Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

An FT member reports that QF1 on November 14th has also been cancelled, thereby axing the return QF2 service on November 15th.

Excellent pickup that is confirmed by the QF flight status page.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wow this is having a massive impact. Unpredictable cancellations and downgrades to A330s on QF's flagship routes.

You're 100 per cent correct.

Except on Tuesdays, the A388 schedules require 10 aircraft to be operating (Tuesdays is nine), but there are only nine currently in service.

Travellers have no way of knowing whether it's QF1/2, QF7/8 or even QF11/12 that's to be cancelled.

There'll be a reason such as bookings, or crewing, why it isn't but I'd have thought reducing QF35/QF36 MEL - SIN and return (daily) to an A332/A333 until the tenth aircraft (A388 VH-OQB, victim in the SYD hangar 'dooring' incident) was back would be the way to go. This is occurring on Wednesday 13 but unless things have changed, not beyond that.

A most regrettable situation. By the time things are back to normal, a minimum of a few thousand travellers will have been delayed, many seriously.

 

[lynnk]

You're 100 per cent correct.

Except on Tuesdays, the A388 schedules require 10 aircraft to be operating (Tuesdays is nine), but there are only nine currently in service.

Travellers have no way of knowing whether it's QF1/2, QF7/8 or even QF11/12 that's to be cancelled.

There'll be a reason such as bookings, or crewing, why it isn't but I'd have thought reducing QF35/QF36 MEL - SIN and return (daily) to an A332/A333 until the tenth aircraft (A388 VH-OQB, victim in the SYD hangar 'dooring' incident) was back would be the way to go. This is occurring on Wednesday 13 but unless things have changed, not beyond that.

A most regrettable situation. By the time things are back to normal, a minimum of a few thousand travellers will have been delayed, many seriously.

I was thinking the same as you, but I supppose they must have a reason. Strange though, as vhoqa has been sitting in sydney now for over 24 hours, like vhoqc has been twice recently, that I could work out (5th and 11th)

 

[Melburnian1]

QF16, the 2320 hours LAX to BNE on Monday 11 November departed 34 minutes late so on Wednesday 13, expected arrival is 0755, 40 late.

The 1900 hours redeye from MNL to SYD, QF20 departed 48 minutes late with SYD Wednesday arrival at 0651, 31 late.

The delayed Tuesday 12 QF35 (A388 VH-OQD, MEL - SIN) arrived at 1955 hours, 170 minutes tardy with the A388 then as usual turning around to operate QF36, the redeye, that pushed back at 2157 hours (137 late). MEL arrival should be 0812 hours, 132 late. Aas noted above, Wednesday's QF35/36 are an A332, but beyond that it's reverting to the usual A388s.

On occasion, FR24 (flight monitoring website) can be misleading as this morning it suggests that QF36 is 'due to land' at 0745 hours and will do so at 0809, so adding five minutes for the taxi to the gate it's only 29 late, but the true comparison is with the usual scheduled arrival at 0600 hours. I don't know why FR24 does this when flights are changed by airlines to depart later due to a delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Tuesday 12 November, QF401, the 0600 hours SYD - MEL was cancelled.

 

[lynnk]

Intreresting. VHOQG is being moved up to Sydney from Melbourne.

 

[Melburnian1]

...QF is yet to indicate gate number but given QF35 on Wednesday is an A332, there's a good chance that this A388 will 'ferry' (run empty) up to SYD tomorrow late morning due to the shortage of operable A380s.

This was half correct.

A388 VH-OQG came off QF94 on Wednesday 13 November (ex LAX) and is running empty up to SYD as QF6003, taking off from MEL at 1233 hours, so arrival will be at about 1345 hours. This is due to the shortage of A388s in Sydney.

UPDATE: VH-OQG pushed back on QF7 at 1512, 32 late with same day DFW arrival likely at 1340, 45 late.

 

[lynnk]

any idea why VH-OQA is still in sydney after almost a day and a half? Regular monthly maintenance? Also, I read today that VH-OQB won’t be back in service until mid December.

 

[Melburnian1]

B744 VH-OEH arrived SYD at 1449 hours, 46 early on Friday 9 November 2019 but was then declared defective. Thankfully it has returned to passenger duties early this evening (Wednesday 13) on QF73 from SYD to SFO.

As there's an ADL-originating charter to Antarctica on one day this weekend, this B744's return has come at an opportune time.

On Tuesday 12 November, QF27 (1245 hours SYD - SCL) had B744 VH-OEJ and departed at 1310 hours, arriving same day at 1146 hours, 36 minutes behind schdule. However the 'Queen' overstayed in SCL, not pushing back until 1623 hours, 168 minutes behind the schedule. On Wednesday 13, arrival in SYD is estimated at 2009, 179 late.

This is slightly delaying QF25, the 2135 hours SYD - HND that is suggested as departing at 2150. From observation, the quickest a B744 (with passengers, freight and mail on both sectors) can be 'reversed' is around 98 minutes, so the allowance tonight of 101 minutes is tight.

AFFer JohnPhelan's suggestion that QFi could have retained its seventh B744 (that instead proceeded on a one way trip to Victorville) is apposite.

 

[Melburnian1]

any idea why VH-OQA is still in sydney after almost a day and a half? Regular monthly maintenance?

As at 2000 hours on Wednesday 13 November, it still hadn't 'turned a wheel' since arriving in SYD on QF2 a minute late at 0611 hours on Monday 11.

