Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 29 May's QF29 departed MEL 29 late at 1009 with arrival suggested as 1800 hours, 40 late.

QF421 (B738 VH-VZK, the 0930 hours SYD - MEL airborne at 1013) should arrive at 1136, 31 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 29 May, QF447 (1600 hours SYD down to MEL, airborne at 1656 with B738 VH-XZN) should arrive at 1811, 36 late.

A332 VH-EBC operating QF580 from PER across to SYD, the 1245 hours airborne at 1333 should arrive at 1920 tonight, half an hour behind.

VH-XZF (B738) on QF453, the 1700 hours SYD - MEL took off at 1803 so its expected 1819 arrival will be 44 late. QF451 is the 1715 hours southbound and hot on 453's heels, with 451 (VH-VZB) airborne at 1806. Expected at gate arrival is 1923, 33 late.

Northbound QF484 from MEL up to SYD, the 1915 hours with B738 VH-XZF took off at 2018 so a 2127 hours, 47 late arrival is the prediction.

Southbound QF465, the 1900 hours SYD - MEL was in the sky at 1951 so arrival for VH-VZC is likely at 2105, half an hour late.

QF1585 (B717 VH-NXR, the 1915 hours SYD down to HBA) was not in the sky until 2042, so arrival has become 2220 hours, 65 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 30 May 2019, QF408, the 0700 hours MEL - SYD (A332 VH-EBM) took off at 0829 so arrival is likely at 0943 hours, 78 minutes late.

Southbound QF505 from BNE to SYD, the 0705 hours airborne at 0829 (B738 VH-VXE) is arriving at 0942 hours, 62 late.

The 0700 hours ADL across to SYD has VH-VXN and took off at 0834. This QF730 should arrive 88 late at 0948 hours.

QF410 from MEL up to SYD, VH-VZK, is the 0715 hours airborne at 0843 with arrival set for 0952 hours, 72 late.

The 0630 hours HBA up to SYD, QF1582 (B717 VH-NXR) did not get into the sky until 0826 so at gate arrival is a projected 0958, 98 late.

The 0740 hours BXG up to SYD, QF1408 (Q300 VH-TQZ) departed at 0816 and took off at 0821, so arrival is estimated as 1005 hours, 35 late for this flight that was downgraded from a Q400. While as always any new public transport ought be given a year to see how it performs - some just aren't aware of new routes on any mode for a while, so a reasonable trial time maximises patronage - it is not a positive sign that on some days this new offering has already become a smaller capacity turboprop.

Unless these rosters have a substantial break during the off peak period in the middle of the day, it will be hard for the planes to 'catch up' on the timetable unless a return rotation is cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Thursday 30 May, QF12 from LAX to SYD arrived at 0724, 54 late as this A3388 was delayed by the B789-operated connection from JFK, the initial QF12 sector, that had departed JFK at 1828, 18 late on Tuesday night but arrived LAX at 2219, 79 late. Thunder and lightning was a feature of JFK so airline operations were hampered.

'The 16' arrived BNE at 0647 on Thursday, 42 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 29 May, the 1210 hours LHR - PER, QF10, pushed back 79 minutes tardy at 1329 hours, so on Thursday 30, PER arrival is claimed as 1311, 76 late.

This will delay the (domestic) second sector with anticipated departure ex the city that has King's Park at 1425, an hour behind, and MEL arrival this evening at 2010, 75 late. In turn, QF49, the 2055 hours mid evening MEL - SFO is predicted to push back 40 late at 2135. This may be optimistic by a few minutes if 'the 10' doesn't arrive until 2010, as 90 minutes seems by observation to pretty much be the time it takes on the ground between sectors.

 

[Melburnian1]

Adding to the many QFd domestic delays already this morning, Thursday 30 May's QF414 (A332 VH-EBG) is the 0800 hours MEL - SYD airborne at 0933. Arrival should be at 1043, 78 late.

The WGA up to SYD QF2222, Q400 VH-QOD, is the 0835 hours in the sky at 1029, so arrival has become 1120 hours, 100 late.

B738 VH-VZK on QF421, the 0930 hours SYD - MEL was airborne at 1047 so arrival should be 1202, 57 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPG on QF79, the 0910 hours MEL - NRT departed at 0956, taking off at 1015. Arrival is expected at 1944 tonight, 44 late. This will delay QF80, the 2020 hours redeye back down to MEL to an expected 35 late, 2055 hours NRT pushback.

A332 VH-EBN is on a 'ferry flight' from BNE to what looks like MEL (QF6004), having taken off at 1145 hours.

The 0955 hours SYD - KIX, QF33, was again delayed this morning, departing at 1058 with arrival suggested as 2030 hours, 90 late. This will delay redeye QF34 back down to SYD by a similar amount.

The 1205 hours CBR up to SYD short hop, QF1322 (B738 VH-VXE) took off at 1249 with arrival at 1335, 35 late.

QF19, the 1210 ours lunchtime SYD - MNL departed 21 late with arrival suggested half an hour behind at 1900 this evening. This will marginally delay QF20, the redeye.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Thursday 30 May 2019, Q400 VH-LQH on QF2080, the 1210 hours MEL - MQL was in the sky at 1256, so expected arrival is 1357, 37 late.

B717 VH-NXR is still late (see above) with QF1584, the 1155 hours very late morning HBA - SYD airborne at 1408 for a forecast arrival at 1546, 121 late. This is its fourth consecutive badly delayed flight since QF1585 last night.

In another B717 delay, QF1573 from HTI down to SYD, the lunchtime 1330 hours that took off at 1430 has VH-YQX and should arrive 46 late at 1636 hours later this afternoon.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 29 May, the 1210 hours LHR - PER, QF10, pushed back 79 minutes tardy at 1329 hours, so on Thursday 30, PER arrival is claimed as 1311, 76 late.

