Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[straitman]

Meanwhile VH-OQK remains in DRS (Germany). It has been there since 16 July 2019.

Therefore, the available A388 fleet remains at 10, meaning no spare as timetables for QF1/2/7/8/11/12/93/94 require 10 aircraft.

Maybe I missed it earlier but any knowledge as to why VH-OQK is in DRS?

 

[Melburnian1]

Maybe I missed it earlier but any knowledge as to why VH-OQK is in DRS?

straitman, this is what 'the oracle' moa999 - I haven't met him but he must be an amazing bloke - posted in the A330s 'lie flat seating' huge thread:

At the moment there are no refurbed A380s.. the first VH-OQK is currently in DRS Dresden undergoing refurb and might be released by mid-Sept.

 

[straitman]

straitman, this is what 'the oracle' moa999 - I haven't met him but he must be an amazing bloke - posted in the A330s 'lie flat seating' huge thread:

At the moment there are no refurbed A380s.. the first VH-OQK is currently in DRS Dresden undergoing refurb and might be released by mid-Sept.

Thanks. That's a long one month per airframe.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thanks. That's a long one month per airframe.

straitman, IIRC moa999 explained it as the initial A388 requiring certification (presumably because seating configuration alters with implications for the speed and/or way in which passengers exit in an emergency.) As we've seen from QF's just released precursor to its annual report, subsequent refurbishments (long overdue) will only take a month or so each.

 

[Melburnian1]

Again, QF63 is late, with the Sunday 25 August 1055 hour late morning SYD - JNB pushing back 36 late. Arrival is suggested as 1733, 33 late. This will slightly delay departure of QF64.

QF881, the 1200 'high noon' OOL - MEL (B738 VH-VYH) was late yesterday and so it is today, with takeoff at 1246 meaning a suggested 455 (35 late) at gate arrival.

 

[Melburnian1]

B738 VH-VZV on QF693 (Sunday 25 August 2019, the 1655 MEL across to ADL) departed at 1808 and was in the sky at 1821 so arrival at gate should be 1902 hours, 77 late. This aircraft looks to be substituting for a failed colleague as it arrived in MEL at 1716, nine minutes early on QF625 ex BNE.

QF822, the 1935 hours evening MEL - CBR is not predicted to push back until 2125.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 26 August 2019 has the 0910 hours MEL - NRT (QF79) departing 27 late with arrival expected at 1913 hours, 38 minutes behind the timetable.

B744-operated QF63 may not quite be perenially late, but it's not far off. On Monday it pushed back 20 late at 1115 hours with arrival at 1735 hours, 35 late the forecast.

QF663, the BNE across to ADL, has VH-VZE and is the 1145 hours pointing skywards at 1233 for arrival at a suggested 1438 hours, 33 behind.

 

[levelnine]

What happened to QF93? Running 6 hours late even though there was no delay to the inbound aircraft.

 

[docjames]

The aircraft can be used to keep MEL-SIN (QF35) on time however it seems that isnt the case as -OQD operated the ‘94 and is now operating the ‘93.

 

[Melburnian1]

The aircraft can be used to keep MEL-SIN (QF35) on time however it seems that isnt the case as -OQD operated the ‘94 and is now operating the ‘93.

And A388 VH-OQJ came in early to MEL on Monday 26 August on QF36 (the ex-SIN redeye) and was then used on QF35, the 1155 hours late morning back to SIN.

It is usual since QFi ceased its via DXB QF9/QF10, on about 99 of 100 rotations for 'the 94' to form 'the 35' and 'the 36 arrival' form 'the 93' departure.

To add to AFFer levelnine above, QF93 today pushed back in MEL at 1440 with estimated same day LAX arrival 1150 hours, 205 minutes behind schedule. Late running like this results in an even longer delay to JFK-bound passengers as typically they are placed on an AA flight with variable waiting times. As August is busy domestically in the USA, one wonders how often some of these AA transcontinetal flights are full of locally booked passengers and QFo transferees have to wait even longer in LAX. Any AFFer experiences of this would be most welcome contributions.

I don't know why normal practice was not followed today, but QF35 to QF36 has a far tighter turnaround in SIN than QF93 to QF94 has in LAX, so perhaps passengers on 'the 93' took the fall so to speak. As with most transport operators, there can be competing priorities.

 

[docjames]

Agree - it seems somewhat likely there was an issue with OQD and yes, they opted to push the delay back onto 93 than onto 35.

Wonder how many on the 35 were connecting to QF1?

 

[ayebee]

To add to AFFer levelnine above, QF93 today pushed back in MEL at 1440 with estimated same day LAX arrival 1150 hours, 205 minutes behind schedule. Late running like this results in an even longer delay to JFK-bound passengers as typically they are placed on an AA flight with variable waiting times. As August is busy domestically in the USA, one wonders how often some of these AA transcontinetal flights are full of locally booked passengers and QFo transferees have to wait even longer in LAX. Any AFFer experiences of this would be most welcome contributions.

