Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

...This aircraft, A332 VH-EBR is then to form QF43 to DPS three hours late (see above.)

QF43 (1630 hours SYD - DPS on 8 September) did not depart until 2009 so arrival is estimated at 0022 hours on Monday 9, 197 minutes late. The Qantas website shows QF44 as an 0055 hours ex DPS but 33 minutes for a turnaround is impossible for an aircraft this size (assuming the plane going back isn't completely devoid of passengers.) Realistically, an 0022 hours arrival translates to about an 0135 hours pushback for SYD arrival tomorrow at around 0920 hours, 175 late.

Today's QF19 departed SYD at 1246, 36 late and had been showing as an 1845 hours arrival in MNL, only 15 late, but a holding pattern has caused further delays with arrival becoming 1918, 48 late. This will put back tonight's QF20 to about 2035 hours, 35 behind.

 

[Atmrp]

As at 1600 hours on Sunday 8 September, the QF website has changed to advise that the Sunday 8 scheduled 2105 hours QF2 LHR - SIN will depart at 0830 hours on Monday 9, meaning minimum turnaround for the A388 in London. This makes it 685 minutes late.

The SIN intermediate stop is suggested as 0455 to 0620 hours on Tuesday 10 with SYD arrival at 1555 hours in the afternoon, 645 minutes behind the timetable.

On Tuesdays, QF7/8 do not normally operate SYD - DFW or return, so even though two A388s remain under maintenance or refurbishment in AUH/DRS, QF shouldn't have to cancel any scheduled A388 flights or downgrade a return flight such as QF11/QF12 YD - LAX v.v. to a smaller B744.

Am booked to fly QF1 SYD - SIN Tuesday 10th. Qantas already advising it’s delayed till 2000. Related to the delay of VH-OQD in Singapore?

 

[Flyerqf]

Am booked to fly QF1 SYD - SIN Tuesday 10th. Qantas already advising it’s delayed till 2000. Related to the delay of VH-OQD in Singapore?

Yes it is.

Not sure if it’s been noted already but Sunday’s QF25 is delayed overnight as well.

 

[I love to travel]

I guess we should expect chaos today with the winds. On the 9.30pm from Sydney to Brisbane. How has Sydney been dealing with the curfew issue lately on bad days?

 

[Silvia]

Not sure if it’s been noted already but Sunday’s QF25 is delayed overnight as well.

That’s due to the incoming typhoon in Japan.

I’m flying on QF35 this Wednesday. Here’s to hoping for QF not to stuff it up. Last year I had a cancellation last minute on QF95 which also included a downgrade from J to Y.

 

[Melburnian1]

I guess we should expect chaos today with the winds. On the 9.30pm from Sydney to Brisbane. How has Sydney been dealing with the curfew issue lately on bad days?

Like all of us I don't always see what happens when the clock strikes 2300 hours.

It appears since the Federal Coalition Government was elected - at least for the last 18 months, as I can't recall before that - there's been far fewer aircraft not allowed to land after curfew. In other words, 'more tolerant': a greater willingness for 'the delegate' (of the Minister) to grant dispensations.

IIRC, while it's a few years ago, when Labor was in office, many more applications for an exemption were refused, as in theory an operator must satisfy three criteria. I don't know if this was partly because Labor nearby holds Sydney seats such as Granydler (Anthony Albanese MP, who in 2019 is Leader of the Opposition.)

For departures, AFFer and aviator jb747 reminded us a few months ago that under the Sydney Airport legislation, provided an aircraft has ATC permission to taxi by 2245, it can basically then depart at any curfew time. IIRC, the usual rules apply as in no takeoffs to (or landings from) other than the south, so as to supposedly minimise noise emissions.

The most recent curfew dispensations report was tabled in Federal Parliament in February 2019.

It shows a very large number of dispensations for passenger (and some freight) aircraft:

https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/environmental/curfews/CurfewDispensationReports/2019/files/Webreport0119.pdf

The latest approved passenger arrival (touchdown, not arrival at gate I believe) I could find was 2346 hours, 46 minutes after curfew.

For departures, there was one instance (QR) where an international aircraft took off at 0040 hours, 100 minutes after the supposed curfew. As one would expect, most were for 2330 or before.

One wonders if local residents in Sydney believe this immense number of dispensations (including some contravening which runway ought be used) make a mockery of the Sydney Airport legislated curfew.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 9 September, winds at SYD were gusting to 50kmh at 0940 hours so once again this major airport is down to using only the east-west runway.

QF512, the 0900 hours SYD - BNE (B738 VH-VYA) had not departed by 0957 hours.

B717 VH-NXE on the 0630 hours HBA - SYD QF1582 was airborne at 0807 hours so arrival is expected at 1004 hours, 104 late.