This will delay the (domestic) second sector with anticipated departure ex the city that has King's Park at 1425, an hour behind, and MEL arrival this evening at 2010, 75 late. In turn, QF49, the 2055 hours mid evening MEL - SFO is predicted to push back 40 late at 2135. This may be optimistic by a few minutes if 'the 10' doesn't arrive until 2010, as 90 minutes seems by observation to pretty much be the time it takes on the ground between sectors.

The projected delay to QF10 in PER has extended to 1450 hours in pushing back. This will delay tonight's QF49 (MEL - SFO) more.

UPDATE: QF10 pushed back in PER at 1459, 94 late with MEL arrival suggested as 2105 hours, 130 late. QF49 from MEL to SFO is claimed to depart at 2200 tonight, 65 late, but this seems very optimistic. If it's the same B789, it won't be off blocks until 2230 or later.

 

[Melburnian1]

B717 VH-NXR continues to be delayed on 30 May 2019, with its QF1515, the 1535 hours SYD short flight down to CBR not airborne until 1625. Expected arrival is 1703, 33 late.

QF159 (1855 hours evening MEL - AKL) is delayed until a projected 2000 hours departure.

The 1430 hours PER - SYD, QF582 (A332 VH-EBV) was in the sky at 1529 with suggested arrival 2114 hours being 39 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 29 May's QF12 pushed back in JFK at 1841, 31 late, arriving LAX at 2154, 54 late. This then saw the A388 on the second stage depart LAX at 2314, 44 late, so it didn't lose any time in the transfer between aircraft for passengers and luggage. Friday 31 SYD arrival should be at 0705, 35 down. In contrast, QF16 (BNE-bound) and QF94 (for MEL) are expected to arrive under half an hour late.

On Thursday 30, QF833 (CBR - MEL) has B738 VH-VXC and should arrive at 2051, 51 late.

VH-XZI on the 1855 hours evening CBR across to PER, QF719 was in the sky at 2003 so resultant arrival is expected at 2229 hours, 54 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

It is counterintuitive but Friday mornings on approach to MEL seems among the worst weekly periods for aircraft having to hold. Friday 31 May is no exception as QF409 circles above Mt Buller in the usual position, with B738 VH-VZY on this 0700 hours SYD - MEL (that took off at 0723 hours) likely to arrive at 0908, 33 late.

QF34 from KIX to SYD arrived at 0750 hours, 40 late on Friday 31.

 

[Quickstatus]

The hold at Buller is the small one. There is a bigger hold just NE of Bendigo
(Involving 3 other airlines not subject of this thread but for completion: VA726, CX803, and TG511 (just escaped))

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, fair point and true, but none of these flights are arriving half an hour or more late. That's my threshold for reporting delays.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1509, the 0640 hours SYD down to CBR has had a shocker of a start to the day with takeoff not until 0830 hours. B717 VH-YQT is arriving at 0912 hours, 87 late.

With delays like this it's no wonder that so many instead say "---- you" to the airlines on the SYD - CBR route and instead drive, travel on the comfortable NSW TrainLink XPlorer railcars or if they must, the dreaded Murray's or Greyhound coaches. Sometimes driving or travelling by bus can see delays on the tollway but unfortunately of all modes, air travel on this short route is the least reliable.

 

[Quickstatus]

That’s true. I was going to add the congestion in the skies has knock on effect to aircraft behind.

Also and I’m purely speculating. Does landing to the south (today) as opposed to the north affect the efficiency of the airport?.

Going round to the south for a Northerly final adds a bit of flight time and maybe reduces the degree of holding in the air???

Drizzle and low cloud at MEL this am may have a partial delaying effect.

 

[Melburnian1]

That’s true. I was going to add the congestion in the skies has knock on effect to aircraft behind.

Also and I’m purely speculating. Does landing to the south as opposed to the north affect the efficiency of the airport?.

Going round to the south for a Northerly final adds a bit of flight time and maybe reduces the degree of holding in the air???

While I'll leave that largely for our aviators, Airservices Australia had issued some new procedure that would see on the majority of days landing from the east favoured. Earlier today, presumably not possible due to weather conditions.

However historically landing from the north seems to be the favoured option. It has the bonus of affecting the smallest number of residential properties.

I won't be at all surprised if in 10, or 15 years a curfew is introduced at MEL. Residential development has been encroaching despite planning provisions that I had thought limited or prohibited this.

The third runway will affect residents in some nearby suburbs, so expect over time pressure to grow for "action" (even though none of the seats politically, Federal or State, around the airport are anything but safe Labor).

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2205 (Q300 VH-SCE, the 0825 hours SYD - ABX that took off only about 10 late at 0846 hours) appears unable to land at ABX due to low cloud or fog (the latter wasn't in the general forecast). ZL767 is also circling and may have had a missed approach. QF2205 is timetabled into ABX at 0940 so will be at least 40 late if it makes it to the airport.

UPDATE: Although the ZL flight landed at 1002, as at 1012 QF2205 was still holding.

FURTHER UPDATE: QF2205 has diverted to CBR, where it arrived at 1036. It may be in ABX at around 1230 hours, so a very roundabout way from Sydney to Albury this morning. In Canberra it will have to do a famous Quickstatus 'splash and dash' as it wouldn't have the range to then fly CBR - ABX - SYD without a top up.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF679, the 31 May 2019 scheduled 0940 hours MEL across to ADL (VH-VYD) took off at 1038 so arrival is predicted as 1116 hours, 46 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Silvia]

Currently sitting on QF422 (Vh-VYF) still taxing due to quite heavy congestion in Melbourne and running already 50 min late