Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 3 February 2019, QF29, the 0945 hours MEL - HKG and today scheduled for a B744 has been cancelled. By the looks of things it had originally been rescheduled to a 1230 hours departure, but that's further changed.

Yesterday's QF29, meant to be a B789 also got the chop.

The QF website shows tonight's QF30, the 1900 hours redeye from HKG to MEL as departing at 2110, 130 late, but this hasn't been updated as it is likely to be cancelled.

 

[Silvia]

On Sunday 3 February 2019, QF29, the 0945 hours MEL - HKG and today scheduled for a B744 has been cancelled. By the looks of things it had originally been rescheduled to a 1230 hours departure, but that's further changed.

Yesterday's QF29, meant to be a B789 also got the chop.

The QF website shows tonight's QF30, the 1900 hours redeye from HKG to MEL as departing at 2110, 130 late, but this hasn't been updated as it is likely to be cancelled.

Any insight around this? I'm flying QF29 on the 15th and I'm seriously getting flashbacks from QF95 cancelled before my wedding...
Interesting that they were going to use a 747...

 

[Melburnian1]

Any insight around this? I'm flying QF29 on the 15th...

I wouldn't panic. 15 February is almost two weeks away. It's also further away from the busy Australian Christmas school holidays, so with flights like QF75/QF76 SYD - YVR and return not operating, this helps to ensure QF can schedule its maintenance and slightly more easily provide a substitute aircraft if there's an unexpected failure.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on 3 February, the B744 operating QF63 (1135 hours SYD - JNB) was again delayed, pushing back at 1229. Arrival at 1724, 49 late is the prediction, ensuring that the overnight redeye QF64 will also be unable to depart punctually.

 

[Flyerqf]

Does anyone know the reason why a 787 is out of action at MEL?

This has meant that the QF29/30 has been replaced by a 747 up to next Monday 11th, however the last 2 days (including today) the replacement 747 has been cancelled.

A two week unscheduled out of service for such a new aircraft indicates something is wrong...

 

[Flyerqf]

744 VH-OEF is operating from SYD to HKG, as QF6015. Ordinarily this would be a positioning flight for maintenance, however with QF30 still showing as operating (despite cancellation of QF29) it may be positioning to operate QF30.

 

[Melburnian1]

744 VH-OEF is operating from SYD to HKG, as QF6015. Ordinarily this would be a positioning flight for maintenance, however with QF30 still showing as operating (despite cancellation of QF29) it may be positioning to operate QF30.

Flyerqf, good hypothesis.

B744 VH-OEF was airborne bang on 1400 hours from SYD with HKG arrival estimated as 1914 hours local time.

However QF29 was also cancelled yesterday and QF1, QF81, QF37, QF97 and QF83 (the latter was not timetabled yesterday) are all not B744s.

How would QF have a rested flight crew available in HKG for QF30 tonight? Would they have gone north from Sydney yesterday on QF81, QF83 or QF1?

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Sunday 3 February, QF446 (1600 hours afternoon MEL up to SYD) has been cancelled.

 

[Flyerqf]

Flyerqf, good hypothesis.

B744 VH-OEF was airborne bang on 1400 hours from SYD.

However QF29 was also cancelled yesterday and QF1, QF81, QF37, QF97 and QF83 (the latter was not timetabled yesterday) are all not B744s.

How would QF have a rested flight crew available in HKG for QF30 tonight? Would they have gone north from Sydney yesterday on QF81, QF83 or QF1?

They would have sent a crew up as pax to HKG on Friday to operate yesterday’s QF30 and they’d still be there

 

[Melburnian1]

They would have sent a crew up as pax to HKG on Friday to operate yesterday’s QF30 and they’d still be there

But yesterday's QF30 was meant to be a B789 according to FR24, not a B744. A B789 flight crew would not be qualified to concurrently operate a B744.

 

[Flyerqf]

But yesterday's QF30 was meant to be a B789 according to FR24, not a B744. A B789 flight crew would not be qualified to concurrently operate a B744.

From what I saw, QF29/30 was changed to a 744 from yesterday to Mon 11th at around the same time Thursday’s QF49 was changed to a 744.

Either way, they’d have sent the crew up as pax in advance. Last Tues/Wed QF127/128 operated as 744 as well because they send the A380 to Dallas as an extra on Tuesday. Dallas doesn’t usually operate Tuesday’s anymore. They’d have had to pax crew up to HKG on this occasion to.

 

[bcworld]

A two week unscheduled out of service for such a new aircraft indicates something is wrong...

I feel like we've seen so many lengthy delays & cancellations with QF 787s. But I might just be hypersensitive having been a victim myself!

 

[Flyerqf]

I feel like we've seen so many lengthy delays & cancellations with QF 787s. But I might just be hypersensitive having been a victim myself!

I have read elsewhere an unconfirmed report that VH-ZNG was damaged by a catering truck, which could happen to any aircraft type. I think generally the 787 has kept pretty good time keeping especially on the LHR route.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF73, the 1755 hours Sunday 3 February SYD - SFO B744 departed at 1933 so predicted arrival is delayed until 1405 hours (same day), 100 minutes late.

The 1730 hours late afternoon SYD down to MEL (QF455, A332 VH-EBF) did not take off until 1845 so arrival is shortly at 1958 hours, 53 late.

 

[Flyerqf]

744 VH-OEF is operating the QF30 tonight.

 

[moa999]

have read elsewhere an unconfirmed report that VH-ZNG was damaged by a catering truck

Indeed. Also reported said catering truck was operated by VA/ VAs contractor.

Skin of 787 is somewhat more difficult to repair than for a metal aircraft so out of action for longer with Boeing staff in attendance

Just luck there is a bit of flexibility with the 747s at the moment. This may well disappear over the coming months as they start to get retired.

 

[Flyerqf]

Indeed. Also reported said catering truck was operated by VA/ VAs contractor.

Skin of 787 is somewhat more difficult to repair than for a metal aircraft so out of action for longer with Boeing staff in attendance

Just luck there is a bit of flexibility with the 747s at the moment. This may well disappear over the coming months as they start to get retired.

OJS last flight in 14 days.

 

[tdimdad]

QF73, the 1755 hours Sunday 3 February SYD - SFO B744 departed at 1933 so predicted arrival is delayed until 1405 hours (same day), 100 minutes late.

The 1730 hours late afternoon SYD down to MEL (QF455, A332 VH-EBF) did not take off until 1845 so arrival is shortly at 1958 hours, 53 late.

QF455 SYD-MEL delay was told to be because of both Melbourne weather (late arrival to SYD) and engineering. It was nearly comical how dutyfully heaps of people were lining up to the gate even when it was evident we're not moving anywhere in a long while - perhaps it was their kind attempt to speed up the turnaround. But at least the wine was complimentary at the back of the plane tonight.

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-EBF on Sunday 3 February was next on QF653, the scheduled 2030 hours MEL across to PER in the sky at 2125 mid evening. Arrival should be at 2212 hours, 37 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 4 February 2019, QF24, the BKK to SYD redeye is arriving at 0805, 35 late with A333 VH-QPH.