Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Sunday 17 February, QF7 (1440 hours SYD - DFW A388) has suddenly been deferred to 1700 hours in its departure. This means missed connections in DFW, annoying if there's frequent flights to one's destination but worse if frequencies are lower.

QF443 (1500 hours SYD down to MEL) was still taxiing as at 1547, so estimated arrival is 1710, 35 late for A332 VH-EBN.

The 1550 hours SYD - HKG (QF117) departed 31 late. Forecast arrival is 2256 hours late this evening, 41 late, probably delaying the returning QF118 at least slightly. A332 VH-EBG is the aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Sunday 17 February, B744 VH-OJS's transponder has been switched on for its final flight in revenue service, which I assume (always dangerous)!) is QF73, the 1755 hours SYD - SFO. This aircraft's delivery date was 30 September 1999.

When aircraft are being sent to the scrapheap or are being mothballed, are the flight and cain crew on board silent about this lest passengers complain about 'being on a plane that's only fir for scrapping' or do staff highlight it and shed a collective tear publicly?

 

[moa999]

And a surprise for people tomorrow. From EK413 on airliners

Passengers travelling on tomorrow’s (18FEB) QF91 SYD-NOU & QF92 NOU-SYD service will be getting a nice treat. The flight will be operated by VH-OEB (I know outdated interior) result of today’s service cancelled due to a tropical cyclone & consolidation of passengers with the scheduled service

 

[moa999]

When aircraft are being sent to the scrapheap or are being mothballed, are the flight and cain crew on board silent about this lest passengers complain ?

Think it depends.
Previous scrapped 747s have often had parts swapped, and been red-tailed (ie. Roo painted over) before making a special flight to the desert

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1 (Sunday 17 February 1700 hours SYD - SIN and on to LHR) had not departed by 1754 hours.

UPDATE: QF1 (A388 VH-OQD) departed SYD at 1756 with SIN arrival estimated at 2304 hours tonight, 59 late. This will delay the second sector to LHR a little, as scheduled departure is 2355.

VH-OQB that had diverted via BNE this morning on QF12 should be on QF7. This 1440 hours timetabled ex SYD has been further delayed, not just to 1700 hours, but to 1930.

The latest delay may be because apart from any problems with the aircraft, the typical flying time of a bt above 15 hours plus sign-on time, sign-off time and the delay adds to more than 20 hours, so a new flight (and cabin) crew must be needed.

A 1930 hours departure means a probable same day 1735 hours arrival in distant DFW. 'The 8' is timetabled to depart DFW at 1955 so much more of a delay to 'the 7' and the returning flight will be also tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF73, the 1755 hours SYD - SFO is joining QF7 in incurring a delay: in the former's case, pushback is claimed to be at 1900 hours, resulting in a 40 minute late arrival at 1305 hours (same day).

 

[Silvia]

Although the MEL - HKG QF29 arrived 17 minutes early at 1558 hours on Friday 15, QF30 (B744 CVH-OEG), the scheduled 1900 hours back down to MEL failed to depart HKG until 2046 hours. Saturday arrival was 0824, 54 late, meaning that the northbound QF29 has its predicted departure at 1015 hours, half an hour tardy.

I had a tour around the coughpit post flight as a birthday present and the pilot advised that the power generator outside the gate at HKG was failing. They were already anticipating that they would have issues with the aircraft leaving from HKG.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF7 on 17 February undertook its SYD pushback at 1952 hours, 312 minutes late with same day DFW arrival estimated as 1800 hours, an even five hours tardy. A388 VH-OQB is the aircraft, so it's had an interesting day in initially diverting via BNE on the QF12 arrival.

The suggested Sunday arrival for QF7 means the pressure will be on for the turnaround as QF8 is timetabled to commence its trip at 1955 hours. 115 minutes is more than minimum observed trunaround of about 138 minutes, but QF can struggle even with an extra 17 minutes. It depends on so many factors, including cooperative passengers who turn up at the gate when asked to.

QF73 (B744 VH-OJS off to the scrapheap) departed SYD at 1939 hours, 104 minutes late. SFO arrival is forecast for 1351 same day, 86 late.

Appropriate that it's delayed given the troubles QFi has with delayed and cancelled international flights.

