Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Flyerqf]

QF7 is delayed overnight due to a technical issue with OQI.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF7 is delayed overnight due to a technical issue with OQI.

This must be some sort of record, and not in a good way, for the number of QFi A388 aircraft with problems resulting in bad late running.

At present we have the Sunday 4 August QF11 badly late en route to LAX, QF94 from LAX to MEL not far off landing in MEL more than 12 hours late, QF35 and QF36 to be up to 12 hours late and now QF7 delayed exactly 24 hours to a Monday 5 August departure from SYD at 1235 hours. We can add the consequent delay to the Sunday QF8 ex DFW for SYD, with it to depart Texas at 2300 hours on Monday 5 instead of 2225 hours on Sunday 4.

UPDATE: QF94 arrived in MEL at 2213 hours, 763 minutes tardy.

 

[TonyHancock]

I have found myself caught up in the current 388 issue. i was scheduled to fly QF36 on the 5th August, it is now showing a five and half hour delay.

 

[tomlee1986]

I rarely write predictions for flights... but this looks significant... please don't bash me for this following message...

The flights to and from HKG today MAY be impacted due to major strike action at HK international airport today (05/08/2019) HKG airport confirms today is 1 runway operations instead of 2 normally .. at the time of writing... all flights looks normal... but subject to change

Flights MAY be impacted are as follows :

QF127/128 to SYD
QF29/30 to MEL
QF 97/98 to BNE

QF 117/118 SYD service is less likely to be impacted as very early HKG arrivals and late night HKG departure whereas the rest are HKG evening departure out of HKG (QF30-MEL, QF98-BNE, QF128-SYD) - these flights have only 2-3 hours to turn around after arrival into HKG

Inbound flights MAY arrive late due to holding for landings

Source: Hong Kong readies for crisis as strike targets airport, buses and trains (major English newspaper in HK)


P.S. QF117 did arrive on time at 4:45am HK time (schedule was 5am)

 

[Melburnian1]

The badly delayed QF35 (Sunday 4 August's 1155 hours MEL - SIN) departed at 0004 hours on Monday 5, 729 minutes late, arriving SIN at 0551 hours, 716 late.

QF36 (the Sunday night 2015 hours flight) pushed back at 0745 hours on Monday, three minutes ago as I write, so 690 minutes behind the schedule. Forecast MEL arrival is 1655 instead of 0535, so 680 late.

It's impossible for QF35 to depart at 1800- as QF asserts - because a 75 minute turnaround for this size aircraft is unattainable, so poor TonyHancock's QF36 tonight ex SIN, the 2015 hours that QF suggests will depart at 0150 hours on Tuesday 6 may be even more tardy. Is Griselda neutral on this, or secretly happy that her boss is fuming at such a delay?

UPDATE: Expected arrival for QF36 has improved a little to 1644 hours.

 

[jb747]

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

What makes you think it has a steering issue?

I retire, and it all falls apart.....

 

[RSD]

I retire, and it all falls apart.....

It certainly seems that way! It is going to take them a few days to get it all back on schedule. Glad I'm not flying this week!

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF7D departed SYD at 1229 on Monday 5 August, just under 24 hours late, but I cannot see it on the flight tracking sites. Arrival in DFW should be at 1252 hours same day.

Meanwhile the Monday 5 August 1235 hours QF7 is delayed to an expected 1500 in pushback.

Not far off complete collapse of the QFi A388 schedules. While one does not claim to possess an elaphantine memory, this is the worst in six years recording some of the delays.

If each A388 has on average 400 passengers (bearing in mind it's not Easter, Christmas or other school hols when every flight may be full), the number adversely affected is running into the early thousands. Hoteliers love these overnight delays. Some leisure passengers may too, but they're a pain and can be costly for business travellers and holidaymakers on tighter schedules, including those expected to be promptly back at work.

B744-operated QF63 departed SYD 53 late at 1148 late this morning with JNB arrival suggested as 40 late at 1740. This will marginally delay pushback of the returning overnight QF64.

 

[RSD]

The overnight delayed QF7D departed SYD at 1229 on Monday 5 August, just under 24 hours late, but I cannot see it on the flight tracking sites. Arrival in DFW should be at 1252 hours same day.

Meanwhile the Monday 5 August 1235 hours QF7 is delayed to an expected 1500 in pushback.

Not far off complete collapse of the QFi A388 schedules. While one does not claim to possess an elaphantine memory, this is the worst one recalls in six years recording some of the delays.

If each A388 has on average 400 passengers (bearing in mind it's not Easter, Christmas or other school hols when every flight may be full), the number adversely affected is running into the early thousands. Hoteliers love these overnight delays. Some leisure passengers may too, but they're a pain and can be costly for business travellers and holidaymakers on tighter schedules, including those expected to be promptly back at work.

