Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF145 (SYD-AKL) towed back to gate after push back so engineers can have a look at "issue with engine". Currently at gate and delayed more than 45 minutes, let's see what happens.

This Sunday 17 November flight took off from SYD at 1343 hours with A333 VH-QPG. It arrived AKL at 1812 hours, 47 late.

QF148 (the 1900 hours back across to SYD) then pushed back at 1932 and was airborne at 1947 (roughly half an hour behind schedule) with estimated arrival in SYD tonight 2056 hours, 21 minutes late.

 

[moa999]

380 OQB which had its door damaged back into service as QF11 on Sunday.

Combined with ZNJ going straight into service, hopefully ends the recent run of international issues.

From a post earlier by milehighclub, OQJ (Abu Dhabi) and OQH (Dresden) are due back on 7-Dec and 10-Dec respectively.
That's 8.5wks for the major maintenance check and 7 weeks for the refurb.

(Last para edited - looks like it was here I read it)

 

[Melburnian1]

380 OQB which had its door damaged back into service as QF11 on Sunday.

Combined with ZNJ going straight into service, hopefully ends the recent run of international issues.

From a post in airliners OQJ (Abu Dhabi) and OQH (Dresden) are due back in the first week of Dec.

If you looked back through the pages - not easy - QF's milehighclub has already kindly advised us about OQB, and also stated that one of the others is due back on 7 and the second on 10 December. So you may be a little optimistic for the second one being back in 'first week' of December. Perhaps things have changed since milehighclub submitted her post?

 

[Melburnian1]

Usually QF37 has a reasonable to good timekeeping record, but on Monday 18 November 2019, it departed 66 minutes late at 1826 hours from MEL, so expected arrival has become 2320 hours, 65 late. A333 VH-QPC is the aircraft, being the fifth consecutive day operated by an A333, with the three days prior to that seeing an A332. Today's plane arrived 10 minutes early on QF772 (ex PER) at 1540 hours, but then would have had to transfer terminals, which probably accounts for at least part of the delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF422, the Tuesday 19 November midmorning 1000 hours MEL - SYD has been cancelled.

The AKL - MEL QF152 (B738 VH-VZT) is arriving 31 minutes behind schedule at 0841 hours.

A332 VH-EBG is on the 0700 hours peak period QF409 SYD - MEL and was in the sky at 0745. Forecast arrival is 0905 hours, half an hour behind.

Q400 VH-LQB is on QF2278, the scheduled 0825 hours MEL up to MQL that was off blocks 53 minutes late. Arrival looks to be 1027, 52 late.

The 0825 hours SYD across to PER transcontinental, QF575 (A332 VH-EBF) took off at 0848 with arrival suggested as 37 late at 1057 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on a balmy Tuesday 19 November, QF63, the 1135 hours B744 (Vh-OEG) from SYD to distant JNB pushed back at 1200 'high noon', taking off at 1218 hours. Expected arrival is 35 minutes behind schedule at 1710 hours same day.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday night is often the quietest weekday night for Australian domestic flights. On Tuesday 19 November, unusually, flights to MEL are arriving from the west. There are minor delays of 10 to 30 minutes.

A332 VH-EBA on QF459, the 1800 hours SYD - MEL was airborne at 1851 with resultant arrival likely at 2011, 36 minutes past the timetable.

Earlier, QF43, the daily, popular 1650 hours SYD - DPS was off blocks 50 late with suggested arrival at 2105 mid evening local time, 65 late. QF44 (the redeye nback down to SYD) is likely to depart at 2200 hours, 40 minutes tardy. A332 VH-EBQ has the task. It was 58 late arriving in SYD at 1508 mid afternoon as QF108 ex the soon to be discontinued PEK route, but then spent over time in Sydney. Often an A332 can be turned around in 80 minutes if all goes well, but it took longer this afternoon.

QF783 (the 1940 hours SYD across to ADL) was not up up and away until 2047, so B738 VH-VXL looks to be arriving at its nominated gate at 2204, 49 behind the timetable. In the opposite direction, QF766 has VH-VYD with SYD arrival estimated as 2130, half an hour tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

A very hot Wednesday 20 November 2019 in Adelaide (41.2C the maximum thus far) finds QF764 (the 1635 hours afternoon ADL across to SYD) taking off at 1805 with B738 VH-VYH. Expected arrival is 2015, 75 minutes behind schedule.