Earlier, QF35 (1220 hours MEL - SIN) pushed back 26 late with SIN arrival postulated as 1735, half an hour later than the timetable.

The 1810 hours MEL up to BNE, QF632 was in the sky at 1931 so arrival for B738 VH-VZT should occur at 2025, 65 minutes behind schedule.

Despite Saturday 16's QF12 arriving LAX at 2103, just eight minutes late, the connecting QF12 (LAX to SYD) departed at 2345 hours, 75 minutes late. Monday 18 arrival should be at 1000, 85 minutes late.

QF94 pushed back in LAX 17 late at 2312 but Monday arrival in MEL is delayed until a forecast 1045, 55 late. This may delay the 1220 hours QF35 up to SIN.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF25 was a minute late arriving at HND at 0510 hours bright and early on Sunday 17 February 2019.

However in yet another B744 delay, QF26, the scheduled 2200 hours tonight from HND down to SYD has been delayed until a projected 0100 hours on Monday 18, with SYD arrival estimated as 1230 hours, 175 minutes tardy.

UPDATE: QF26 departed at 0107 hours and should arrive in SYD at 1210 this afternoon.

 

[Flyerqf]

Saturday’s QF64 which was delayed 24 hours has been delayed a further 12 hours and is now not due into Sydney until Tuesday early morning.VH-OEH is the stranded aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 18 February 2019 sees QF804 (B738 VH-VYI, the early morning 0630 hours MEL - CBr) not taking off until 0748. Estimated arrival is 77 minutes behind at 0852 hours.

QF414 (A332 VH-EBL, the 0800 hours MEL - SYD) took off at 0852, so arrival is delayed until a predicted 1009 hours, 44 late.

On Sunday 17, QF23 arrived BKK at 1829, 19 minutes late, but the returning redeye back down to SYD, QF24 (the 1800 hours) is delayed overnight and should depart at 1700 hours on Monday 18 for SYD Tuesday 19 arrival at 0635, 1385 minutes tardy. A333 VH-QPC is the marooned aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

This is lifted from TripAdvisor's airline reviews and is by a USA-based passenger. We appear to have missed this particular QF8 diversion. It's unusual that passengers had to clear customs in BNE not SYD. The traveller expresses him/herself very well:

"We flew Qantas #8 from Dallas to Sydney on February 8. The logistics of pre-board and boarding were handled very professionally, it was during this time that it was announced that, due to heavy winds, we would likely not be able to fly directly to Sydney. Should this occur, we were told that we would have to stop in Brisbane to refuel.

This turned out to be incomplete information as we actually had to deplane, go through customs, collect our bags and check into flights from Brisbane to Sydney. The arrival of our flight at Brisbane and rebooking to Sydney caught the team at Brisbane unprepared. It took us four hours to get through the airport, eventually we arrived in Sydney, 6 hours late. Other passengers, who were behind us in the lines, were assigned to later flights.

When it was first announced that we would be flying to Brisbane, we were told that this happened from time to time, but clearly the team in Dallas had no idea as to the scope of this change. Likewise, as noted, customs and the Qantas team in Brisbane were unprepared.

Certainly this situation can’t occur frequently or Qantas would not continue this flight. Obviously, arriving at a destination 6 or more hours late can crest havoc with a travel itinerary. Sydney was our destination on this day, others missed connecting flights."

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Monday 18 February 2019, QF63 (1135 hours SYD - JNB) had been showing as punctual but has become an estimated 1425 hours departure with arrival at 1915 hours, 160 late. This will delay redeye QF64 (JNB - SYD), the 1850 hours to around a 2055 hours departure tonight South African time.

Just another B744 delay on the first day the fleet has been reduced to eight (and not too long until it's down to seven).

 

[Melburnian1]

QF7 on 17 February undertook its SYD pushback at 1952 hours, 312 minutes late with same day DFW arrival estimated as 1800 hours, an even five hours tardy. A388 VH-OQB is the aircraft...

It arrived DFW at 1743 hours on Sunday 17, but by 2053 hours had yet to depart as QF8 (the 1955 hours back to SYD.

UPDATE: As at 1429 hours AEDT Monday 18 (2129 hours CT Sunday 17 February in Dallas, Texas), it still doesn't seem that QF8 has departed.

