Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF477, the 1815 hours 13 September SYD - MEL was airborne at 1857. B738 VH-VYK should arrive at 2020, half an hour late,

 

[Melburnian1]

QF73, presently the 1740 hours SYD to SFO B744 has been pretty good timewise lately but Friday 13 September is an exception.

The flight was showing as punctual when I checked an hour ago but departure has been suddenly changed to a predicted 1930 hours this evening. Estimated arrival is 1545, 105 minutes late.

Predicted departure has altered again to 2030 hours. If QF (or any airline) advise late in the peace re a delay (as opposed to giving many hours' notice), it can be a sign that the aircraft is faulty. Not a given - maybe a key crew member has fallen sick at the last minute, or one of 50 other reasons - but concerning if a pushback keeps being altered, as it may be a sign that 'the issue' is taking longer than expected to fix.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF11 on Thursday 12 September was off blocks in LAX at 0855, 35 minutes tardy, arriving JFK at 1733, 53 late. Then as QF12, the aircraft departed 'The Big Apple' at 2020 hours, 130 minutes behind schedule, arriving back in LAX at 2238, 98 late.

This meant the different aircraft (A388) on QF12 from LAX could not push back until 0101 hours on Friday 13 (151 late) with SYD Saturday 14 arrival suggested as 0835, 125 minutes tardy.

Thursday's QF16 departed LAX at 0048, 88 late with Saturday BNE arrival forecast as 0732 hours, 87 minutes behind the timetable.

'The 94' is not always held to connect ex JFK but on this occasion it looks to have been with pushback at 2348, 68 late and a projected Saturday arrival at 0801 hours, 31 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF74 had a real 'Friday 13' night. It didn't depart at the scheduled 1740 hours from SYD, nor the change to 1930, or 2030, but 2237. Arrival - same day - is estimated as 1836 hours, 276 minutes tardy. Fortunately QF74 on Friday night is not timetabled to push back until 2225 hours.

Whether it's systemic or just a series of unfortunate one-off events is hard to say, but QFi has many problems with its relatively small remaining B744s, most often on the SYD - JNB run.

 

[Melburnian1]

It won't be news to anyone who patronises this SYD - JNB route with QF on a regular basis, but Saturday's QF63 (14 September 2019) is predicted to depart 95 minute slate at 1230 this afternoon. The B744 should arrive at 1835 tonight, also 95 late. The silver lining is that passengers (and staff) on tonight's QF64 redeye have many hours' notice of a delay to their 1910 hours scheduled pushback in JNB. If the arrival time is reality, expect 'the 64' to be off blocks at around 2020 JNB time. Often on a gate-to-gate basis the return flight picks up time, but it's highly likely to arrive later than 1540 hours on Sunday afternoon (15).

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 14 September's QF11 departed SYD 21 minutes late at 0956 but arrival is delayed to an expected 0704 hours, same day, 44 behind. This should not cause any significant delay to 'the 11' crisscrossing the USA to JFK.

QF93 was only eight minutes late pushing back in MEL but LAX predicted arrival is 0713, 48 behind. The A388 did not take off until 0956, 48 minutes after departing, so given the normal implied allowance for an international flight is 20 - 25 minutes, that wouldn't help timekeeping.

B738 VH-VZE on QF416, the 0830 hours MEL - SYD was not in the sky until 0948 so arrival is 1102 hours, 67 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 14 September, QF863 (B738 VH-VZA, the 1320 hours OOL - SYD) took off at 1702 with arrival suggested as 1815 hours, 205 minutes late. QF864 ex SYD had arrived in OOL three minutes early at 1237 this afternoon so after that something has been awry.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 13 September's very late night scheduled 2335 hours ex LAX, QF96, did not depart until the unattractive time of 0335 on Saturday 14. Sunday 15 MEL arrival looks to be 1115 hours, 170 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 15 September's morning QF81 (1010 hours SYD up to SIN) pushed back 24 late with arrival estimated as 1720 late this afternoon SIN time, half an hour late.