QF632 from MEL to BNE, the 1810 hours early evening, was in the sky at 1917. VH-VYL should arrive at its gate at 2015 hours, 55 late.

The 1830 hours SYD - BNE (QF546) was also airborne at 1917 hours. Arrival looks to be 34 late at 1934.

QF843 has a far longer journey from DRW to SYD with VH-VZH allocated the task. This 1345 hours scheduled late lunchtime offering was airborne an hour later, so arrival should be 31 late at 2011.

QF2533 from LRE to BNE (Q400 VH-QOE) is the 1535 hours up up and away at 1632, with suggested arrival at 1840, 65 down.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF9 between MEL and PER (1650 hours ex MEL) has pretty good timekeeping but on Wednesday 20 November 2019 has been cancelled.

However 'the 9' is operating between PER and LHR. QF10 arrived this afternoon eight minutes late in PER at 1238 hours, with the aircraft (B789 VH-ZNA) looking like it's turning back to LHR as the 1400 hours PER - MEL second QF10 sector has also got the flick.

This must have been a problem with the B789 in MEL that occurred with not much notice as on most other occasions when that aircraft has been unavailable, a B738 has been substituted.

B789 VH-ZND had unusually operated 'ferry' (empty) flight QF6101 today from SYD down to MEL (taking off at 1155 hours and arriving at gate at 1309) so it may be the defective aircraft, although VH-ZNH is also in MEL at present.

Does the flight crew on 'the 9' usually work MEL - PER (slip 25.5 hours) - LHR or do they simply work MEL - PER (layover) - MEL?

QF632 above was delayed and so is the next MEL to BNE, QF634 (VH-VZB) with at gate arrival predicted as 2104 hours, 44 late.

 

[Rangalad]

QF9 between MEL and PER (1650 hours ex MEL) has pretty good timekeeping but on Wednesday 20 November 2019 has been cancelled.

However 'the 9' is operating between PER and LHR. QF10 arrived this afternoon eight minutes late in PER at 1238 hours, with the aircraft (B789 VH-ZNA) looking like it's turning back to LHR as the 1400 hours PER - MEL second QF10 sector has also got the flick.

This must have been a problem with the B789 in MEL that occurred with not much notice as on most other occasions when that aircraft has been unavailable, a B738 has been substituted.

B789 VH-ZND had unusually operated 'ferry' (empty) flight QF6101 today from SYD down to MEL (taking off at 1155 hours and arriving at gate at 1309) so it may be the defective aircraft, although VH-ZNH is also in MEL at present.

Does the flight crew on 'the 9' usually work MEL - PER (slip 25.5 hours) - LHR or do they simply work MEL - PER (layover) - MEL?

QF632 above was delayed and so is the next MEL to BNE, QF634 (VH-VZB) with at gate arrival predicted as 2104 hours, 44 late.

IIRC - Australian based cabin crew operate MEL-PER (overnight) -MEL
QFCCUK (?) - LHR/PER/LHR

 

[Melburnian1]

IIRC - Australian based cabin crew operate MEL-PER (overnight) -MEL
QFCCUK (?) - LHR/PER/LHR

Thanks, but I was asking about flight crew.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 21 November, QF405 (B738 VH-XZE) is the 0630 hours SYD - MEL airborne at 0705, about 20 - 25 late. The aircraft had to hold above Mt Buller so arrival should be at 0835, half an hour tardy. Delays to other QFd southbounds are less, typically 10 - 20 minutes.

 

[milehighclub]

Thanks, but I was asking about flight crew.

Majority of the PER/LHR flying is done by the pilots based there which was set up for this flying.

 

[Silvia]

Winds up to 50km in Melbourne, so there may be some delays.
QF419 SYD-MEL is being operated by a B747, VH-OEH to be precise, arrival predicted at 11 19, 44 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Winds up to 50km in Melbourne, so there may be some delays....

BOM suggests it's stronger, with gusts of up to 61kmh (33 knots) at Tullamarine Airport. HBA has winds of up to 44kmh (24 knots).

Also on Thursday 21 November, QF516, the 1000 hours SYD up to BNE (B738 VH-VYH) was at 1055 about to become airborne, so will be at least half an hour late.

QF741 (1020 hours SYD across to ADL, VH-VZB) was in the sky at 1106 hours after pushing back at 1033, so quite a long wait for the take off roll. Arrival is predicted at 1233, 38 late.

There is an Antarctica flights charter ex ADL on Sunday 24 November so MEL is not the only unusual location for a QFi B744 passenger aircraft in the next few days.