Our last 2 QF93 flights were delayed around 3 hours, such that each time we saw QF11 taxiing at LAX as we arrived. Each time we got AA flights around 1 to 2pm for 10-11pm arrival into JFK, about 5 hours late.

I noticed some QF passengers making the AA 11am'ish flight, and at least a dozen or so on our flight, which was full so maybe some were on even later flights.

The trip before that our QF11 to JFK was delayed by around 4 hours due to a sick pilot, but they got us there. The LAX-BNE flight that night must have been significantly delayed as well.
I should warn people when we are on 93 ... the next one is in January.

 

[Melburnian1]

Our last 2 QF93 flights were delayed around 3 hours,...I should warn people when we are on 93 ... the next one is in January.

"Gluttons for punishment" comes to mind.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 25 August, QF10 departed LHR at 1223, 13 minutes late, arriving PER on Monday 26 at 1228, 33 down. The second sector saw PER departure at 1344, 19 minute sbehind schedule with MEL arrival expected shortly at 1915, 20 late.

QF3, the 1915 hours evening B744 from SYD to HNL is predicted to depart 45 late tonight, arriving HNL (same day) at 0905, 35 down. This should not significantly delay QF4.

 

[Melburnian1]

In its past six flights QF63 from SYD to JNB, the 1055 hours B744 has arrived 11 minutes early but on every other occasion has been delayed, sometimes by more than an hour.

Today repeats this familiar pattern with pushback expected about as I write, at 1145 for arrival 55 late at 1755. This will mean the 1910 hours ex KNB QF64 cannot depart until at least 1940 tonight local time.

As it has today (B744 VH-OEJ), often the aircraft arrives in SYD on QF74 ex SFO but even with a gap of a few hours until 'the 63' is due to depart, is unable to punctually push back. On one occasion when I was in SYD to observe this, the aircraft had to be placed at its aerobridge but surely on most occasions a '74 to 63' rotation would see the aircraft remaining at its gate after arrival and not koving until off blocks with 'the 63'?

QF97, the 1010 hours morning flight from BNE up to HKG is expected to push back at 1330 this afternoon with arrival at 2040 hours, 195 late.

UPDATE: With QF63 at cruise, the QF computer has revised projected JNB arrival to 1825, 85 late so on that basis 'the 64' won't be pushing back until roughly 2010 hours, an hour behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 28 August has QF795 (B738 VH-VXF, the 0620 hours morning CBR - MEL not airborne until 0759) arriving at 0900 hours, 90 minutes tardy.

The CBR up to SYD QF1464 (Q400 VH-QOK) is arriving at 0902 hours, 52 late.

QF809, the 0815 hours CBR - MEL was in the sky at 0859 with B738 VH-VXO so it should be at its arrival gate at 0957 hours, 32 minutes late.

QF1509 (B717 VH-NXJ, the 0645 hours SYD down to CBR) was pointing skywards at 0835 so arrival is 0917 hours, 97 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF79, the 28 August 0910 hours MEL - NRT departed 25 late with arrival suggested as 1905 tonight, half an hour behind.

The 0940 hours MEL - HKG (QF29) is worse, departing 42 late so arrival at gate should be 1811 hours, 51 late.

QF11, the 0935 hours SYD - LAX was 70 minutes tardy off blocks so a 50 minute behind schedule, 0710 hours arrival is the estimate.

The 1020 hours morning B789 from BNE also to LAX, QF15, pushed back just three minutes late but at gate arrival is forecast as 0632, 32 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

With QF63 late (see above), Tuesday 27 August's QF64 departed JNB 80 late at 2030 but Wednesday 28 SYD arrival (with favourable winds) is suggested as 1535 hours mid afternoon, 40 down.

QF1546 (B717 VH-YQT, the 1115 hours CBR to BNE) took off at 1315 with arrival forecast for 1441 mid afternoon, 106 minutes late.

The 1315 hours MEL - CBR, QF815, has been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 27 August's QF1 departed SIN at 0022 hours on Wednesday 28, arriving LHR at 0656, 31 late.

The 1245 hours lunchtime PER across to SYD, QF580, took off at 1340 with A332 VH-EBC. Arrival should be at 1925 in the early evening, 35 minutes tardy.

 

[ayebee]

Family member on QF93 this morning (Thursday 29 August).
Scheduled for 9am departure, a one hour delay was announced around 8am. Push back about 10.10 and take-off just after 10.20, with arrival estimated 40 minutes late. I hope QF11 to JFK waits this time.
I notice it is VH-OQB which operated QF94 from LAX (on time), rather than VH-OQA from Singapore which had arrived earlier.