QF64 departed JNB on Saturday night at 2104 hours (114 late) but arrival in SYD on Sunday afternoon should be only 54 late at 1549 hours.

On Sunday 15, QF93 departed MEL at 0931 hours, 31 late but LAX arrival is at a suggested 0726 hours, 61 late. If so, this may slightly delay the crosscountry QF11 B789 to JFK, the 0820 hours.

B744 VH-OEI on the 1135 hours SYD - SCL long flight, QF27, did not depart until 1246, taking off at 1301. Arrival should be about 1215, 70 late, so the Sunday '28' back to SYD will be delayed in pushing back.

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-EBR arrived ex PEK on QF108 in SYD on Monday 16 September 2019 at 0945 hours, 16 minutes early. It formed QF107, the 1210 hours back to PEK but did not push back until 1322 and take off at 1345. Expected arrival is 2328 late tonight Beijing time, 73 minutes behind schedule, so the 2345 hours timetabled QF108 back down to SYD will again be tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Much later on 16 September, QF580 (A332 VH-EBN), the 1245 hours lunchtime PER across to SYD was airborne at 1338. Arrival should be 37 late at 1937 hours.

QF452, the 1700 hours MEL - SYD (B738 VH-XZG) took off at 1723 but arrival is delayed until 1902 hours, 37 late. Southerlies were earlier gusting to 56kmh at the airport but are now down to 43kmh maximum gusts.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the SYD weather not great in the early evening of Monday 16 September, many aircraft have been in ATC-imposed holding patterns. QF843 (B738 VH-VXF, the 1410 hours DRW - SYD) took off at 1442 (about 15 - 20 late) but arrival is unlikely before 1940 hours (45 late) as its racecourse circuits were in the usual spot west of Pokolbin.

These inbound delays inevitably result in some outbounds ex Sydney being late should they have tightish turnarounds, even though Monday evening isn't normally as busy domestically as Monday morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

The first rainy weather of any size in Sydney for weeks is most welcome, but some delays are occuring on approach to SYD as well as in takeoff rolls. QF575 (A332 VH-EBL, the 0825 hours across to PER) did not become airborne until 0935 despite pushing back at 0850 hours. Arrival should be half an hour late at 1200 'high noon.'

A332 VH-EBS on the morning 0935 hours SYD - KIX (QF33) departed at 1014 according to the QF website but had not taken off as at 1135, although it was queuing. QF claims it will arrive only five minutes late at 1905 tonight but this is unlikely. Sometimes the QF software does not update estimated arrival times until an aircraft is at cruising altitude.

Another SYD - PER delay as QF581 (A332 VH-EBN, the 1025 hours) takes off at 1141, meaning estimated arrival of 1419, 49 minutes behind the timetable.

UPDATE: QF33 is now displaying as being due to arrive in KIX at 1955, 55 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 17 September, QF740, the 0825 hours ADL - SYD that took off at 0930 with B738 VH-XZN is arriving at 1145, an hour late.

The 0900 hours SYD - BNE (QF512) was in the sky at 0950, arriving 61 late at 1131.

QF1516, the short hop CBR - SYD has B717 VH-YQX and is arriving at 1215, 55 late. These continual delays on this short route destroy any time savings from using an airline instead of surface modes but normally passengers have little advance notice, so mode switching is difficult even if a ticket was fully refundable.

The SYD - JNB QF63 pushed back 40 late at 1135 hours with arrival expected to be 35 down at 1735. This B744 flight is often delayed.

Q300 VH-SBG on QF2299 (1225 hours airborne at 1328) should arrive at 1438 mid afternoon, 43 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF651 (1130 hours BNE - PER. B738 VH-XZA) was airborne at 1228, about 45 late. Expected arrival is 1545 mid afternoon, 40 late.

The AKL to MEL 1325 hours (QF156, VH-XSJ) was in the sky at 1430, so predicted arrival is 1615 hours, 35 late."

