Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

...The Wednesday QF23 (1030 hours ex SYD for BKK) is expected to depart half an hour late...

QF129, the 1055 hours SYD midmorning to PVG was displaying an hour ago as only delayed for 20 minutes out of Sydney, so it wasn't included here, but unfortunately the expected delay has risen to an hour for pushback. This will put arrival back to 1915 hours (45 late) and mean that the rdeye tonight, QF130, pushes back late...

There may well be legitimate reasons for delays rising beyond a forecast but as IIRC MEL_Traveller said on AFF (to paraphrase) 'passengers have a right to expect that the planes will be properly maintained.'

The delay to QF23 became a 71 minute late pushback at 1141 - more than double the tardiness originally estimated - so BKK arrival has become 1725, 75 late. A332 VH-EBP is on this flight for the second consecutive day and in theory had sufficient time in Sydney to form an on time QF23, but that was not to be.

In turn this will delay the 1800 hours BKK redeye back down to SYD, which should be able to commence its trip at about 1835 if all goes well in turning it around.

QF129 is worse, with departure changing again to a predicted 1315 hours, 140 minutes late (not 45 as above). PVG arrival should be 2035 hours tonight, 125 minutes late, so QF130, the redeye to SYD will be unable to push back until at least 2145, 100 minutes late. The QF website claims it will leave at 2030 but that's not possible.

The 1350 hours SYD - CGK shoudl push back at 1455, 65 late but on a gate-to-gate basis should pick up time with arrival an anticipated 40 late at 1830 hours.

QF is the largest single operator of international flights into/out of Oz (though its own metal only has c.20 per cent market share of revenue passengers) but it has such delays far more than most competitors. Just why so many retain an attachment to travelling on it when it charges often hugely higher fares for inferior punctuality and reliability is an interesting question.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Wednesday 20 February, B738 VH-VZO on QF613 (0910 hours BNE - MEL that was airborne at 1022) is arriving at 1321 hours, 51 minutes behind.

QF61 (0920 hours BNE - NRT) departed 52 late with arrival estimated as 1817 hours, 47 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 20 February 2019, QF1 (A388, the 1700 hours SYD to SIN and LHR) has been altered to depart at 1915 hours, 135 minutes behind schedule. The SIN stop is estimated as 0005 to 0130 hours on Thursday 21 February, the latter being 95 late, and LHR arrival 0755 hours, 100 minutes tardy.

UPDATE: QF1 departed at 1912 hours.

This aircraft, A388 VH-OQB has enjoyed an eventful week as on Sunday morning (QF8) it diverted via BNE (due to insufficient fuel account the unfavourable winds at this time of year) and on Tuesday morning (QF12) it did the same. It then operated yesterday morning as empty ('ferry') flight QF6002 from BNE down to SYD, and was not in use since 1101 hours yesterday.

 

[I love to travel]

Qf 628 MEL to BNE delayed by at least 20 mins. Late cabin crew is the reason.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF3 on 20 February was displaying as delayed by 20 minutes but the expected deficit has risen to 55 minutes as departure is said to be 2020 hours. The same day's QF4 is likely to depart HNL late.

UPDATE: Predicted pushback is now '2100 hours.' HNL arrival should be 0925, 85 late, meaning that the same day's QF4 (the 1000 hours) will be unlikely to depart prior to 1040.

FURTHER UPDATE: QF3 pushed back at 2102 hours, 97 minutes behind the timetable. B744 VH-OEF had been in Sydney since yesterday afternoon when it arrived on QF4. Arrival in HNL should be 0928, 88 late. This is its third trip to HNL this week.

 

[Melburnian1]

Qf 628 MEL to BNE delayed by at least 20 mins. Late cabin crew is the reason.

It departed 18 late at 1728 hours, arriving at 1843, 23 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

...The delay to QF23 became a 71 minute late pushback at 1141 - more than double the tardiness originally estimated - so BKK arrival has become 1725, 75 late. A332 VH-EBP is on this flight for the second consecutive day and in theory had sufficient time in Sydney to form an on time QF23, but that was not to be....

QF23 arrived BKK on 20 February 2019 at 1732 hours, 82 late. Turnaround can be fast here from previous observations, but QF24 is showing as departing at 1835 hours (35 late) that may be a bit optimistic.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF23 arrived BKK on 20 February 2019 at 1732 hours, 82 late. Turnaround can be fast here from previous observations, but QF24 is showing as departing at 1835 hours (35 late) that may be a bit optimistic.

As is regrettably often true with QF, this expected delay blew out. A332 VH-EBP took off at 1933 on Wednesday 20 and is arriving SYD at about 0835, 65 late. Of the A330 international routes, this is Qantas' worst for delays.