Given the flight time, it must be close to being cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

It arrived DFW at 1743 hours on Sunday 17, but by 2053 hours had yet to depart as QF8 (the 1955 hours back to SYD.

UPDATE: As at 1429 hours AEDT Monday 18 (2129 hours CT Sunday 17 February in Dallas, Texas), it still doesn't seem that QF8 has departed.

Given the flight time, it must be close to being cancelled.

I was wrong re the last point, as on Sunday 17 February, QF8 departed DFW at 2206 hours, 131 minutes late with anticipated SYD arrival on Tuesday 19 at 0809 hours, 124 minutes behind schedule. Better than being cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 17's QF12 creditably pushed back in JFK at 1759 hours, a minute early but arrived LAX at 2128, 33 minutes behind schedule. The second sector (A388 not B789) of QF12 is predicted to depart LAX at 2350, 80 late with Tuesday 19 February arrival at 0940 hours, 65 late.

QF94 is (at this stage) slightly early and QF16 slightly late, so it isn't always the case that a late arrival in LAX from New York means all three depart late for the Australian east coast.

Monday's QF1 pushed back in SYD 35 late at 1735 so SIN arrival has become a suggested 2237, 32 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Monday 18 February 2019, QF63 (1135 hours SYD - JNB) had been showing as punctual but has become an estimated 1425 hours departure with arrival at 1915 hours, 160 late. This will delay redeye QF64 (JNB - SYD), the 1850 hours to around a 2055 hours departure tonight South African time...

QF63 (B744 VH-OEJ) pushed back in SYD at 1434, 179 minutes behind schedule but predicted arrival in JNB has improved to 1824, 109 minutes late, so if true, a net gate-to-gate gain of 70 minutes on the timetable.

This will put back Monday 18's QF64 to a revised departure at around the 2005 hours mark, 75 late (although QF says '2020 hours - 90 late). Based on today's timings, it should be able to pick up about half an hour on a gate-to-gate basis so it may arrive SYD at somewhere around 1620 hours on Tuesday 19. (QF says 1700 is the expected arrival).

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday’s QF64 which was delayed 24 hours has been delayed a further 12 hours and is now not due into Sydney until Tuesday early morning.VH-OEH is the stranded aircraft.

This has become worse. This QF64D is predicted to depart JNB at 1500 hours on Monday 18 February (midnight tonight AEDT) and make an intermediate stop in PER from 0535 to 0630 hours before arriving SYD on Tuesday 19 at 1330, so it will be about 46 hours late.

Meanwhile, on Monday 18, QF465 (B738 VH-VZW) is arriving MEL (ex SYD) half an hour late at 2105 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

..
On Sunday 17, QF23 arrived BKK at 1829, 19 minutes late, but the returning redeye back down to SYD, QF24 (the 1800 hours) is delayed overnight and should depart at 1700 hours on Monday 18 for SYD Tuesday 19 arrival at 0635, 1385 minutes tardy. A333 VH-QPC is the marooned aircraft.

QF24D (A332 VH-EBO) has further changed to a predicted 1730 ex BKK on Monday 18 February, arriving at 0705 hours on Tuesday 19.

Meanwhile the 'real' QF24 (tonight's scheduled departure, A333 VH-QPC) has suddenly become an 0200 proposed ex BKK on Tuesday 19 (480 minutes late) with SYD estimated arrival tomorrow afternoon at 1535 hours, 485 late.

So take your pick of at least a 24 hour delay, or an eight hour one. Not good, as this route had been better during the past two or three weeks, but prior to that its timekeeping had been very poor.

UPDATE: QF24D departed BKK at 1849 on Monday evening, so Tuesday 19 SYD arrival should be 0805 hours, 1475 minutes late - just over a day behind.

QF24 with the A333 pushed baqck in BKK at 0211 on Tuesday, with arrival in SYD altered to 1530, 480 late.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thanks milehighclub (for the 200th time). Looks to have been B738 VH-VZW that was the 1310 hours PM - BNE in the air at 1321. It arrived CNS at 1502 AEST, and not surprisingly appears to be still in CNS

This aircraft remained in CNS for 3 days. One reason was perhaps because slide evacuation occurred at or close to the gate after an attempt to resume the flight