Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 31 July 2019 sees QF93, the 0900 hours MEL - LAX )A388 VH-OQG) not having departed until 1020 hours, so same day estimated arrival is 85 late at 0750. It arrived this morning on QF36, seven early at 0528 hours. Was it delayed in MEL awaiting patrons connecting from other flights?

In these circumstances it will be touch and go whether QF delays the crosscountry LAX - FK B789 on QF11, the 0820 hours, or instead forces passengers from Melbourne on to later AA codeshare flights, delaying these connectees by at least a couple more hours.

'The 15' ex BNE and 'the 11' ex SYD are expected to be early into LAX, so it may depend on how many are connecting from MEL. I assume every day there are at least 30 and perhaps many more, plus of course some freight.

QF93 yesterday arrived LAX earlier than predicted, at 0731 (66 late). QF11 then departed LAX on time at 0820, so not sure if passengers ex MEL connected to it. 'The 11' then arrived LAX 37 late at 1717 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 1 August 2019, QF1, the altered slightly in its departure time 1550 hours SYD - SIN (A388 VH-OQD) departed 59 late and became airborne at 1707 hours. SIN arrival is estimated as 45 late at 2255 hours late this evening local time.

With timekeeping of the QFi A332/A333 flights, QF41, the 1345 hours non-daily SYD - CGK is one of the better ones, but on 1 August it was airborne at 1444 hours after pushback at 1432 with A332 VH-EBO. Arrival should be at 1915, 35 minutes behind.

Due to yesterday's typhoon-affected departures from HKG, the 1 August QF97 departed BNE 42 late at 1052 with HKG arrival suggested as 1805, 40 down.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 31 July 2019 saw QF12, the 1810 hours early evening transcontinental from JFK across to LAX depart 41 late at 1851 hours, but it did not arrive LAX until 2337, 157 minutes late. Thsi was because takeoff was not until 2120. Sittting on a tarmac for two and a half hours or close to it must test passengers and staff's patience, although former aviator and AFF member jb747 has long commented that thunderstorms are a problem around JFK in summer. O've not checked the weather for that day to confirm if that may have been the reason.

This led to the SYD-bound QF12 with its different aircraft not departing until 0059 hours on Thursday 1 August, 149 late with consequent Friday 2 SYD arrival estimated as 0905, 155 late. Due to the lengthy allowed turnarounds, this should not adversely affect timekeeping of any of the A388 QFi Friday departures.

On this occasion - not always so - QF94 to MEL was held, pushing back 121 late at 0041 on 1 August for a 2 August projected at gate arrival of 0910, 100 minutes tardy.

'The 16' from LAX to BNE B789 pushed back at 0121, as luck would have it also 121 minutes behind schedule, but its Friday arrival should be at around 0823, 138 late. Assuming that this B789 returns to LAX as QF15 in the morning, its 1020 hours schedule pushing back should in theory be on time, as 117 minutes is usually sufficient for a punctual turnaround.

 

[Melburnian1]

B738 VH-VZB is on Friday 2 August's 0930 hours SYD - MEL, airborne at 1047. Arrival should be at 1206, 61 late.

The 1210 hours lunchtime SYD - PEK (QF107) is delayed until an expected 1300 hours, meaning that QF108 overnight tonight back down to SYD will be highly likely to be late.

The B744 on QF27, the 1235 hours long SYD - SCL, is similarly delayed by 55 minutes as is the identically timed QF7 (A388) from SYD to DFW.

QF63, also a B744, is worse, delayed from 1055 hours this morning to a predicted 1300 with JNB arrival estimated as 1910 hours, 130 late. QF's software does not typically adjust return flights' times until the first flight is at cruising altitude, so QF64 tonight ex JNB (local time) remains showing as punctual, which won't be the case. Expect a departure about 2050 instead of 1910 (assuming predictions of the delay to 'the 63' are on the ball.)

The depleted, limited lifespan QFi B744 fleet has many delays.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on 2 August 2019, QF19 (1210 hours SYD - MNL) pushed back 33 late and should arrive at 1906, 36 late.

Identically timed QF107 pushed back 64 late at 1314 with PEK arrival suggested as 2306, 51 late.

