Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Additionally on Monday 25 November, QF464 (1930 hours MEL - SYD, A332 VH-EBF) departed at 2031 hours and took off at 2050 , with predicted arrival 2205 hours, 70 late.

B&38 VH-VYL on QF479, the 1845 hours SYD down to MEL that got off comparatively lightly in departing at 1934 is arriving at 2057, 37 late. QF465, the timetabled 1900 hours took off at 2025 with VH-VXL looking to be at its Melbourne arrival gate at 2142, 67 behind.

The AKL across to SYD QF148 (A333 VH-QPC) is arriving at 2117 hours, 42 late after holding above the Tasman Sea.

 

[Melburnian1]

Whilst any return to the gate is most likely technical, both passenger and crew issues can also force a return. In the case of passengers, and most crew, you'll be able to get going again as soon as they and their luggage are offloaded.

Given that the company needs the aircraft back in Oz, waiting exactly 24 hours before scheduling the next flight is a little curious. It's possibly a part that they know the arrival time for, but that's also one of the CASA stand down times.

This Saturday evening QF2 from LHR (A388 VH-OQF) was to depart SIN basically 24 hours late, following an overnight stop in SIN, at 2015 hours on Monday 25 November for SYD but this has become an estimated 0030 ex the Lion City for SYD arrival on Tuesday 26 at a suggested 1110 hours, an extraordinary 1745 minutes behind schedule (almost 30 hours.) The Sydney Airport website is worse, estimating arrival at 1130 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

...Due to the late QF3 ex SYD and consequent delay to the Saturday 23 QF4 ex HNL that is due into SYD on Sunday 24, the latter date's QF3 is again to be delayed, in this case by an hour tonight to 2020 hours in pushback.

Given the abysmal weather (though not to be criticised, as we need God's rain) in SYD, QF4 from HNL to SYD is yet another flight that has diverted to CBR, arriving at 1907 on Monday 25 November. It then departed CBR at 2103 hours, taking off at 2124 and is expected to arrive SYD at 2205 hours, 210 minutes late.

QF3 is showing as departing SYD still at 2225 hours (185 late) and is not being formed by QF4 this evening. In any case, QF4 diverted to CBR and will not arrive in SYD until after 2230. If 'the 3' was even later departing, it could receive a dispensation from The Hon Michael McCormack's (Federal Minister for among other things Transport) delegate, which seem to be pretty much freely handed out, but time will tell.

There are at least 35 aircraft (of all carriers) on approach to SYD in the area from Boorowa in the south (near Yass) to the Barrington Tops National Park (near Gloucester) which is an extraordinary number. Then there's aircraft trying to depart, and only 85 minutes before the official curfew kicks in...

 

[ayebee]

Don't know which "QF74" this might be or whether it is late or otherwise, but I was amused by the FR24 track ... looks like dodgems in the QF maintenance area.

 

[Melburnian1]

ayebee, that's the arrival that was at its gate at 0606 on Monday 25 November, a whole minute late. I've seen that effect on FR24 a few times before. Do nearby buildings cause it when a plane is being towed from a gate to a hangar?

 

[Melburnian1]

Because SYD (or MEL) are each such an important part of the domestic airlines' network, delays in one tend to reverberate and at a guess adversely affect 40 per cent of scheduled domestic flights. on Monday 25 November, QF653 (A332 VH-EBN, the 2035 hours mid evening MEL =- PER) took off at 2159 hours so expected arrival has become 2246 hours, 66 minutes late.

QF462, the 1900 hours MEL - SYD (B738 VH-VZU) was in the sky at 2022 but then had to hold in two locations north of Booroowa and north of Goulburn, so arrival is 2215 hours, 110 minutes late.

The 1810 hours BNE down to MEL, QF635 took off at 1912 with VH-VYE expected to arrive at 2224 hours, 54 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 25 November, QF460 (1830 hours ME - SYD in the sky at 2040) got as far north as Marulan, but has then turned around with B738 VH-VXH diverting to CBR. Arrival at latter will be at roughly 2235 compared with its usual SYD arrival of 1955 hours.

There will be many aircraft (and flight/cabin crew) out of position on Tuesday 26 November.

