Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF12 pushed back in LAX at 1007 hours on Tuesday 3 September, so SYD arrival should be earlier than predicted, at 1757 hours very late this afternoon (Wednesday 4) - 687 minutes tardy.

Also on Tuesday, QF79 pushed back in MEL at 1211 - 181 minutes behind schedule, arriving NRT at 2103 hours, 148 minutes late. It then formed a delayed QF62 to BNE, pushing back at 2203 (128 late) with BNE arrival on Wednesday 4 at 0812 hours, 137 minutes behind the timetable. It looks to be returning to Tokyo on QF61, the 0935 hours so should hopefully be punctual. Aircraft is A333 VH-QPA.

QF9 that as above was 33 late ex MEL yesterday afternoon ended up pushing back in PER at 1932 hours, 47 late, with LHR Wednesday arrival predicted for 0605, an hour late. Largely, 'the 9' runs on time and can be early into LHR. It's been fairly rare that (on the current timetable) it arrives at 0600 or later.

 

[milehighclub]

QF12 was delayed due to a sick pilot I believe and delayed until the rest period of an inbound pilot was met

 

[Melburnian1]

Contrary to what many Melburnians might believe, MEL as an airfield is not affected as often by fog as some other Australian airports, but tomorrow (Thursday 5 September) unspecified 'areas of morning fpg' are predicted.

A couple of months ago, one of AFF's esteemed aviators informed us that fog was concurrently predicted for three major capital city airports, but IIRC only one - BNE I think - was affected that day. So some predictions may be red herrings. BOM implies that fog is the most difficult weather condition that occurs in Australia to predict.

If MEL was adversely affected, in excess of 40 per cent of the four major airlines' planes will suffer delays. With connections, this can compound.

Recent fog in ADL had some repercussions all day even though ADL is far smaller in aircraft throughput each day than BNE, MEL, PER or SYD.

 

[docjames]

Some low lying fog/cloud in the hills departing MEL this morning but clear skies at the airport.

An interesting one this evening - QF449 departed 8m late, then scored a circuit over the Vic high country, and landed about 10m late to scheduled time. What then followed felt like the fastest QF/MEL taxi from end of runway (N/S) to terminal i’ve experienced - I was wondering at the time whether that was co-incidence or intentional - gate time 13m late to schedule thereby avoiding a “late” arrival in the stats......

 

[Melburnian1]

QF94 on Tuesday 3 September departed LAX an hour late at 2330. Thursday 5 MEL arrival is predicted as 58 late at 0828 hours.

'The 16' was off blocks half an hour late at 2350 so BNE arrival (Thursday) should be 0636, 31 minutes tardy.

UPDATE: QF94 is later than predicted with arrival forecast at 0902, 92 late for A388 VH-OQJ, which this morning took the Gippsland route that by observation is less common than via the Sydney basin.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Thursday 5 September, QF11, the 0935 hours SYD- LAX did not depart until 1130 (115 late), so same day arrival should be 0735 hours, 75 late. With lateness of this amount, normally the B789 on QF11 is held to depart slightly late - a guess is that the 0820 hours ex LAX for JFK will become an 0840 hours.

QF63, the often tardy 1055 hours SYD - JNB lived up to its reputation, departing at 1126 with arrival suggested as 1750 hours, 50 late. This will delay departure of 'the 64' by about 20 - 25 minutes for its return as a redeye to Oz.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF468, the 1615 hours MEL - SYD was airborne on 5 September at 1658 hours. B738 VH-VYE should be at its gate at 1812 hours, 32 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

B789 VH-ZNF on QF128, Thursday 5 September's 1930 hours redeye from HKG to SYD took off at 2125. On Friday 6, after holding briefly above Goulburn, arrival looks to be 0810 hours, 75 minutes behind the schedule.

The BKK - SYD overnight QF24 has A333 VH-QPC with takeoff last night at 2040 hours, 150 minutes after the timetabled 1810 hours departure. Friday at gate arrival should be 0831, 126 late as this plane also had to hold, slightly west of Goulburn.

QF408, the 0700 hours MEL up to SYD with A332 VH-EBD was airborne at 0733, about 20 minutes late. Arrival should be 0901, 36 late even though the plane did not have to hold anywhere.

 

[Melburnian1]

VH-VZX (B738) on Friday 6 September's QF840, the 0920 from SYD to DRW departed at 1003 but was still at 1030 hours queuing for takeoff, so it will be at least 40 minutes late arriving.