Earlier, the SYD to SIN QF81 departed 19 minutes behind the timetable at 1029 with estimated arrival at gate becoming 1736, 46 late.

The projected departure of QF27 from SYD to SCL has further ballooned to 1430 meaning arrival at 1344, 159 late. In turn the overnight return flight, QF28, will be significantly delayed.

QF63 from SYD to JNB did not push back until 1315 hours, 140 late with forecast at gate arrival 1918 hours, 138 late meaning a delayed departure for tonight's QF64 ex the South African major centre. This is the third time in the last four trips that QF63 has been more than two hours late, a very poor situation if one has urgent meetings or personal appointments at the destination, or if one is connecting to a domestic (or other) flight in South Africa or Oz.

The causes of delay to these B744 flights are likely to be many and varied but while one can't be churlish in the absence of concrete information that there's poor maintenance - as most major airlines understandably regard safety as the priority - and many parts will have been renewed over the years, these ageing behemoths are experiencing more delays than was the case a decade ago.

I haven't looked at the rosters, but with the smaller number of QFi B744s, are they still more intensively used on Thursdays to Mondays in most weeks compared with Tuesdays in particular and Wednesdays to a slightly lesser extent?

QF51, the 1200 'high noon' BNE - SIN is often early off blocks, a creditable achievement, but on 2 August it pushed back at 1427. Expected arrival is 2027 tonight, 132 late. This was because yesterday, an aircraft must have failed in BNE as A332 VH-EBB operated QF126 from AKL, arriving BNE at 1801 hours, 19 minutes early and was then requisitioned to operate QF51 yesterday, taking off at 2042 mid evening and arriving SIN at 0215 this morning, 475 minutes tardy. It then ran QF52 from SIN down to BNE, becoming airborne at the unattractive time of 0359 hours and arriving at 1306, 421 minutes late.

So EBB has had a minimum turnaround in BNE of 81 minutes to again operate 'the 51.'

UPDATE: QF27 (B744 VH-OEI) departed SYD at 1432, 117 late but anticipated arrival has improved to 1310, 125 minutes behind the timetable. This should mean QF28 from SCL can be off blocks at around the 1455 hours mark.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 2 August 2019, QF9, the 1515 hours MEL - PER departed 42 late. While arrival is showing as 1742, just 27 late, departure for LHR is not expected until 1920, 35 late. Consequent Saturday 3 LHR arrival is predicted as 0545 hours, 40 down. VH-ZNH is the B789.

QF1 from SYD to SIN, the 1555 hours, pushed back at 1645 hours with arrival at 2245, 35 late the expectation. This will slightly delay the second sector to LHR.

QF139, the 1755 hours SYD across to CHC should depart 35 late.

In a change from its usual good punctuality since its timetable was markedly altered, QF117, the 2120 hours mid evening SYD to HKG redeye is expected to depart an hour behind schedule.

QF478, the 1845 hours MEL - SYD has been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to Friday 2 August's QF27 being late, the QF28 arrival in SYD (ex SCL) on Saturday 3 should occur at 2005 hours, 135 minutes late.

'The 64' is delayed because QF63 was also delayed. QF64 departed JNB at 2128 hours on Friday (138 late) and is predicted to be at its SYD gate on Saturday at 1639 hours, 104 late. It looks to be forming QF3, the 1915 hours to HNL, so that should not be tardy off blocks.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 2105 hours QF2 on Friday 2 August has been delayed overnight to an expected 0950 hours ex LHR on Saturday 3 August, 765 minutes late. The SIN intermediate stop is predicted from 0555 to 0720 on Sunday 4 with SYD arrival at 1705 on Sunday afternoon instead of 0510, or 715 minutes behind schedule.

None of the QFi A388 departures ex SYD are showing as delayed for Sunday 4 August.

A388 VH-OQD, after arriving in SIN 47 minutes late on QF1 (ex SYD) on Thursday 1 August at 2257 hours did not depart for LHR until 0202 hours on Saturday 3 (as QF1D) with arrival suggested as 0817 hours on Saturday 3, 1552 minutes (almost 26 hours) late.

0817 to 0950 (93 minutes) is an impossible turnaround for an A388 based on observations, with the minimum that I have noticed being from memory 98 minutes.