 

[jb747]

There may well be legitimate reasons for delays rising beyond a forecast but as IIRC MEL_Traveller said on AFF (to paraphrase) 'passengers have a right to expect that the planes will be properly maintained.'

They certainly do, but where, in any of this, is there anything to say they aren’t being so maintained.

To be honest, I’m far more suspicious of airlines that are always on time...the only way they can do that is to make a lot of use of MELs.

 

[docjames]

This aircraft, A388 VH-OQB has enjoyed an eventful week as on Sunday morning (QF8) it diverted via BNE (due to insufficient fuel account the unfavourable winds at this time of year) and on Tuesday morning (QF12) it did the same. It then operated yesterday morning as empty ('ferry') flight QF6002 from BNE down to SYD, and was not in use since 1101 hours yesterday.

WHist not “unexpected” for QF8, it would be more unexpected for QF12 to have to divert.

WHat was the weather in SYD? One wonders if there is more to the divert?

 

[jb747]

None of the aircraft coming from the USA are generally flush with fuel on arrival. The 8 has further to go, but it will have much heavier fuel load at the start than either the 12 or the 94. All of them normally take off right on max weight. The 8 will have the most fuel, then the 94, and then the 12. The weight of the 12 (and 94 to a lesser extent) goes up because that’s where the freight will be. All will be taking off at the same weight, and they’ll all be arriving with about the same planned fuel load.

In each case there’s only about 2-3 tonnes margin (about 1.5%) between their planned fuel, and the point at which they’ll not have enough to continue. Even when the weather is fine, the standard 20 minutes of ATC holding can become an issue. Of the bunch, the 8 is actually the least likely to be affected, because it will be at cruising altitude as it passes LA...and so doesn’t have to fight the scrum to get a decent altitude on departure. If you are held a couple of thousand feet low for half of the flight, you may have issue. Four thousand low and you certainly will have problems.

 

[Melburnian1]

None of the aircraft coming from the USA are generally flush with fuel on arrival. The 8 has further to go, but it will have much heavier fuel load at the start than either the 12 or the 94. All of them normally take off right on max weight....

Interesting. There must be many variables, but how come UA101, a B789, has operated seamlessly in the past week from nearby IAH to SYD, when nearby departure airfield DFW with QF8, and distant LAX with QF12 have seen each of the latter two divert once to BNE?

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Thursday 21 February, QF11 (1110 hours SYD - LAX) departed 33 late with suggested same day arrival at 0631, 31 late.

The SCL to SYD B744, QF28 should arrive on Thursday at 1835, 55 minutes tardy after departing 23 minutes behind time yesterday.

QF476 (1120 hours PER - MEL, uncomfortable B738 VH-XZK) took off at 1148 hours but is arriving, having lost some time, at 1834 hours, 39 late.

Northbound QF452 (A332 VH-EBG, the 1700 hours MEL - SYD in teh sky at 1728) should be at its destination gate at 1902 hours, 37 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 21 February 2019, QF458 (A332 VH-EBB), the 1800 hours peak period MEL - SYD took off at 1816, so arrival has become 1956 hours, 31 minutes late. The aircraft was placed in two separate holding patterns above Gunning and then a little north of Goulburn.

Q400 VH-QOS on QF2008, the 1910 hours SYD - TWM took off at 2008 hours, so is at least 45 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 20 February 2019, QF1 (A388, the 1700 hours SYD to SIN and LHR) has been altered to depart at 1915 hours, 135 minutes behind schedule. The SIN stop is estimated as 0005 to 0130 hours on Thursday 21 February, the latter being 95 late, and LHR arrival 0755 hours, 100 minutes tardy.

UPDATE: QF1 departed at 1912 hours...

This QF1 departed SIN on Thursday 21 February at 0148 hours, arriving LHR at 0804, 109 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

The B789 operating QF12 from JFK across to LAX on Wednesday 20 February had an unusual flight, departing at 1751 - nine minutes early - but arriving at 2344 hours instead of 2055, so 169 minutes late. B789 VH-ZNG had not taken off until 2058 hours, so it appears passengers and staff may have sat somewhere on the JFK tarmac for three hours. There was a lot of snow and then later sleet according to one report on the net (that was not specific to the airport).

This is the longest period since AFF monitoring began of punctuality I can recall an aircraft taking between pushback and takeoff (apart from the extremely rare occurrence of an aircraft failing, or running into a ditch or as we saw the other day, into soft concrete at TLV).

Wouldn't three hours on a tarmac (if away from the gate) deplete fuel reserves? jb747 commented a few posts back about the situation with USA to Oz east coast flights.

