Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

OQF requires an engine change. Looks like it could be there till at least 1st Dec.

I dislike the word 'massive', but a 'm..' thank you to milehighclub as this informs any AFFers travelling or considering that until then, there's likely to be cancellations unless QFi decides to replace (say) QF35/QF36 MEL - SIN - MEL with a smaller A333. However initially the airline has to send a crew up to Lion City to have sufficient mandated rest before operating 'the 36' back down should this strategy be adopted, so it is never an instant solution.

In the past when QFi had more B744s, another workaround was to replace QF11/QF12 SYD - LAX and return with a B744. Again, the airline would have to dispatch an advance crew complement to LAX before such a 'Queen of the Skies' could return to SYD.

One of our aviators previously opined that engine changes do not take as long as one might believe, but an engine presumably has to be ferried to SIN, whether from SYD, LHR or elsewhere.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF583 (27 November, the evening SYD - PER at 1955 hours) was not airborne until 2117. Arrival for A332 VH-EBK should be at 2246 hours, 56 minutes late. This is the fourth time in eight days this flight has been between 45 minutes and 3.5 hours late arriving in PER.

The PER across to CBR QF718 (the 1535 hours, up up and away at 1623) has B738 VH-VZM with arrival at 2303, 38 late. This is a route from which VA, IIRC, is about to withdraw. Fares are likely to increase once QFd has a monopoly on nonstops.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to VH-OQF being marooned in SIN awaiting an engine change, the A388-operated Friday 29 November QF1 from SYD to SIN and on to LHR will be cancelled. Presumably 'the 2' ex LHR on Friday night, and from SIN to SYD overnight on Saturday will also suffer this fate.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF1D, the Wednesday 27 November 1700 hours ex SYD pushed back at 0626 hours on Thursday 28 but had a lengthy wait on teh runway and did not become airborne until 0702 hours. SIN arrival for A388 VH-OQG should be 1157 hours, 832 minutes behind schedule, and departure an optimistic 1320 hours for claimed LHR arrival at 1935 in the early evening, 800 minutes tardy. QF is yet to show an amended pushback for QF2 on Thursday night ex LHR.

QF6114, perhaps a repositioning flight, has B738 VH-VXE. It took off from SYD on Thursday 28 at 0715 and is arriving MEL at 0833.

 

[jb747]

I dislike the word 'massive', but a 'm..' thank you to milehighclub as this informs any AFFers travelling or considering that until then, there's likely to be cancellations unless QFi decides to replace (say) QF35/QF36 MEL - SIN - MEL with a smaller A333. However initially the airline has to send a crew up to Lion City to have sufficient mandated rest before operating 'the 36' back down should this strategy be adopted, so it is never an instant solution.

No, they don’t have to wait for an extra crew to arrive. There are always multiple crews in Singapore. Whilst a replacement crew might eventually be sent there, to get the overall pattern back on the rails, in the short term they can generate a crew by modifying the slips of multiple other crews. A crew from Perth may even be able to operate through Singapore. There are many ways to skin the cat.

In the past when QFi had more B744s, another workaround was to replace QF11/QF12 SYD - LAX and return with a B744. Again, the airline would have to dispatch an advance crew complement to LAX before such a 'Queen of the Skies' could return to SYD.

Using a 747 as a replacement is an entirely different issue, as the aircraft doesn’t operate there in the first place, so you don’t have a crew to pinch to start the ball rolling.

One of our aviators previously opined that engine changes do not take as long as one might believe, but an engine presumably has to be ferried to SIN, whether from SYD, LHR or elsewhere.

Getting the engine will be the issue. I’m surprised that RR don’t have one in situ in Singapore. Or perhaps they do, and Singair has needed it.

 

[Melburnian1]

The QF site has changed forecast departure of Thursday 28 November's QF2 from its usual 2035 to what may be a somewhat optimistic 2130 hours. The SIN stop is said to be from 1845, but claimed pushback from there hasn't yet been altered from the timetabled 1915 hours. A half hour stop is impossible: the minimum observed at an intermediate location for an aircraft of this size IIRC is about 65-70 minutes, but 85-90 seems to be the norm given the variety of unloading/loading/ fuelling/passenger alighting and boarding/catering/safety checks/cabin cleaning to be undertaken.

Qf414, the 0800 hours MEL -SYD did not take off until 0854 (A332 VH-EBE) so predicted arrival is 1005, 40 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

UPDATE: On Wednesday night, QF62 departed NRT at 2150 hours (140 late) with BNE Thursday arrival likely at 0747 hours, 127 minutes behind the schedule.

As a result, QF61 from BNE to NRT, the 0925 hours, departed at 1009. Arrival should be 1805 hours, 35 late.

QF11, the 1110 hours SYD - LAX is estimated to shortly depart at 1400 hours with arrival at 0825 hours, 145 minutes late. While ex SYD passengers are an important feeder to the crosscountry USA B789 on QF11 (the 0820 hours ex LAX same day), at present it isn't showing as 'delayed' so it may not be held, meaning ex-SYD users having to be placed on AA flights to arrive in JFK.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF1D, the Wednesday 27 November 1700 hours ex SYD pushed back at 0626 hours on Thursday 28 but had a lengthy wait on teh runway and did not become airborne until 0702 hours. SIN arrival for A388 VH-OQG should be 1157 hours, 832 minutes behind schedule, and departure an optimistic 1320 hours for claimed LHR arrival at 1935 in the early evening, 800 minutes tardy. QF is yet to show an amended pushback for QF2 on Thursday night ex LHR...