Does anyone such as AFF's milehghclub or Flyerqf know what went on with OQD in SIN? Or was it simply a case of a flight crew member falling sick at short notice, as must inevitably occur, but no immediately available replacement given fatigue regulations?

Meanwhile VH-OQG on the Friday afternoon ex SYD QF1 should arrive LHR at 0730 hours, 65 minutes late, so it will beat the Thursday afternoon ex SYD QF1D in.

UPDATE: With A388 VH-OQB and VH-OQK undergoing maintenance/refurbishment, the late running means that Sunday 4 August's 0935 hours SYD - LAX has been delayed to an expected departure at 1900 in the early evening, 565 minutes late with predicted arrival at 1550 on Sunday afternoon instead of 0620, 570 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

As QF1D, the overnight delayed A388 VH-OQD arrived LHR at 0823 on Saturday 3 August 2019, 1558 minutes late, or just two minutes short of 26 hours late.

It would be surprising if QF2D was off blocks by what QF says is its amended 0950 hours departure from LHR for SIN and SYD. This would be turnaround time of 87 minutes.

The original A380 publicity said its turnaround time could be as quick as 90 minutes. This may have referred to an intermediate stop, rather than when one flight terminates and another originates, as in QF1D/QF2D.

Any passengers who were delayed on QF1D or are on QF2D are most welcome to inform AFFers of which (if any) hotel they were placed in, how the transfers went, meals and other allowances and how long it took to arrange everything.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 1907 AEST on Saturday 3 August, the overnight delayed QF2D (A388 VH-OQD) had yet to commence its journey ex LHR, so SIN departure for SYD tomorrow morning (Sunday 4) is highly likely to be later than what QF claims is 0720 hours, while the same applies to the rescheduled 0935 hours Sunday 4 SYD - LAX QF11 that is nominally to push back tomorrow early evening at 1900. This is likely to be at 2000 hours or even later tomorrow.

UPDATE: QF is showing an updated departure of 1015 hours from LHR for QF2D, but by 1018 local time it did not appear to have pushed back.

FURTHER UPDATE: As at 1026, the aircraft has become visible on flight monitoring sites. A good sign.

LATER UPDATE: QF2D departed LHR at 1027 hours, 802 minutes behind schedule. It was airborne at 1048 and is following SQ305 that is an A380 and about half an hour to an hour late, not 13 hours plus late like QF.

QF2D's estimated SIN arrival on Sunday 4 is 0623 hours instead of Saturday 3 at 1725.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF suggests that the delayed QF2D (A388 VH-OQD) will depart SIN at 0745 on Sunday 4 August, arriving SYD at 1725 hours. This means the all-day delay to QF11 (0935 hours timetabled SYD - LAX) will result in a departure likely at about 1930 hours, not the '1900' showing on QF's website.

Has anyone booked on QF11 on Sunday been rerouted via a domestic flight from SYD to BNE or MEL and then on QF15 or QF93? It means an early start on Sunday, but has the advantage of connecting through to JFK, or arriving in LAX, far earlier.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 4 April sees overnight delayed QF2D (A388 VH-OQD) arriving SIN at 0608, a smidgeon earlier than expected but still 764 minutes behind schedule.

Departure from SIN was at 0758, and takeoff at 0823, with SYD arrival an estimated 1730 late this afternoon, meaning QF11, the badly delayed 0935 hours morning SYD - LAX should depart at about 1920 this evening. The QF site says '1900' which while not impossible, is a little optimistic given previous observed 'termini' turnarounds for this size aircraft.

On Saturday 3, QF64 pushed back in JNB 49 minutes behind the schedule at 1959 hours. SYD Sunday 4 arrival looks to be 1532, 37 late. This B744 will form QF73, the 1740 hours SYD - SFO so there should be sufficient time for the latter to be on time off blocks.

 

[Flyerqf]

Friday’s QF94 is 14 hours delayed. As a result Sunday’s QF35 is 12 hours delay.

 

[Flyerqf]

A380 OQA is grounded at LAX. Looks like it has a steering problem. The flight taxied and then returned to gate.