With the fleet down to 9 out of 12, unsurprising that 'the 1' is cancelled tomorrow afternoon from SYD to SIN and LHR.

 

[Melburnian1]

Turning to matters domestic, QF462 (B738 VH-VYF, the 1900 hours MEL - SYD) was not in the Wednesday 13 November sky until 2029, so delayed arrival should be at around 2138 mid evening, 73 minutes tardy.

QF1854 from AYQ to CNS is one we don't often (if ever) mention here but on 13 November, B717 VH-NXL on this 1420 hours afternoon flight is badly delayed, not having taken off until 1758. Arrival is therefore estimated as 203 minutes late at 2048 hours mid evening. This is its sixth flight in two days (even though it had a lengthy overnight break) when it has been badly late:

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Unavailable crew?

 

[Melburnian1]

Although QF10 arrived in PER at 1223 hours on Wednesday 13 November, seven early, departure for MEL was delayed until 1454, 54 late - fairly unusual. MEL arrival was 65 late at 2130 hours. This will (according to QF) only delay QF49, the 2235 hours MEL - SFO by 20 minutes in its pushing back.

Westbound QF16 from LAX to BNE was off blocks on Tuesday 12 at 2355 hours, 35 late with Thursday 14 arrival suggested as 0756, 41 late. This was due to QF12 not departing JFK until 1950 hours (110 minutes late), arriving LAX at 2217, 72 minutes behind schedule. In turn, the A388 on QF12 then pushed back 48 late at 2318 with SYD Thursday at gate arrival likely at 0840, only five minutes late - however QF94 departed LAX at 2321, 31 late and should arrive MEL at 1020, half an hour behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

...On Tuesday 12 November, QF27 (1245 hours SYD - SCL) had B744 VH-OEJ and departed at 1310 hours, arriving same day at 1146 hours, 36 minutes behind schedule. However the 'Queen' overstayed in SCL, not pushing back until 1623 hours, 168 minutes behind the schedule. On Wednesday 13, arrival in SYD is estimated at 2009, 179 late.

This is slightly delaying QF25, the 2135 hours SYD - HND that is suggested as departing at 2150. From observation, the quickest a B744 (with passengers, freight and mail on both sectors) can be 'reversed' is around 98 minutes, so the allowance tonight of 101 minutes is tight...

QF25 on Wednesday 14 was displaying as further delayed to 2205 ex SYD but at 2247, revised advice indicated estimated departure at 2250 hours, very close to curfew. It may however have a dispensation from the Federal Minister's delegate.

UPDATE: QF25 pushed back at 2254 hours. Arrival is predicted 50 late at 0550 hours on Thursday 14 in HND.

 

[Flyerqf]

any idea why VH-OQA is still in sydney after almost a day and a half? Regular monthly maintenance? Also, I read today that VH-OQB won’t be back in service until mid December.

Tue/Wed are always downtime for 1 aircraft for maintenance as QF7/8 doesn’t operate on Tuesdays. With this scheduled in, they don’t change it because of other aircraft going offline.

The reason the QF35/36 was downgraded was to cover for the delayed Monday QF7/8. This would have been scheduled to arrive back in Sydney this morning but is now due in tomorrow morning. Expect a ferry back to MEL tomorrow.

 

[moa999]

With ZNJ due into Sydney on Friday monring, would think it might provide some extra needed capacity next week, as I don't think the capacity was scheduled until the 787 SFO and NZ flights start in early December.

 

[Melburnian1]

With ZNJ due into Sydney on Friday monring, would think it might provide some extra needed capacity next week, as I don't think the capacity was scheduled until the 787 SFO and NZ flights start in early December.

Unfortunately it has a far lower number of seats (236) than QF's A388s (all bar the refurbished VH-OQK, 485), B744s (364) or A333s (297) so its degree of substitutability is limited for the QFi long distance flights, although it could take the place of an A332. But this means 'deadheading' a flight crew up to its initial destination to operate the initial return flight after partaking of sufficient rest at the other end of the route.

 

[Flyerqf]

B744s (364 or if with old F, 353)

There are no B744 with F, they are all retired.

 

[hm520]

I recently flew QF15 and 16 return BNE-LAX in the 787. While I have only done this trip once previously on the 747 - I did note this time there were delays both ways, approx 45 mins BNE-LAX and almost 2 hours LAX-BNE. Both times it was 'minor engineering issues'. While I'm not going to attribute this to all 787s or their flights - is it a common thing with the newer planes and their tech?

 

[Melburnian1]

I recently flew QF15 and 16 return BNE-LAX in the 787. While I have only done this trip once previously on the 747 - I did note this time there were delays both ways, approx 45 mins BNE-LAX and almost 2 hours LAX-BNE. Both times it was 'minor engineering issues'. While I'm not going to attribute this to all 787s or their flights - is it a common thing with the newer planes and their tech?

One of our aviators said IIRC that QF has a more extensive 'MEL' - minimum equipment list - required before an aircraft can fly than do some competitors.

It's transport equipment, and minor issues can occur.

It may be that the newer the aircraft, the more complex the equipment but that's a question best answered by aviation staff.

On some days, QF16 into BNE can be delayed so this reduces the time that engineers have to check the aircraft before it forms QF15. That may have contributed to your eastbound delay.

 

[milehighclub]

The 787 has differently galley equipment to other aircraft (380/747/330) where the equipment is interchangeable so this severely limits where it could operate too.

If this was to happen, they would only be able to replace A380 LAX services.