QF1D stopped in SIN on Thursday 28 November from 1214 hours to 1346 - 92 minutes which is pretty standard - with at departure the flight being 831 minutes late. LHR arrival is predicted to be later than the previous forecast, with the amended estimate 2017 hours, 842 minutes late.

Thursday's QF2 ex LHR has been put back a little more with pushback suggested 70 minutes tardy at 2145 for its Friday 29 SIN stop commencing at 1835 hours, 50 late.

QF7 was cancelled on Wednesday as discussed above, but thankfully is running today, though departure from SYD was at 1659 hours, 139 minutes late. Forecast DFW arrival is 1501 hours, 126 minutes behind schedule. Due to the long layover, QF8 on Thursday ex Texas ought be on time.

Thursday's QF1 left SYD at 1739, 39 late with a broadly similar SIN arrival expected at 2253 late tonight local time, 48 minutes tardy.

 

[RSD]

Now 6 from 6 delayed more than 1.5hrs. QF 563 BNE SYD the 18.05 departure now leaving (hopefully) 19.40

I think that you need to post all of your future bookings on here so that the rest of us can avoid your flights...

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1553, Thursday 28 November's scheduled 1915 hours early evening BNE down to CBR did not take off until 2210. B717 VH-YQV should arrive on Friday 29 at about 0042 hours, 152 minutes past what is timetabled. The aircraft must be substiuting for another, as it arrived in BNE at 1950, only five minutes late on QF1554 and was requisitioned to operate this 1915 hours ex the Sunshine State's capital. It then lost much more time on the ground.

The 1225 hours lunchtime SYD - MNL QF19 on Thursday arrived 12 minutes early at 1718 - not unprecedented, but rather rare - but its return QF20, the 1900 hours redeye is expected to depart tonight at what was 2130 hours but (at 0007 AEDT) just changed to 2200 for SYD Friday 29 November at gate arrival at 0845 hours, 145 minutes behind the schedule. A332 VH-EBM is the taskmaster. While gate allocations can alter, at present the next flight for this plane is QF81, the 1125 hours SYD - SIN.

 

[Hvr]

QF35 MEL-SIN not expected to depart until 12:45 due to late arrival of incoming aircraft.

 

[Silvia]

Sunday 1 December finds QF122 ZQN-SYD (B738 VH-VZI) with revised arrival at 18 13, 98 min behind.
QF1548 CBR-BNE (B712 VH-YQT) diverted to CFS
QF623 BNE-MEL (B738 VH-VZX) has a suggested arrival at 18 47, 77 min tardy.
QF592 PER-ADL (B738 VH-VZR) is predicted to arrive at 17 52, 102 min late.

 

[ayebee]

On 93 MEL-LAX tomorrow 2 Dec & (true to our usual form) we have received a text advising delay from scheduled 10.40 to 11.50 (for the moment).
Even though 35 (VH-OQD) is on time approaching Singapore, I notice 36 (SIN-MEL) is cancelled tonight, so not the usual routine for it to go out as 93.
I assume they need to find a replacement elsewhere and get it to MEL for 93.

 

[milehighclub]

OQD is operating the QF2 once it lands. OQC is being turned around from the QF94 to become the QF93.

Tomorrow there is no QF35 but there is a QF36 which is OQF that has completed an engine change and testing.

 

[Bundy Bear]

QF634 and QF636 both delayed MEL-BNE being blamed on late arriving aircraft which I don’t quite believe. 1hr 50 and 1hr 30!
QF625 arrived at 7:18 and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
Put some storms in the mix and everything gets screwed.

 

[ayebee]

OQD is operating the QF2 once it lands. OQC is being turned around from the QF94 to become the QF93.

Tomorrow there is no QF35 but there is a QF36 which is OQF that has completed an engine change and testing.

Thanks milehighclub - good to know where to look.

 

[dylarr]

Lots of cancellations and delays due SYD wx this evening.

Can call out the following since I have alerting set up for the route:

Today's QF1407 SYD - BXG has been cancelled.
Replacement flight QF1409 has been scheduled to operate SYD - BXG at 0700 tomorrow morning, arriving at 0900.

As a result, tomorrow's QF1408 BXG - SYD has been retimed. It will now depart BXG at 0920 and arrive in SYD at 1110. In reality, it will likely be later. QLK always schedule a 20 minute turnaround for these rescue flights into BXG, but it always takes them much longer to turn it around.

 

[moa999]

With OQF back into service that hopefully means less A380 cancellations

 

[Melburnian1]

With OQF back into service that hopefully means less A380 cancellations

Do you mean "fewer?" It's numerical. But you are otherwise on the money.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 5 December, QF12 ex LAX arrived in SYD at 1003 hours, 88 late. QF94 into MEL was also delayed, arriving at gate at 1025 hours, 35 minutes behind.

QF20 from MNL arrived at 0719, 69 late.