The delayed 94 delayed (as mentioned post above) was operated by the inbound 93 on Saturday.
The Saturday night 94 is now cancelled, indicating OQA (Nancy Bird Walton) isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

The delay on 35/36 will flow on for the next few days.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday’s QF94 is 14 hours delayed. As a result Sunday’s QF35 is 12 hours delay.

Departing LAX at 2152 and being expected to arrive MEL at 2157 hours this evening is a nice schedule, arriving in time for most Melburnians and environs residents, or visitors, to be in bed at 0030 Monday. I'm with drron in disliking early morning arrivals of long or medium distance flights, but on so many routes, the airlines either have no flights fitting that bill or a minority.

Departing MEL at 2355 for SIN is far from my favoured option, as will occur tonight. An 0545 hours arrival in SIN means full lights on in the aircraft cabin at 0345 Singapore time.

'The 36' has been altered to depart SIN at 0700 on Monday 5 August, but a 75 minute turnaround is impossible. QF maintains MEL arrival will be 1625 hours on Monday afternoon, 650 minutes late.

QF93, the 0900 hours MEL - LAX on Monday 5 August has been cancelled due to the inoperable VH-OQA advised by Flyerqf above.

QF94 ex LAX on Monday night is showing as still operating but another westbound ex LAX may have to be cancelled (in addition to the Saturday night one ex LAX as advised above.)

As Flyerqf asserts with his 'flow on' comment, QF35 on Monday 5 will depart MEL at 1800 hours, 365 minutes late with arrival in SIN expected at 2355 late that evening, 360 late. QF36 is still displaying as departing punctually at 2015 hours on Monday evening ex SIN but this is also not possible.

With two A388s inoperable due to maintenance or the planned refurbishment, the failure of A388 VH-OQA means the available fleet is down to nine from the maximum 12. The schedules cannot be operated with nine aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 5 August's QF619 is the BNE - MEL 1210 hours lunchtime scheduled departure, airborne at 1317. B738 VH-VXI is arriving at 1528 hours, 53 minutes late. This will however delay QF446, the 1600 hours MEL up to SYD by only a predicted 10 minutes in pushback.

QF442 (1500 hours MEL - SYD) has been cancelled.

B738 VH-XZA on QF122 from ZQN to SYD should arrive at 1748 hours, 53 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The badly delayed QF2D (A388 VH-OQD) is arriving in SYD at 1746 hours on Sunday 4 August, even later than expected. This will push back the 0935 hours SYD - LAX QF11 to blocks off post 1930 hours.

UPDATE: The QF website has altered the projected QF11 pushback to 1945 tonight (610 minutes behind schedule) with same day LAX arrival estimated as 1615, 595 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Oh dear. The overnight delayed QF94 from LAX has been further altered to arrive on Sunday 4 August in MEL at 2221, not the 2152 hours previously advised. This is 891 minutes late, so unfortunately the delayed QF35 (1155 hours lunchtime MEL - SIN A388) is likely to depart after midnight.

In turn, this will inhibit the overnight delayed QF36 a little more, as well as Monday 5 August's QF35 MEL to SIN.

The "fun" for QF passengers continues...

 

[Melburnian1]

Q300 VH-SBG on QF2192, the late afternoon 1715 hours SYD - MRZ had not taken off by 1927 hours.

QF2193, the 1910 hours MRZ - SYD will be badly late. While many flights under the Federal Coalition Government are given a dispensation from the Sydney 2300 hours curfew, this one is at risk of breaching that constraint.

UPDATE: QF2192 was airborne at 1939.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Sunday 4 August, the 0935 hours SYD - LAX (QF11 operated by VH-OQD that arrived very late from LHR and SIN) departed at 1959 hours, taking off to the south at 2017. Estimated LAX arrival is 1644 hours, 629 minutes late.

As Flyerqf asserted, these A388 QFi problems will affect multiple flights. A further one is the Monday 5 August 2015 evening redeye from SIN down to MEL, QF36 that has been altered to depart at the unattractive time of 0150 hours on Tuesday 6 August with arrival likely at 1115 hours, 340 minutes late. My tip is it may be even later as tonight's QF35 (Sunday 4) is unlikely to push back at 2355 as QF suggests.