 

[TheInsider]

QF555 BNE-SYD has a strange flight path. CBR or MEL you reckon?

edit: looks like CBR

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 25 November, QF73, the 1755 hours SYD - SFO was airborne at 2229 hours with B744 VH-OEE, having pushed back at 2146, so a lengthy wait for its takeoff roll. Same day arrival should be 1619 hours, 234 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF555 BNE-SYD has a strange flight path. CBR or MEL you reckon?

edit: looks like CBR

Agree, because it's descended to 4282 metres near CBR when I checked (apologies for not quoting in feet) and above all else Google says it's diverting to CBR. It uses the term 'redirected' which is a new one, perhaps like 'enhanced.' And who am I to argue with Google: if one does, it records it as a transgression as it knows all.

There will have been other nights as ad, including since when this recording commenced in 2013, but nonetheless a logistical problem for the four main domestic airlines. While it may be relatively small in the context of overall profits, a few days of this do not help the profitable airlines (QFd and JQd) to increase that figure, and it must be bad news for the lossmaking opposition. Wasted fuel, staff claiming more hours, in some cases accommodating passengers overnight, extra catering, wastage of prepared catering...

 

[Melburnian1]

The 1905 hours SYD - ABX, QF2217 (Q400 VH-LQF) was in the sky at 2222 hours so arrival is estimated on Monday 25 November as 2325 hours, 185 minutes late. If this crew is rostered on QF2202, the 0635 hours ex ABX tomorrow, it will be late departing due to the need for 10 hours off duty.

Q300 VH-SBB on QF1407 from SYD down to BXG arrived at 2016, 51 late.

B738 VH-VYH is on the 1915 hours BNE down to ADL QF667, in the sky at 2034 for post-curfew arrival at 2325 hours, an even hour behind. This aircraft's previous two sectors were MEL - SYD - BNE (QF470/QF544), explaining the delay.

 

[TheInsider]

Looks like QF555 and QF460 which were diverted to CBR will now go to SYD. Arrival times of around 0030.

 

[Melburnian1]

Looks like QF555 and QF460 which were diverted to CBR will now go to SYD. Arrival times of around 0030.

Good for passengers (and crew plus the airline), and the argument in favour will include that mandatory landing from the south minimises noise exposure contours for Sydney Basin residents, but concurrently domestic passenger arrivals at 0030 hours make a mockery of the legislated Sydney Airport curfew. I can see both sides of this public policy discussion.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 26 November 2019, QF602 and QF604, 0640 and 0710 hours MEL - BNE are cancelled, as is QF430, the venerable 1200 'high noon' MEL - SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

This Saturday evening QF2 from LHR (A388 VH-OQF) was to depart SIN basically 24 hours late, following an overnight stop in SIN, at 2015 hours on Monday 25 November for SYD but this has become an estimated 0030 ex the Lion City for SYD arrival on Tuesday 26 at a suggested 1110 hours, an extraordinary 1745 minutes behind schedule (almost 30 hours.) The Sydney Airport website is worse, estimating arrival at 1130 hours.

Not sure why, but overnight, this badly late QF2 (A388 VH-OQF) that departed LHR on Saturday evening 23 November was further 'deferred' to a projected 1000 hours ex SIN on Wednesday 27 November for estimated arrival in SYD tonight at 2040 hours. This will be 3750 minutes late (2 days 14.5 hours). Presumably passengers have "enjoyed" two nights' Singapore hotel accommodation, although some may well have been rebooked onto QFi, EK or other flights.

Subject to advice from the redoubtable AFFer milehighclub, QFi should not have to cancel any A388 flights today (apart from QF8 that on Monday - the Wednesday morning arrival back in SYD - already got the gong) as on Tuesdays QF7/QF8 are not timetabled to run. Therefore, only nine of the 12 in the fleet are needed on Tuesdays at present.

This means no QF7 or QF8 between Sunday 24 and Wednesday 27, quite a gap.

Publicly, all three A388s ex SYD on Wednesday 27 are showing as punctual, but one may either not operate or be late due to the QF2 huge delay.

UPDATE: For the second time this week, QF7 and QF8 have been cancelled on Wednesday 27 November. Another day, QF7 was more than 90 minutes late arriving Dallas-Fort Worth airport.

