minutes tardy.

QF147 (1645 hours SYD - AKL, B738 VH-VYZ) has yet to take off by 1818 hours so will be at least an hour late arriving in the NZ non-capital harbour city.

Upgauged QF43, A332 VH-EBM (1655 hours SYD to party central DPS) was still taxiing at 1816 so it should be at least 50 late into Bali. This will delay QF44 back down to SYD, the redeye.

Flagship QF1 is predicted to depart 90 minutes late at 1830 hours but often in these circumstances with so many aircraft, once the storm reduces or clears, needing to land or be in the queue for take off delays can increase.

B744 VH-OJS on the SCL to SYD QF28 that diverted to MEL took off from the latter at 1925 hours so should be in SYD at about 2045.

 

[Melburnian1]

Many flights are on holding pattern, will be a matter of time to see potential diversions to MEL and CBR

Prescient, as QF564 from PER to SYD (B738 VH-VXU) that was timetabled to arrive at 1800 hours is diverting to MEL by the looks of its flight pattern, with arrival at or after 1928 hours. Fuel will need a top up, so it's unlikely these happy campers will be in Sydney much before 2145 tonight, and probably later.

AFF member Must...Fly! advised in the similar VA thread that as at 1906 hours, SYD had reopened but this may be too late for another PER to SYD, QF580 (VH-XZO) that also looks to be diverting to MEL. It was due in SYD at 1840 but won't be at a gate (if one is available!) in MEL until roughly 1950.

QF then very optimistically expects QF580 to depart MEL at 2010 with SYD arrival at 2135. That seems impossible given what I presume is a need to take on fuel, and other delays such as a large number of aircraft occupying ATC in SYD.

QF452 got on its MEL - SYD trip to north of Goulburn but seems to have turned back to MEL, with A332 VH-EBL the aircraft. This is the 1700 hours northbound that was in the air only about 10 minutes late at 1725, but that will arrive back in MEL at around 2000 hours. The QF software claims this flight will depart MEL for the second time today at 2040, arriving SYD at 2210 instead of 1825 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 1920 hours on Thursday 20 December 2018 in SYD while the earlier ferocious storm has passed through, another one is not far off. Joy of joys!

AFFer Must...Fly! advises that the thunderstorm beacons are back on.

QF765 (VH-VXO, the 1645 hours SYD across to ADL) took off at 1929. Expected arrival is 2051 hours, 151 late.

The PQQ down to SYD QF2175 (Q400 VH-QOA) is arriving at 1943, 73 minutes behind schedule.

QF539, the mid afternoon 1435 hours BNE down to SYD (VH-VXN) diverted to NTL, stopping there from 1751 to 1924. Arrival in SYD should be at about 2007 hours, 177 minutes tardy.

UPDATE: As at 2005, QF539 was holding west of Pokolbin, along with numerous other aircraft.

FURTHER UPDATE: QF539 from BNE via NTL to SYD looks to be arriving at about 2050 hours, a marathon five and a quarter hours after scheduled departure from BNE.

 

[Melburnian1]

Must...Fly! is advising that he was seeing lightning bolts from the VA lounge at around 1950 AEDT tonight. He commented that as ought be theb case, not a soul was on the apron at SYD. This means no baggage handling, tugs, catering...

These delays will inevitably affect passengers at all Australia's major, and many minor, airports.

Unfortunately afternoon storms tend to result in staff, and sometimes aircraft, being where they shouldn't be at the end of the night (or in staff's case, due to fatigue regulations, maybe unable to work next day as rostered). So tomorrow one could expect that many passengers will be delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 20 December 2018, QF1578 (1740 hours SYD - MCY) took off at 1945 with B717 VH-YQY. Arrival should be at 2011 hours, 101 minutes late.

The 1715 hours SYD down to MEL, QF451 (VH-VXK) took off at 1937. Changed arrival has become 2056 hours, 126 minutes late.

QF542 (VH-VZW, the 1730 hours SYD up to BNE) was in the sky at 1948, meaning arrival at around 2005 hours, 125 late.

The ADL across to SYD QF764 is not one of the worst affected, but even so it is arriving with VH-VXM at 2021 hours, 61 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 2033 hours on 20 December, there were at least 12 aircraft in a holding pattern near Goulburn, NSW (arrivals from the south and west) and about six west of Pokolbin (the OOL, BNE and elsewhere to SYD from the north) plus many other aircraft trying to arrive in SYD.

It's surprising that more have not diverted to MEL, BNE or other alternates. As others have previously explained, facilities at other airports are among the many considerations.

 

[Silvia]

QF865 OOL-SYD diverted back to OOL
QF164 WLG-SYD diverted to CBR
QF541 BNE-SYD diverted back to BNE
QF756 ADL-SYD diverted to CBR
QF146 AKL-SYD diverted to BNE
QF2031 ARM-SYD went back to ARM

QF456 MEL-SYD (VH-VXR) is expected to arrive at 20 56, 136 behind schedule, weather permits.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 20 December...B744 VH-OJS on the SCL to SYD QF28 that diverted to MEL took off from the latter at 1925 hours so should be in SYD at about 2045.

QF28 was caught up in an extensive hold near Goulburn (along with many other aircraft) so it may be at its gate in SYD at roughly 2136 hours, almost four hours late.

The 1700 hours SYD to SIN and LHR had been expected to push back 90 late in SYD but did so at 2040. The SIN stop should be from 0137 hours on Friday 21, 212 minutes tardy.

The SYD - HND QF25 is expected to depart an hour late at 2235 tonight.

 

[I love to travel]

It certainly has been a bad summer for airlines so far, can't remember when there were so many storm and wind days in December. They must be losing a lot of money.

 

[Melburnian1]

It certainly has been a bad summer for airlines so far, can't remember when there were so many storm and wind days in December. They must be losing a lot of money.

Storms like tonight's must in total cost the domestic (and minority of international airlines affected) millions of dollars.

Extra fuel, aircraft out of place, staff rosters mucked up, overflow passengers tomorrow screaming to be conveyed...and that's without any reports of hailstorm damage to aircraft. A couple of residents of salubrious suburbs near Sydney Harbour informed me that hailstones were almost golf ball size.

Agree, although they would have a certain sum factored into their risks.

Especially bad for VA as from memory it has $1.5 billion in accumulated losses. QF has not had consistent profits in the last decade but at present it (especially) and to a far smaller extent VA are raking it in.

That these Sydney storms occurred during the afternoon means that any effect on most international airlines is less than were it an 0530 hours really bad storm, given that so many international flights land from 0510 or 0600 and have departed by 1100 back to their home ports if foreign airlines.