Earlier, QF79 (0910 hours MEL - NRT) pushed back at 0937. Anticipated arrival is put back 50 minutes to 1925 this evening.

The B744 on long flight SYD to SC:L, QF27, departed 57 minutes behind schedule at 1332 but arrival should be just half an hour late at 1135 hours (same day.)

UPDATE: QF840 did not arrive DRW until 1431 hours, 61 late.

QF144 departed AKL only four minutes late at 1314 but arrival should be 36 late at 1526 mid afternoon in SYD.

The 1400 hours MEL - SYD (QF454, B738 VH-VZJ) took off at 1454 so likely arrival is around the 1601 hours mark, 36 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF691, the 6 September 1540 hours MEL across to ADL should depart at 1610 hours.

The 1600 hours MEL - SYD, QF446 is cancelled for the third time in eight days. This flight is usually a B738, not an A332.

The 1630 hours northbound on the same route, QF450, also has the gong, as do QF452 and QF496, respectively the 1700 and 1745 hours.

Also on the MEL - SYD route northbound, QF466 and QF492, the 1945 and 2030 hours have been cancelled.

QF720, the 1720 hours MEL - PER is also not running.

One thing to advertise and schedule a 15 minute frequency, but so often our domestic airlines are incapable of so doing. The antithesis of many worldwide high speed rail operators.

Six afternoon cancellations in one direction on what is by far Australia's busiest passenger air route is a very large number.

It's not clear (pardon the pun) whether these cancellations are due to weather in Sydney and Melbourne (respectively, stronge westerlies and down south variable, but hail predicted and there's been rain), low bookings, ATC lacking sufficient staff (after some call in sick?) for proper slot management or some other cause.

Presuming that there were an average of 170 plus booked on each flight (as most on MEL - SYD are B738s not A332s/A333s), what on earth happens to these unfortunates? One would normally expect Friday night to be busy, with tomorrow night's AFL match in Sydney helping to buttress bookings. Are some told to come back on Saturday morning and/or offered a cash (or credit card) refund?

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Friday 6 September, A332 VH-EBN on QF476 (1245 hours lunchtime PER across to MEL, takeoff at 1403) should be at its destination gate at roughly 1917, 62 late, probably with some disappointed "Ess-er-done" fans on board.

'The 582' also originates in PER but its destination is Sydney. VH-EBS on this 1430 hours flight was in the sky at 1534 hours so a 2114 hours, 39 late arrival is forecast.

QF708 from ADL to CBR has B738 VH-VYF with a 57 late arrival at 1912 hours the prediction.

 

[Melburnian1]

'The Australian' is reporting that A332 VH-EBE on QF772, the Friday 6 September 2019 1050 hours PER - MEL hit a large bird (thought to be an eagle) shortly after takeoff, so it had to return to PER. Unsurprisingly, EBE looks to be still in Perth.

Does it typically take hours to clear the engine of any birdstrikes? (Apologies: not trying to ask 'length of a piece of string' question.) The removal process must be very thorough.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF635, the 6 September BNE - MEL due to depart at 1810 was in the sky 77 minutes later, so VH-VXA should arrive 64 late at 2139 hours.

On the SYD down to MEL run, QF465 (1900 hours airborne at 2028) has VH-VZV and should be at its gate at a remarkably similar 67 late (2142 hours.)

Northbound QF490 (B738 VH-VZB), the 2000 hours MEL - SYD was pointing skywards at 2015 so arrival has become 2239 hours, 74 minutes tardy.

QF785 has B738 VH-VZQ and is the scheduled 2020 hours SYD across to ADL up up and away at 2151 hours. It will breach curfew, as ADL at gate arrival is looking like 2312 hours (72 late.)

 

[Melburnian1]

The 0825 hours MEL to HTI (QF870) on Saturday 7 September took off at 1023 hours with B738 VH-VXC. Arrival looks to be 1301 hours, 96 minutes late.

A332 VH-EBR on QF414, the scheduled 0800 hours MEL up to SYD was not in the sky until 0938 so arrival is at 1051 hours, 86 late. The next one, QF416, is the 0830 hours airborne at 1029 with B738 VH-XZG. Arrival for this is an estimated 1137 hours, 102 minutes behind time.

QF2221 is the 0805 hours SYD down to WGA that has Q400 VH-QOS. Becoming airborne at 0957, arrival should be about 1052, a similar 97 late.