 

[Melburnian1]

As previously noted, on Sunday 24 November, QF80, the scheduled 1920 hours NRT - MEL redeye was caancelled. On Monday 25, this flight departed at 2053 with MEL Tuesday 26 arrival 0905, 70 late. However QF79 has a much longer expected delay with the 0920 hours ex MEL forecast to turn into an off blocks at 1235 hours for NRT arrival at 2035 mid evening, 175 minutes behind schedule. This will delay either QF80 ex NRT to MEL tonight, or the 1930 hours NRT overnight to BNE QF62, but the QF site isn't yet showing which one is to be tardy.

B717 VH-YQT on QF1509 (0645 hours SYD down to CBR short hop) did not become airborne until 0809 after pushing back 63 late at 0748 hours, so expected arrival is 0852, 72 late.

QF485, the midmorning 0935 hours MEL - PER should push back half an hour tardy.

The 0605 hours BNE down to SYD, VH-VYJ as QF505 took off at 0645, about 25 late with arrival likely at 0910 hours, half an hour late.

The 0715 hours CBR - SYD QF1464 apointed skyards at 0828, about an hour late, so arrival for Q400 VH-QOR should be at about 0918 hours, 68 minute stardy. One reason could be that the crew were late into CBR last night and required athe mandatory minimum 10 hours' off duty.

B738 VH-VZE is operating empty ('ferry') flight from CBR to MEL, having taken off at 0835, presumably for repositioning due to yesterday's extremely advese Sydney weather.

QF412 (VH-VZC, the 0730 hours MEL - SYD airborne at 0801) is arriving at an estimated 0925 hours, half an hour behind.

B717 VH-YQY is on QF1570, the 0610 hours MCY to SYD that was in the sky at 0652. It had to hold above Broke (south of Singleton) so arrival is estimated at around 0933, 38 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Tuesday 26 November, QF520 (0830 hours morning SYD - BNE) did not take off until 0915 so expected arrival is 0935, 35 minute slate. Aircraft is B738 VH-VZS.

The 0650 hours ADL across to SYD, QF732, was another cancellation.

B738 VH-VZC on QF790 (0945 hours SYD - ASP) was in the sky at 1038 hours. Predicted arrival is 1200 'high noon', 35 minutes late.

The 0900 hours MEL up to SYD, QF418 has VH-XZA and pointed skywards at 0936 for suggested at gate arrival of 1055, half an hour later than the timetable states.

QF61, the 0925 hours BNE - MNL is predicted to depart 35 minutes late.

QF492 (B744 VH-OEJ) is the continuation of the diverted QF28 from SCL to SYD that spent overnight in MEL. It was meant to depart at 0930 hours but VH-OEJ did not take off until 1041, so SYD arrival is 1152, 57 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF28D (B744 VH-OEJ) was meant to depart MEL at 0930 hours on Tuesday 26 - it had been diverted. However it took off at 1041 so expected arrival is 1155 hours. Usually this flight ex SCL arrives in SYD at 1750 hours on Mondays.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 26 November also sees QF63, the 1135 hours late morning SYD - JNB originally shown as delayed by only 15 minutes, but this in pushback became 56. Same day arrival for the B744 is predicted as half an hour late at 1705.

Storms have been and are lashing parts of Sydney and winds are picking up in Melbourne so not an ideal day for the airlines as QF433 (1230 hours SYD - MEL, B738 VH-VXS) took off at 1344 with suggested arrival 1457 mid afternoon, 52 late in the southern capital.

Monday 25's 1920 hours SYD - HNL QF3 departed at 2302, arriving same day at 1321 hours, 246 minutes behind schedule. QF4 then pushed back in HNL at 1458 hours on Monday with Tuesday 26 arrival in SYD estimated as 2235 late tonight, five hours late.

Northbound QF434 is the 1300 hours lunchtime MEL to SYD up up and away at 1349, so arrival for VH-VYC should be at 1457, 32 minutes tardy. Oentically timd in its departure QF528 was airborne at 1408 with VH-VZK expected 51 late into BNE at 1421 hours.

B738 VH-VZA is on QF926, the 1315 hours afternoon SYD - CNS in the sky at 1414 hours. At gate arrival should be 1601 hours, 41 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 26 November 2019, QF2105 from CFS down to SYD is a shocker, not having become airborne until 1350 this afternoon. Q300 VH-SCE should arrive at 1510 hours, 295 minutes late.

This is due to the aircraft on QF2104, the 0700 hours SYD - CFS this morning that took off at 0742 having to return to SYD, where it arrived at 0847 hours. It then had to trek north to CFS.