QF1511 (1445 hours SYD - CBR, B717 VH-NXQ) was in the sky at 1543 with arrival suggested as 1623 hours, 38 behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

Indicative of delays on what is continuing to be a very wet Tuesday 17 September 2019 in the Sydney Basin, QF843 (B738 VH-VXC),l the 1410 hours DRW - SYD took off at 1459 (about 35 minutes late) but having to hold just west of Goulburn sees arrival at 1953, 58 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

It's a chilly start to a fine morning in Melbourne on Wednesday 18 September but QF410 (B738 VH-VZR, the 0715 hours MEL - SYD) did not take off until 0829 hours. Predicted arrival is 0942 hours, 62 late.

QF402 (the 0745 hours northbound) has stablemate VH-VXQ and is showing as an amended 0830 hours pushback, but didn't appear to have done so by 0833. This flight will be at least 40 late arriving in SYD.

Another MEL - SYD, QF412 (the 0730 hours) pushed back 12 late but arrival is showing as a suggested 0928, 33 late.

QF414, the 0800 hours MEL - SYD is predicted to depart at 0845 with arrival at 1015 hours, 50 late while QF414, the 0900 hours should push back half an hour late.

The 0910 hours MEL - BNE, QF610, has been altered to depart at 0945 with expected arrival 1200 'high noon' 40 minutes tardy.

Weather in MEL is benign, but there's some rain around SYD, so do these delays reflect a shortage of air traffic controllers in Sydney (or sickies?) and consequent issuing of amended departure times from ports like MEL?

The 0700 hours MEL - AKL departed at 0742 with suggested arrival 1325, 50 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 18 September earlier found QF79, the 0910 hours MEL - NRT departing an hour late. Predicted arrival is also 60 minutes behind at 1935.

QF127, the often punctual 1020 hours SYD - HKG pushed back 38 minutes behind its timetable with HKG arrival predicted as 1855 tonight local time, 55 late.

The SYD up to SIN was very late in departing at 1126 hours (76 behind) so Lion City at gate arrival should be around the 1807 hours mark, 77 minutes late.

QF19, the 1210 hours SYD - MNL departed 44 late so its arrival is predicted as 1901, 31 late. This will slightly delay QF20, the 2000 hours ex MNL redeye.

The identically timed QF107 ex SYD pushed back at 1323 (73 behind) so at gate arrival is likely at 2315, an hour behind schedule.

The lengthy A388-operated flight, QF7 (1235 hours lunchtime SYD - DFW) left 33 behind with suggested arrival at 1340 to be 40 minutes down.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF127, the Thursday 19 September 1020 hours SYD - HKG did not depart until 1147, so expected at gate arrival is 1846 in the early evening, 46 minutes tardy. VH-ZND is the aircarft. It did not arrive this morning in SYD until 0917 hours, 142 minutes late on QF128 ex HKG but on a gate-to-gate basis had picked up a lot of time as takeoff last night was at 2259 compared to a scheduld 1830 hours departure. 'The 97' yesterday (BNE - HKG) with this plane arrived 47 early at 1638 so something must have then been awry.

QF97 at present appears to be a B&89 only on Wednesdays, with all other days operated by one of the 10 QFi A333s.

The 0900 hours morning MEL - LAX, QF93 pushed back at 0955 with arrival same day suggested as 0730, 65 down. This will at least slightly delay the crosscountry USA B789 on QF11, the 0820 hours ex LAX.

 

[Melburnian1]

SYD down to MEL 19 September flights QF451 (the 1715 hours) and QF457 (1745) were both holding as at 1928 in the Mt Buller area, so arrival for B738 VH-XZP on the first named should be at about 2002 hours, 72 minutes late (after pushing back 47 late and taking off at 1819) while the second one has VH-VXK with estimated arrival an hour behind at 2020 tonight.

QF853 is ahead of these two flights. With VH-VXL as the 1805 hours CBR - MEL airborne at 1834, at gate arrival looks to be about 1957 tonight, 42 late.

The second QF10 sector departed PER at 1355, half an hour behind, arriving MEL at 1931 hours, 36 behind. This may slightly delay QF49, the 2055 hours mid evening MEL - SFO. Winds have been gusting at MEL to 44kmh.