Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

It's not easy at all. This will have onward effects in LA, so it would really be best to forget about the food, and just go. Nobody will starve on a flight across the US.

Not disagreeing with you - I posted similarly above - but perhaps in today's legalistic world, airlines must consider 'special needs' passengers such as diabetics (of which I am not one), and possibly children.

 

[milehighclub]

QF12 JFK-LAX was about to begin boarding, but apparently the chillers malfunctioned so the flight has to be re-catered. Initially said 30 minutes delay, but now even 1 hour seems optimistic. I wonder how easy it is to get an entire flight re-catered at short notice.

JFK-LAX is catered from LAX. We don't have a caterer in JFK only a contract with cleaners. Be interested to know where they will be getting the food from. Would be very basic at best if they are able to get it from somewhere.

I agree with JB747 - let the aircraft go.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 10 August's QF64 was delayed due to the tardy QF63, so JNB departure was 2239 hours, 219 late. Estimated SYD arrival is 1819 hours on Sunday 11, 204 minutes behind schedule.

On Sunday 11, QF61 (0935 hours BNE north to NRT) departed at 1052, so arrival has become an estimated 1856, 61 late.

A332 VH-EBN is on empty ('ferry') flight QF6117, taking off from SYD at 1221 hours with arrival suggested as 1336. This is presumably because of the weather-related disruptions of the last couple of days.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF432 and QF436, respectively the 1230 and 1330 hours MEL up to SYD have been cancelled on Sunday 11 August 2019, as is QF468, the 1615 hours.

Later, QF496, the 1745 hours northbound is also receiving the boot as is QF462, the 1900 hours.

Are these due to aircraft (or crews, but not trying to incur the wrath of jb747) out of place or unavailable due to the last two days' weather problems, or is there a lack of demand such that passengers can be "consolidated" on to the remaining flights?

 

[Silvia]

Also QF527 BNE-SYD 13 35, QF483 SYD-MEL 15 15, QF449 SYD-MEL 16 30, QF562 SYD-BNE 16 30 hours were cancelled.

QF41 SYD-CGK has a revised departure at 14 45, 60 behind.

QF9 MEL-PER leg has also a tentative departure at 16 00. The PER-LHR departure has been suggested to 19 30, so 45 tardy for both sectors. Let's await the actual departure times.
UPDATE: MEL-PER leg is now with a further revised departure at 17 30. Consequently, PER-LHR leg is now with a potential departure at 21 00.

 

[Silvia]

QF122 ZQN-SYD (B738 VH-VZJ) diverted to CHC.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 10 August's QF16 departed 32 late at 2352 hours with Monday 12 BNE arrival said to be at 0638, 33 late.

QF8, the 2225 hours Saturday late night long DFW - SYD flight did not push back until 0211 on Sunday 11 so Monday 12 expected at gate arrival is 1030 hours, 245 minutes late.

 

[Flyerqf]

I'm always curious as why you jump to a crew hours issue? Are there no other potential reasons?

Normally when diversions occur the crew hours becomes an issue unless it’s a diversion to a base. Not all the time. Whilst in this case there was a typhoon, it’s unlikely the crew operating the diverted QF129 would have had enough hours to wait for the typhoon to pass and continue on.
On the following day, would the crew at PVG have had enough hours to go and retrieve the aircraft from HKG and operate it back to SYD in one shift?

 

[Melburnian1]

...QF9 MEL-PER leg has also a tentative departure at 16 00. The PER-LHR departure has been suggested to 19 30, so 45 tardy for both sectors. Let's await the actual departure times.

UPDATE: MEL-PER leg is now with a further revised departure at 17 30. Consequently, PER-LHR leg is now with a potential departure at 21 00.

The expected delay to QF9 has risen ex MEL as it has become a predicted 1750 hours departure.

FURTHER UPDATE: QF9 departed MEL at 1756, 161 minutes late, arriving PER at 1930, 135 late. Pushbacis still predicted for 2100 with Monday 12 LHR arrival at 0725 hours, 140 late.

SUBSEQUENT UPDATE: QF9 departed PER at 2105 hours, 140 late with LHR Monday 12 at gate arrival likely at 0701 hours, 116 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Sunday 11 August 2019, QF843 from DRW down to MEL (B738 VH-VXB, the 1410 hours airborne at 1512) is arriving at about 1932 hours, 37 minutes late.

 

[Max Samuels]

Dear qantas!! Thanks for cancelling BOTH my flights this weekend to/from Sydney and Melbourne! Thank you!!!!

The only thing that has made this weekend not a complete disaster is the fact that in the flight you moved me to SYD-MEL.... although several hours after what I was supposed to be on, you blocked the seat next to me. Small mercies. Thanks AJ. You’re awesome.

 

[defurax]

QF12 JFK-LAX was about to begin boarding, but apparently the chillers malfunctioned so the flight has to be re-catered. Initially said 30 minutes delay, but now even 1 hour seems optimistic. I wonder how easy it is to get an entire flight re-catered at short notice.