The 0905 hours BNE down to SYD (QF513, VH-VXK) was pointing skywards at 0952 so is arriving at 1115 hours, 35 minutes behind the timetable.

QF2205, the 0825 hours SYD south to ABX with Q300 VH-TQH was in teh sky at a much delayed 1038, so arrival in the Border Cities should be at 1143, 103 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 7 September 2019, QF421 (B738 VH-VYK, the scheduled 0930 hours SYD down to MEL not in the sky until 1036) should be at its destination gate at 1152 hours, 47 behind time.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF29, the 0940 hours Saturday 7 September MEL - HKG (A333 VH-QPD) departed at 1032 but was not in the sky until 1100 hours, so deferred arrival is 1814, 54 minutes tardy.

The 0950 hours SYD - BKK, QF23 is living up to its reputation for poor timekeeping with pushback at 1029 meaning a suggested arrival at 1731, 51 late. This will delay the 1810 hours redeye, QF24 back overnight to SYD.

QF81, the 1010 hours SYD - SIN is often punctual but has been delayed unti an expected 1400 with estimated arrival 2045 tonight, 235 late. In turn this will probably delay QF82 tonight from its normal 2045 hours off blocks to around the 2200 hours mark,

Another often on time flight is QF15, currently the 1020 hours BNE - LAX that this morning broke the mould by departing at 1105. Arrival - same day - shpould be 0652 hours, 52 late.

Westerlies are gusting at SYD to 56kmh. Sydney is down to single runway operations it appears.

The 1100 hours SYD up to BNE, QF520 (VH-VYC) took off at 1224 after departing at 1147so arrival will be 1338, 67 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In a further delay at the restricted operations SYD, QF107 (1210 hours SYD - PEK) is expected to depart at 1335.

UPDATE: This delay has become a predicted 1530 hours pushback, so PEK arrival should be 0140 hours on Sunday 8, 205 minutes late. QF108, the PEK - SYD redeye normally departs at 2345 hours but Sunday pushback is likely at about 0255 hours, meaning SYD arrival some time around 1600 - 1645.

QF7, the 1235 hours lunchtime A388 long SYD - DFW departed 39 late with arrival same day suggested as 1332, 32 minutes behind the timetable.

The delay to QF81 has also extended, with the new departure time of 1500 (290 late) meaning expected SIN arrival at 2145, 295 late.

Flagship QF1, the 1550 hours SYD - SIN - LHR is delayed until 1900 hours this evening. The intermediate stop is displaying (for Sunday 8) as 0105 to 0250 with LHR arrival estimated as 0925 hours, 230 late. Not sure why the QF software doesn't show the stop at SIn as the standard 90 minutes.

 

[Silvia]

QF863 OOL-SYD (B738 VH-VXK) was delayed at 16 16, 86 min behind.
QF438 MEL-SYD (B738 VH-XZG) recently arrived to gate at 16 37, 72 min late.
QF867 HTI-SYD (B738 VH-VZJ) is scheduled to arrive 17 14, 74 min tardy.

QF442 MEL-SYD 15 00 hours service, QF537 BNE-SYD 15 05 hours service have been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

In a further delay at the restricted operations SYD, QF107 (1210 hours SYD - PEK) is expected to depart at 1335.

UPDATE: This delay has become a predicted 1530 hours pushback, so PEK arrival should be 0140 hours on Sunday 8, 205 minutes late. QF108, the PEK - SYD redeye normally departs at 2345 hours but Sunday pushback is likely at about 0255 hours, meaning SYD arrival some time around 1600 - 1645...

QF107 did not depart SYD until 1748 hours so PEK arrival is an estimated 0330 hours - awful - on Sunday 8, 315 minutes behind schedule. This will put QF108 back to around 0430 hours ex PEK.

These sorts of delays that are too little for passengers to be put up overnight, yet on their own very substantial, are the worst. No sleep for the night, even for those booked in J (not unless they can organise extra time at their hotel - sometimes not possible.)

 

[Melburnian1]

QF446, the 7 September 1600 hours afternoon MEL - SYD took off at 1717 and is arriving at 1841, 76 late with B738 VH-VXN.

Close behind is VH-VXL on the 1605 hours ex BNE, QF541, that was airborne at 1703 hours. Arrival looks like 1843 hours, 63 minutes tardy.

QF865 from OOL to SYD has VH-XZP and should arrive at 1901, 81 late.