While winds in MEL have moderated, this morning they've been gusting as high as 57kmh at the airport so not an ideal day for airlines on our busiest domestic route.

QF408, the 0700 hours MELO - SYD (A332 VH-EBE) took off at 0929 with arrival anticipated as 1042, 137 minutes late, but this could be an underestimate as aircraft appear to be having to hold around Goulburn.

B738 VH-VYD on the 0715 hours MEL - SYD (QF408) was in the sky at 0937 so nominal arrival is 1050 hours, 130 late, again subject to the holding qualification.

QF416 (0830 hours MEL - SYD) has VH-VYC pinting skywards at 0954 hours. Arrival at gate should be 1103, 68 behind (or later!)

QF1408, the 0740 hours BXG up to SYD (Q300 VH_SCE) took off at 0958 hours so arrival should be around 1129, 119 late.

It depends as to whether one's aircraft has or is to visit SYD (and to a lesser extent MEL) today, buit given it's a weekday (and not the quietest of say a Tuesday), many of these delays will be difficult to recover from unless an aircraft has a layover during the offpeak middle of the day.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 9 September 2019, QF6010 from AUH to SYD sees the return of A388 VH-OQF from a long stint in the workshops. It took off on Sunday 8 at 1507 hours but on Monday remained in a holding pattern north of Goulburn as at 1032 hours, so SYD arrival will be some time after 1100.

QF2222, the 0835 hours morning WGA - SYD (Q400 VH-LQD) was airborne at 1012 hours. At 1050 it remained holding north of Wombeyan Caves, so arrival will later than the 1110 hours predicted, which would be 90 late.

The 0940 hours MEL - HKG, QF29, pushed back at 1024 so arrival is delayed until 1754, 34 late.

QF129 (0930 hours SYD up to PVG, A333 VH-QPI) took off at 1041 (after pushing back at 1019) with arrival suggested as 1906 hours, 41 late.

The frequently delayed B744 from SYD to JNB, QF63, is expected to depart 45 late at 1140 hours with arrival late this afternoon local time at 1740, 40 late.

 

[Lynda2475]

Alternatvely, there may be a lower number of flights in and out of SYD due to weather so ATC may have given your flight crew a later 'off blocks' pushback time. I've had this occur a couple of times but I tend to fly domestically off peak whereas Sunday afternoons (in the major east coast capitals) is normally busy, so it's a prime candidate for delays if weather is restricting runway operations. At present both SYD north-south runways look to be in use.

Pilot said delayed take-off came from Sydney due to winds and potential need to close a runway. Was a very smooth flight and landed a few mins ahead fo the revised schedule, The bigger issue with the late arrival is that there seemed to be very few baggage handlers still around. Checked lugagge took over an hour to be offloaded, making a late arrival that much worse.

After numerous complaints at about the 1 hour mark there was a very techy announcement about a back log due to high number of late arrivals and telling people to wait at least we hadn't missed international connections like some.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 9 September, QF922 (0930 hours SYD - CNS< A332 VH-EBE that also featured above in an earlier delay ex MEL) took off at 1155 so arrival should be 1440 this afternoon, two hours late.

B738 VH-VXD is on QF422, the scheduled 1000 hours MEL - SYD airborne at 1056 with suggested arrival 1220, 55 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Due I presume to yesterday's strong winds in SYD, QF1 on 7 September had been displaying as departing at 1900 hours. It did so, arriving SIN at 0112 hours on Sunday 8, 182 minutes late. However the second sector to LHR has been delayed overnight until 0025 hours ex SIN on Monday 9, with LHR arrival estimated as 0635 hours, exactly one day (24 hours - or 1440 minutes) tardy.

The Sunday 8 evening QF2 ex LHR has to be delayed overnight as there is no A388 available...

The overnight delayed QF1(D) with A388 VH-OQD pushed back in SIN on Monday 9 September at 0049 hours, 1494 minutes late. LHR arrival was expected to be 0630 but is displaying as 0726 hours, 1491 late.

Sunday 8's 2105 hours LHR - SIN - SYD (QF2) was advised above to be departing LHR at 0830 today (Monday 9) but this has had to alter again, with a further revised expected time of 0920 hours (1820 AEST). The SIN stop should be about 0530 to 0700 with SYD arrival tomorrow (Tuesday 10) at between 1630 and 1700, as a quick back-of-the-envelope guess, as QF has yet to alter the suggested SIN or SYD times to account for the further delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Not sure if it’s been noted already but Sunday’s QF25 is delayed overnight as well.

Thank you Flyerqf, no it hadn't been.

It's showing as 1230 hours ex SYD on Monday 9, but is later than that. IIRC, AFFer Himeno had advised that usually these QF flights (if badly delayed) cannot land at HND until 2200 or after, so with QF25 showing arrival tonight at 2100 (instead of the usual early morning 0515), that may be breaking the mould.