 

[jb747]

INFO W. SIGWX: MELBOURNE SIGMET WHISKEY ZERO FOUR, FORECASTING SEV TURB BELOW 10000 FT, VALID. TMP: 35. EXP GLS OR RNAV APCH. RWY 34. RWY 34 RAPID EXIT TWY FOXTROT NOT AVBL. ALL DEPS MUST REQUEST PUSH BACK ON 127.2. WX: CAVOK. WND: 360 DEG MNM 30 KTS, MAX 45 KTS. MAX XW 25.

Single runway ops.

 

[Melburnian1]

While QFd and QFi do not operate scheduled passenger flights to AVV, stablemate JQd does, with winds there on 21 November midmorning up to gusts of 83kmh (45 knots.) That's the highest I can recall seeing at an Australian airport in recent months although like us all one cannot monitor 24/7.

As if to prove our aviator's weather forecast, QF424, the scheduled 1030 hours MEL - SYD (A332 VH-EBK) departed half an hour late but was not in the sky until 1134 hours. A normal blocks off to 'up up and away' at MEL tends to be 10 to 15 minutes for a domestic B738, so 34 minutes is approaching triple that. Predicted at gate arrival is 1247 hours, 52 late. Unfortunately unless aircraft have a 'midday snooze' at the typical time of lower demand or generous turnaround times, these delays are likely to continue all day.

Q400 VH-QOS is on QF2131, the nicely timed 1020 hours CBR - MEL airborne at 1116 hours. Resultant arrival looks to be 1223 hours, 48 late.

QF79, the 0920 hours MEL - NRT daily pushed back at 0957 so arrival has become a suggested 1845, 65 behind.

The A388 on QF93 (1040 hours MEL - LAX) was off blocks 39 late. The forecast for its arrival is same day at 0648 hours, 38 behind.

QF49 is often punctual but on Wednesday 20, this 2235 hours scheduled MEL - SFO pushed back at 2316, so arrival is likely at 1815, half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

...QF419 SYD-MEL is being operated by a B747, VH-OEH to be precise, arrival predicted at 11 19, 44 late.

OEH was next on the 1230 hours MEL - SYD QF432, not airborne until 1317 hours although it had pushed back at 1253. Expected arrival is 1430, 35 late.

The 1300 hours MEL - SYD (QF434, VH-VYA) has not taken off by 1346 so will be at least half an hour late.

A thunderstorm looks like it will hot MEL at about 1455 hours. This may not assist timekeeping.

 

[Melburnian1]

By 1505 hours on Thursday 21 November, winds at MEL were exactly what Silvia said earlier in the day: 50kmh, but were gusting to an extraordinary 87kmh (47 knots). Nearby AVV had 72kmh winds gusting to 87kmh.

QF686, the 1305 hours ADL across to MEL (B738 VH-VYJ) was in the sky at 1342 but held for a considerable period southwest of MEL (over Werribee - unusual). Departures had been occurring but it appeared as if MEL was briefly closed to arrivals. Wind shear? 'The 686' is showing as a suggested 1544 arrival, 49 late.

The 1350 hours DPO up to MEL, QF2054, took off barely late at 1404 hours with Q400 VH-LQL. It is ahead of 'the 686' with arrival predicted at 1540, 40 late after some unusual holding south of Mooroolbark and then looping south of Pt Cook.

Southbound QF439 is the 1400 hours SYD down to MEL, A332 VH-EBE that was pointing skywards at 1429, about 18 late. It is also having to hold above Mt Buller so predicted at gate arrival is 1618 hours, 43 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 1345 hours CHC across to MEL Thursday 21 November QF132 took off at 1408, only about 10 late if that, but presumably due to the very high winds in MEL and many arrivals having to hold, after holding south of Yarram, it has taken a northerly track and looks to be diverting to either CBR or SYD. Aircraft is B738 VH-VZZ. This will mean at least 2.5 hours delay for these patrons, probably more, but it cannot be helped.

QF772, the morning 0915 hours from PER across to MEL had a punctual takeoff roll at 0926 hours but with the queue to arrive in MEL, A332 VH-EBB should be at its gate at 1626 hours, 36 minutes behind the timetable.

The 1140 hours ASP down to MEL, QF797 took off at 1216, roughly 20 minutes late, but with having to hold above Kerang, arrival has been put back to 1627 hours, 37 late. Aircraft is B738 VH-XZH.