Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Quickstatus]

@nonscenic my post above at #11595 was a lot earlier around 1300hrs when the thread was in "open discussion" thread. It was moved to the D&C thread at my request so the time stamp reflects when it was re-created in the D&C thread).

 

[Silvia]

Current diversions QF772 PER-MEL (VH-EBD) to SYD.
QF1014 HBA-MEL (B738 VH-VXI) returned back to HBA.
QF443 SYD-MEL (B738 VH-XZP) diverting back to SYD.
QF476 PER-MEL (B738 VH-VXG) diverting to ADL.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the unstable weather in MEL into the early evening of Wednesday 15 January, QF37, the scheduled 1720 hours MEL up to SIN is expected to push back at 1945 hours, so arrival will be 0045 hours on Thursday 16, 150 minutes late, delaying QF38, the redeye back down to MEL.

The MEL - DPS B738, QF45 should depart 70 late at 1840 for arrival at an estimated 2145, 75 late.

The 1650 hours domestic sector QF9 (MEL - PER, B789 VH-ZNH) was off blocks 75 minutes late at 1805 hours, becoming airborne at 1849, a significant taxiing time. The PER intermediate stop should be roughly 1920 to 2050 hours, the latter being 65 late with Thursday 16 LHR projected at gate arrival 0640 hours, 95 late, so little net loss of time despite the via Afghanistan flight routing at present due to USA - Iranian tensions and the mistaken tragic consequences missile hit on the Ukraine International jet. QF's website has yet to adjust projected timings forced out due to the lengthy taxi.

A domestic delay example is QF460, the 1830 hours MEL up to SYD altered to depart at 2025 meaning at gate on blocks in the Harbour City at 2155, 120 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 15 January, the delay ex MEL to QF37 (1720 hours to SIN) was more extensive than forecast, with the plane pushing back at 2132 (252 late) and SIN estimated arrival altering to 0200 hours on Thursday 16, 225 late. QFi suggests the 2340 hours SIN - MEL redeye QF38 will be able to depart at 0245 - this seems optimistic with 0310 being a better estimate - and MEL arrival at 1310, 180 late tomorrow afternoon.

The BNE down to MEL QF651 has B738 VH-VZO with arrival suggested as 2259, 149 minutes behind the timetable.

Northbound QF464 - MEL to SYD - is the 1930 hours airborne at 2129 with B738 VH-VYG. Arrival should be 2244, 109 minutes late.

The 1550 hours WLG - MEL QF172 departed at 1604 but diverted to SYD where it spent from 1932 to 2056 hours, with MEL arrival 2300 hours, 220 minutes late for B738 VH-VZT.

QF465 is a little ahead. It is the 1900 hours SYD down to MEL in the sky at 2101 hours, with B738 VH-VZR arriving at 2240, 125 minutes tardy. QF479, the 1845 hours departure on the same route fared worse, with VH-VZF taking off at 2111 hours for estimated arrival in MEL of 2251, 151 minutes behind.

VH-VYI is operating QF823, the 1945 hours CBR - MEL in the sky at 2126 for suggested arrival at gate at 2246 hours, 111 minutes tardy.

 

[AV8]

QF 12 LAX - SYD on 14 Jan has been delayed from 22:30 dep to 15 Jan 10:00 dep - reason unknown.

Aircraft had technical fault - part flown in overnight from France was explanation given by Pilot.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 16 January, rainy weather in SYD has resulted in many early morning arrivals having to be in holding patterns with QF404, the 0630 hours MEL - SYD that took off at 0651 (only five to eight minutes late) an example. B738 VH-VYI should arrive at gate at about 0827, 32 late following two holds, showing how easy it is to lose gate-to-gate time in poorer weather.

Perhaps due to yesterday's disrupted operations thanks to Melbourne's bushfire smoke haze and subsequently evening thunderstorms, QF6114 (B738 VH-VYH) is operating 'ferry' (empty) flight QF6114 from BNE down to SYD, taking off at 0709 hours this morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 16 January, QF581 (the 1025 hours mid morning SYD across to PER, A332 VH-EBE) was at 1154 about to take off northwards, so it will be at least 80 minutes late arriving at gate in the West.