It's not easy at all. This will have onward effects in LA, so it would really be best to forget about the food, and just go. Nobody will starve on a flight across the US.

JFK-LAX is catered from LAX. We don't have a caterer in JFK only a contract with cleaners. Be interested to know where they will be getting the food from. Would be very basic at best if they are able to get it from somewhere.

I agree with JB747 - let the aircraft go.

So in the end only economy food was affected by the chillers being shut down. The CSM told me they were able to get Y catering from AA at JFK.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF409, Monday 12 August's 0700 hours SYD - MEL was not airborne until 0822 hours. A332 VH-EBB should arrive at its allocated gate at 0942, 67 minutes late. This plane w2as 29 late arriving in SYD on QF568 at 0634, the redeye from PER.

The 2010 hours Sunday 11 QF42 from CGK down to SYD dparted 69 late, arriving on Monday 12 at 0651 hours, 46 minutes behind the schedule.

QF94 arrived ex LAX in MEL 34 late at 0804 on Monday morning. 'The 130' was half an hour late arriving in SYD at 0855 hours, ex PVG overnight.

 

[jb747]

Normally when diversions occur the crew hours becomes an issue unless it’s a diversion to a base. Not all the time. Whilst in this case there was a typhoon, it’s unlikely the crew operating the diverted QF129 would have had enough hours to wait for the typhoon to pass and continue on.

You don't have to wait until it's gone. Only until the weather is acceptable. Mind you, a second diversion, to a random place in China, might not be all that attractive.

Even when a diversion to a base happens (i.e. 94 diverting to Sydney), the continued flight is normally done by the crew that diverted. Ops would prefer to run a crew to max hours, than 'burn' their standby crew. Use of the standby crew will also involve up to 3 hours of additional delay...they aren't at the airport.
Most operations have a couple of hours available, beyond whatever was planned. The most critical would probably be the two man crew operations.

On the following day, would the crew at PVG have had enough hours to go and retrieve the aircraft from HKG and operate it back to SYD in one shift?

How many crews are at PVG? I don't have access to the rosters any more, but it's not impossible that there would be a couple of potential crews in PVG. The crew that diverted should be able to bring it up anyway, unless their tour of duty dragged on well beyond what it would appear.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 12 August 2019, perhaps due to fog as airline ZL was also badly delayed, QF2221, the 0700 hours SYD - WGA took off at 1047 (Q400 VH-LQG) with arrival suggested as 1156 hours, 226 minutes tardy.

QF81 (1010 hours morning SYD - SIN) had been showing as punctual earlier this morning but did not depart until 1137 with arrival estimated at 1747, 57 behind. Aircraft is A332 VH-EBO that had arrived at its gate this morning nine minutes early at 0616 on QF44 ex DPS, so no standout reason for the delay.

The B744 on QF63 departed just eight late at 1103 from SYD but arrival is put back to a projected 1733, 33 late. This flight is often delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 12 August 2019, B738 VH-VXG on QF617 (1110 hours BNE - MEL) was in the sky at 1208 hours so arrival at 1419 (44 late) is the prediction.

QF861, the 1150 hours OOL - SYD was airborne at 1306 with arrival for B738 VH-VXI set to occur 59 late at 1419 hours.

 

[tomlee1986]

All Qantas flights for HKG will arrive on time tonight.. but no departure tonight.. HK airport is closed as of 6pm tonight HK time.. therefore QF118 & 128 to Syd, QF97 to BNE and QF30 to Mel is cancelled.. all fact checked and confirmed

 

[Melburnian1]

Great info.

'South China Morning Post' also says that this is because protesters have swamped the airport because a girl shot by police could lose an eye.

This is because the information is only recent, but as at 1908 AEST QF had yet to show QF30/98 (not '97' as above')/118 and 128 as canelled, but the media information must be credible. One look at the SCMP photos showing thousands of protesters cramming the airport (departure?) hall confirms it.

Expect QFi cancellations tomorrow morning, irrespective as to whether HKG reopens, as QFi suffers from marooned aircraft in HKG (unless it flies them out empty tonight back to Oz), possible but costly and probably unlikely if it believes the airport will not be closed for a long time.

 

[tomlee1986]

Great info.

'South China Morning Post' also says that this is because protesters have swamped the airport because a girl shot by police could lose an eye.

This is because the information is only recent, but as at 1908 AEST QF had yet to show QF30/98 (not '97' as above')/118 and 128 as canelled, but the media information must be credible. One look at the SCMP photos showing thousands of protesters cramming the airport (departure?) hall confirms it.

ABC and SBS in Australia have also confirmed this news..

Also it is both departures and arrivals hall

 

[Melburnian1]

QF has a note that one can't miss on its home page re flight disruptions at HKG. This directs us to the flight status page, but when I typed in some of the southbounds (i.e. ex HKG) for Monday 12 August evening such as QF98, they were still showing as operating, which can't be correct as passengers were unable to check in. I reloaded my browser so hopefully it's not my error.

As others have noted in a separate thread, northbounds tonight (i.e. from Oz) such as the 2120 hours ex SYD, QF117, are running.