It makes my QF7 30 minutes late, and QF94 60 minutes late (while they remove the inevitable drunk passenger) seem damn good from my trip a couple of weeks ago.

 

[jb747]

I'm taking a bit more note than usual, as I'm flying on the 93 mid next week, and back about 10 days later.

 

[milehighclub]

What makes you think it has a steering issue?

Qfflyer is correct. It got to the runway, then was stuck there for about 45 minutes before it was towed back to the gate blocking the runway. A different aircraft operated the delayed 94 (OQC). OQA had the nose gear issue.

 

[RSD]

I'm taking a bit more note than usual, as I'm flying on the 93 mid next week, and back about 10 days later.

Fingers crossed they get it all back on track by then for you.

BTW was having to remove an intoxicated passenger before takeoff on the 94 the norm or am I just unlucky to have had to watch it on my last three trips on 94? Good to see that the crew weren't going to risk it even though these passengers weren't being loud at the time.

 

[tomlee1986]

Just a quick update on HKG situation... as at 3pm AEST, all ex AU QF flights has departed on time (QF29 - MEL, QF127 - SYD & QF 97 - BNE), but as stated in my earlier posting, there MAY be delays in arriving into HKG, due to single runway operations as a result of major strikes hitting HK.

For anyone who is travelling EX HKG today - regardless of which flight or which airline you are flying with, please arrive at HK international airport extra early today, as there has been major traffic jams all around the city all day. Airport express and in town check in with MTR may not be available for today. Hope this information is useful for everyone!

P.S. Please don't blame the MTR or the anyone at the city for the delay, as this is a general strike in HK against the government policy. It is not against 1 company, but the whole of HKSAR government

 

[TonyHancock]

It's impossible for QF35 to depart at 1800- as QF asserts - because a 75 minute turnaround for this size aircraft is unattainable, so poor TonyHancock's QF36 tonight ex SIN, the 2015 hours that QF suggests will depart at 0150 hours on Tuesday 6 may be even more tardy. Is Griselda neutral on this, or secretly happy that her boss is fuming at such a delay?

Griselda had the rather lovely people at the BA GGL centre move me to QF38. Hopefully that is on time.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF36 (A388 VH-OQC) arrived MEL at 1644 hours, 669 minutes late. QF35 (1155 hours lunchtime MEL - SIN) was previously showing as a projected 1800 hours off blocks but is more realistically displaying as an 1830 hours, 365 late with SIN arrival estimated as 0010 on Tuesday 6 August, 375 late.

If this all occurs, then tonight's QF36 on which TonyHancock is no longer booked should be able to push back in SIN at around 0205 on Tuesday 6, 350 minutes behind schedule. Assuming the same A388 continues on QF35 on Tuesday (the 1155 hours ex MEL), it should be between 90 minutes and two hours late departing. It's a bit early to be definitive.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'm taking a bit more note than usual, as I'm flying on the 93 mid next week, and back about 10 days later.

One jolly well hopes timekeeping is back to OK by mid next week, 9 or 10 days away!

 

[Melburnian1]

QF94, the 2240 hours Sunday 4 August 2019 LAX - MEL is delayed in its pushback until a suggested 0215 hours, or 1915 AEST tonight.

'The 12' B789 JFK to LAX was OK with the connection, so it must be a separate issue. Suggested MEL Tuesday 7 August arrival is 1015 hours, 165 minutes behind schedule.

QF93 on Tuesday, the 0900 hours MEL - LAX has been altered to depart at 1310 with forecast arrival 1040 hours, 255 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF35 on Monday 5 August pushed back at 1831 hours, 396 minutes late. Predicted SIN arrival has become 0033, 398 late, on Tuesday 6. QF still suggests that QF36 can be off blocks at 0150 hours on Tuesday.

Oh dear. After being amended to an 0215 hours departure, QF94 from LAX to MEL - the Sunday night flight due to arrive on Tuesday morning - has been cancelled.

Maybe QF93 ex MEL tomorrow morning (Tuesday 6) will also have to be cancelled but this is yet to publicly display.

It is about 72 hours (three days) since VH-OQA finished operating its QF93. Its absence is keenly felt.

UPDATE: QF has cancelled QF93 tomorrow (Tuesday 6 August) MEL - LAX.

Anyone who is affected by these numerous A388 QFi cancellations and delays please let we AFFers know what arrangements (if any) were or are being made for rerouting/rebooking/hotels/transfers and meals. This gives us all a guide as to current practice when problems occur.

 

[Flyerqf]

The cancelled Sunday night QF94 was being operated by OQD. Same aircraft that had delays on QF1/2 a few days back. Not sure if the issues are related.

 

[davidj]

So whats behind all these QFA cancellations?