QF79 (Friday 24 May 2019, the 0910 hours MEL - NRT) departed 99 late at 1049 with arrival in Japan at a projected 2010 hours tonight, 95 late. The aircraft, A333 VH-QPJ had arrived in MEL at 0814, 39 late on redeye QF30 ex HKG so it pretty much turned around to run 'the 79' in an unexceptional ground handling time.
As a result, QF62 from NRT to BNE is predicted to depart 90 late at 2125 meaning Saturday 25 arrival in the capital of the Sunshine State at about 0710, 75 late. The rostering for QF61 (ex BNE) and QF79 varies: quite often, they swap with the arrival ex BNE going back down south to MEL and vice versa. At other times, QF79 forms QF80.
QF29, the 0940 hours MEL - HKG was cancelled on Friday 24. QF30, the 2010 hours redeye HKG - MEL tonight has also been canned.
QF's SYD - JNB B744 flight, 'the 63', has what could politely be described as a variable timekeeping record. Friday's pushed back in Sydney at 1233, 98 late and took off at 1248 so same day JNB arrival is estimated as 1906, 126 late. This will mean a delayed arrival for tonight's QF64 when it is off blocks in SYD tomorrow afternoon.
Another Friday B744, QF27 from SYD across to SCL was off its blocks 51 late at 1326 with same day arrival likely 80 late at 1225. Aircraft is VH-OEG that had arrived a minute late - essentially on time - at 0606 hours this morning on QF74 ex SFO, so no obvious reason for the delay to QF27. Perhaps connecting flights were late?
The Thursday 23 late night 2320 hours B789 from LAX to BNE, QF16, is expected to depart at 0100 hours on Friday, arriving on Saturday 25 a suggested 95 late at 0740 hours. This is due to QF12 pushing back in distant JFK at 2013, 123 minutes tardy with its predicted arrival in LAX becoming 2335, 155 late. (Earlier, QF11 from LAX across to JFK had arrived at 1810, 90 late after pushing back in LAX at 0914 hours, 54 late).
The second sector QF12, the A388 aircraft is obviously being held as departure from LAX has been deferred until a claimed 0015 on Friday 165 late with consequent SYD Saturday arrival at a forecast 08090, 90 late - a gain of a net 75 minutes gate-to-gate.
Often when there's significant late running of QF12 across the USA westbound, QF94 to MEL ( at this time of year a scheduled 2230 hours off blocks in the movie capital) is not held, but on Thursday, it looks to be delayed for connecting passengers. Its departure is estimated at midnight for Saturday morning arrival in MEL at an estimated 0845, 75 down. Interestingly that's only a net projected 15 minute gain gate-to-gate, quite different from the SYD bound same model of aircraft's estimate.
QF447, the 1600 hours SYD - MEL on Friday 24 has been cancelled as is QF455, the 1730 hours. QF467, the 1930 hours southbound also has the bullet.
Earlier, QF406 (0645 hours morning MEL up to SYD) was cancelled while QF468, the 1615 hours is also to suffer the same fate. So is QF464, the 1730 hours northbound, matching its southbound cousin. The 1815 hours MEL - SYD (QF474) has also got the boot, as has QF490, the 2000 hours scheduled from MEL on Australia's busiest air route up to SYD.
As at 1430 on Friday, mid afternoon, winds at MEL were 44kmh with gusts to 57kmh so I don't know if the large number of MEL - SYD - MEL cancellations this afternoon/evening (three southbound, five northbound) is a reaction by QF operations staff looking at the forecast of possible Melbourne thunderstorms tonight, or whether it's low bookings or some other reason. May is not the busiest month for travel but three to five cancellations post 1200 'high noon' on a Friday is a lot when more often than not flights are full or very close to it on the second busiest worldwide domestic air route.
It rained in Melbourne this morning despite BOM advice to the contrary so even with its advanced modelling, it isn't always correct.