UPDATE: On Monday 9 September, QF25D departed SYD at 1320 hours with HND arrival suggested as 2150 tonight mid evening. 'The 26' is unrealistically showing as a 2300 hours departure - more like 2335 - with SYD Tuesday 10 arrival at about 1000 hours, 90 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Still on 9 September 2019, QF2022 (Q300 VH-TQE, the 1205 hours lunchtime SYD - ARM airborne at 1359) is estimated to arrive at 1459 hours mid afternoon, 94 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

AFFer nlagalle claimed a small number of weeks ago that editors in the media were not interested in QF delays.

Yet on Monday 9 September during the afternoon, 'The Age' (online) has been leading for a small number of hours how QF flyers on QF/BA codeshare flights in Europe will be caught up in the BA air crew two day strike.

Codeshare flyers is only a small subset of QF bookers. I said at the time media ought be giving more space to major QFi delays (when multiple planes are inoperable).)

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1584, the 9 September 1155 hours HBA - SYD (B717 VH-NXE) was in the sky at 1439. At gate arrival looks to be 152 late at 1617.

 

[Silvia]

QF791 ASP-SYD (B738 VH-VXQ) has a revised arrival at 17 12, 57 min late.
QF923 CNS-SYD (A332 VH-EBE) is suggested to arrive at 18 30, 115 min tardy.

QF468 MEL-SYD, the 16 15 hours service was cancelled. Similarly, QF449 SYD-MEL 16 30 hours and QF452 MEL-SYD 17 00 hours were also cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF1D is arriving LHR (A388 VH-OQD) at 0729 hours,, 1494 minutes late.

Based on the fastest achieved times in the last few days, QF's computer timings for QF2D today seem insufficient for LHR to SIN and overly generous for SIN to SYD.

If departure is bang on 0920 hours and the taxiing takes 20 minutes in LHR and we give it five minutes taxiing in SIN, 12 hours 36 minutes in the air time means arrival in SIN at 0521 hours not QF's claimed 0455. If the stay in SIN (at gate) is exactly 90 minutes, that means departure at 0651 with takeoff at say 0711, flight time of 6 hours 54 minutes and a taxiing time in SYD of five minutes gives arrival at gate at 1610 hours, not QF's claimed 1555 hours tomorrow. Time will tell.

 

[Melburnian1]

More 9 September delays as QF470 (VH-VXP, the 1545 hours MEL - SYD up up and away at 1631 hours) looks to be arriving at 1740, half an hour tardy.

Earlier, QF7 departed SYD an hour late at 1335 with DFW same day arrival suggested as 1335, 35 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

'The Australian' reports that a SYD - CBR flight on Monday 9 September made a decision to return to SYD because two passengers were involved in an escalating argument after one apparently objected to the other sending a text message.

The article is paywalled but by a process of elimination it looks to be QF1421, the scheduled 1430 hours airborne at 1451 with Q400 VH-QOB. This flight is normally due to arrive in CBR at 1525 hours but instead arrived back in SYD at 1521 hours. The aircraft then seems to have departed SYD for a second time at 1611, arriving CBR at 1656 hours, 91 minutes late and is now operating the return QF1420, the 1600 hours airborne at 1728.

If without copying the article in full, someone could summarise why the decision was made to return to SYD that would be interesting.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF1D is arriving LHR (A388 VH-OQD) at 0729 hours,, 1494 minutes late.

Based on the fastest achieved times in the last few days, QF's computer timings for QF2D today seem insufficient for LHR to SIN and overly generous for SIN to SYD.

If departure is bang on 0920 hours and the taxiing takes 20 minutes in LHR and we give it five minutes taxiing in SIN, 12 hours 36 minutes in the air time means arrival in SIN at 0521 hours not QF's claimed 0455. If the stay in SIN (at gate) is exactly 90 minutes, that means departure at 0651 with takeoff at say 0711, flight time of 6 hours 54 minutes and a taxiing time in SYD of five minutes gives arrival at gate at 1610 hours, not QF's claimed 1555 hours tomorrow. Time will tell.

QF2D on Monday 9 pushed back in LHR at 0931 hours, 746 minutes late, so a 122 minute turnaround, not record breaking. The quickest I've seen at a terminus- as distinct from an intermediate stop - (with passengers both ways) is 95 - 100 minutes.

It then took off at 1001 hours. QF has amended the estimated Tuesday 10 September SIN arrival to 0555 hours, 750 late, but has not changed the departure that is showing publicly as 0620 - not possible. A more realistic time is 0725 hours with SYD arrival tomorrow at about 1625 - 1650 hours.

UPDATE: the QF software has been at work, amending the SIN stop as 0555 to 0720 tomorrow, with SYD arrival 1655 hours, which is 705 minutes tardy.