Reports from any AFFers on this transcontinental USA flight would be much appreciated. Did the cabin crew do at least a drink and peanuts/snacks run?

In these circumstances it'd be preferable if meals were distributed (provided the crew had an idea as to the length of the delay given the prohibition on tray tables being down for the takeoff roll and climb) but I've never heard of that occurring with similar flights.

This has naturally caused onwards delays. The A388 on QF12 LAX to SYD departed at 0131 hours on Thursday 21, 181 late and so SYD Friday 22 arrival is suggested as 1106 hours, 151 late. This aircraft looks to be forming QF7 on Friday, the 1440 hours to DFW, so passengers had better hope QF12 isn't diverted via BNE.

As can occur, QF94 was unaffected, departing a minute late at 2256 with MEL arrival predicted as 45 minutes early on Friday at 0905. Given that 'the 96' does not operate on Wednesday night ex the USA, MEL-bound passengers ex the transcon QF12 may be on QF12 ex LAX to transfer to a domestic QF flight in Sydney, adding hours to the journey.

QF16 departed LAX at 0115, 115 minutes tardy. Arrival on Friday should be at 0843 hours, 88 minutes late.

These Oz-bound delays should not translate into a late QF15 ex BNE tomorrow as the QF16 to QF15 turnaround is (very wisely since the timetable change) lengthy.

 

[jb747]

Interesting. There must be many variables, but how come UA101, a B789, has operated seamlessly in the past week from nearby IAH to SYD, when nearby departure airfield DFW with QF8, and distant LAX with QF12 have seen each of the latter two divert once to BNE?

Probably because the last time I looked, UA101 was a 787 and QF8 is an A380.

The B789 operating QF12 from JFK across to LAX on Wednesday 20 February had an unusual flight, departing at 1751 - nine minutes early - but arriving at 2344 hours instead of 2055, so 169 minutes late. B789 VH-ZNG had not taken off until 2058 hours, so it appears passengers and staff may have sat somewhere on the JFK tarmac for three hours. There was a lot of snow and then later sleet according to one report on the net (that was not specific to the airport)

This is the longest period since AFF monitoring began of punctuality I can recall an aircraft taking between pushback and takeoff (apart from the extremely rare occurrence of an aircraft failing, or running into a ditch or as we saw the other day, into soft concrete at TLV)..

You need to spend more time watching JFK in winter. 3 hours is not unusual. Actually, it happens in summer too.

Wouldn't three hours on a tarmac (if away from the gate) deplete fuel reserves? jb747 commented a few posts back about the situation with USA to Oz east coast flights..

Yes, but this isn't a US to Oz flight. There's no issue with either take off or taxi weight, so as long as you weren't silly enough to load minimum fuel, then that won't be an issue.

Reports from any AFFers on this transcontinental USA flight would be much appreciated. Did the cabin crew do at least a drink and peanuts/snacks run?

In these circumstances it'd be preferable if meals were distributed (provided the crew had an idea as to the length of the delay given the prohibition on tray tables being down for the takeoff roll and climb) but I've never heard of that occurring with similar flights.

They cannot do so.

Whilst the US has a curious rule about how long people are allowed to be trapped on an aircraft on the tarmac, they don't actually give you a way of solving that problem. If, after 3:00 of sitting in a taxi queue to go to the runway, someone decides to get off, they cannot magically do so. You simply enter another queue, probably of equal length, to go back. Weird place.

In JFK one night we were about number 500 in the sequence. Nobody was going anywhere, but if you sat at the gate, you were not in the sequence, so you had to go. The cabin crew were running out of hours...to the point where changing queues was becoming important (to them). When the CSM came to talk to me, I pointed out an AF 777 that had landed 5 hours ago, and was still waiting to get to a gate. I suggested that we could actually wait out the take-off queue, fly to LA, and probably drive to the hotel, before we would be able to get back to a gate.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 22 February sees QF404, the early morning 0630 hours MEL - SYD cancelled. So is QF410, the 0715 ex MEL.

Southbound, QF401, the first of the morning at 0600 from SYD down to MEL was expected to depart 50 minutes late. QF411, the 0730 hours should be half an hour late pushing back. QF419 (0900 hours down to MEL) has got the flick.

 

[flyer89]

In JFK one night we were about number 500 in the sequence. Nobody was going anywhere, but if you sat at the gate, you were not in the sequence, so you had to go

Is there any one reason for such delays at JFK? Or does it just fall into the category of old and congested?

 

[Melburnian1]

Is there any one reason for such delays at JFK? Or does it just fall into the category of old and congested?

Severe weather: snow and in summer thunderstorms (lightning etc) is what I gather. jb747 will have detailed knowledge.