The 1100 SYD - CNS QF926 (B738 VH-VZZR) was at least three aircraft behind, queuing, so it will be about 40 late arriving in FNQ.

 

[Melburnian1]

Aircraft had technical fault - part flown in overnight from France was explanation given by Pilot.

A388 VH-OQF on the overnight delayed QF12 departed LAX at 1050 hours on Wednesday 15 January (740 minutes late) with SYD arrival on Thursday 16 likely at 2049 mid evening, 734 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

With heavy rainfall around Sydney, delays continue into the evening of Thursday 16 January with QF451, the 1715 hours peak period SYD - MEL (B738 VH-VZJ) not airborne until 1805a. Hence suggested arrival is 31 minutes tardy at 1921 hours.

QF455 on the same route is worse with this 1730 hours in teh sky at 1837. VH-VZE should arrive at its MEL aerobridge at about 1956 hours, 51 late.

A332 VH-EBL was delayed earlier as above, ex SYD and so is from PER back to the mainland harbour city with arrival of QF580 likely 48 minutes behind schedule at 1943 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Largely due to Sydney/Newcastle/NSW south coast storms, a further less than stellar punctuality is the norm on Thursday 16 January's evening with QF743 (B738 VH-VYF, the 1840 hours SYD - ADL) taking off at 2130 for suggested arrival at 2246 hours, 151 minutes late and not long before the nightly curfew.

Just ahead is the PER-bound QF583, the 1955 hours that took off at 2123 with A332 VH-EBL that also features above. Arrival at gate should be roughly 2250 hours, an hour late.

 

[AIRwin]

Just took off from BNE on Retro Roo II and spotted a QF A380 parked in EK's regular spot next to the international terminal... Wonder what happened?

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQJ on QF12, the 2230 hours Wednesday 15 January LAX - SYD airborne at 2336 is arriving on Friday 17 at 0925 hours, 50 minutes behind the timetable.

The LAX - BNE QF16 (B789 VH-ZNE) is worse, with likely arrival at gate 0834 hours, 79 late.

Earlier, the B789 on QF74 (SFO - SYD) arrived at 0643 hours, 38 late. The LAX - BNE QF56 was similar, arriving at gate at 0546 hours, 46 behind.

The SFO - MEL QF50 was worse, arriving on Friday 17 at 0820 hours, 95 minutes tardy.

QF96 from LAX to MEL looks to be diverting to BNE. This scheduled 2350 hours on Wednesday late evening was airborne a little early at 0005 on Thursday - creditable - but as at 0815 was holding offshore from BNE on Friday 17, so arrival may be about 0850. QF suggests it will then depart BNE for MEL at 0920 but my guess is it may take longer, so the estimated QFi arrival down in MEL of 1245 hours, 125 minutes late, is likely to be an underestimate of its tardiness.

The DFW to SYD QF8 also diverted to BNE, where on Friday it spent a long time, from 0528 to 0807 hours, so SYD arrival for A388 VH-OQE is estimated at around 1050 hours, 320 minutes tardy.

The very heavy rainfall in and around SYD hasn't caused huge nationwide delays - yet - as at 0930 hours but A332 VH-EBC on QF575, the scheduled 0825 hours SYD across to PER did not take off until 0934 hours, with arrival suggested as 1101 hours, 41 behind.

 

[Vic]

Just took off from BNE on Retro Roo II and spotted a QF A380 parked in EK's regular spot next to the international terminal... Wonder what happened?

I'd say QF8. Friends are on it. Has been an absolute disaster for them. Have been taken off the flight, they mentioned something about no shuttle bus so had to walk in the rain, and are not queued up to find a new flight to their final destination.

The DFW to SYD QF8 also diverted to BNE, where on Friday it spent a long time, from 0528 to 0807 hours, so SYD arrival for A388 VH-OQE is estimated at around 1050 hours, 320 minutes tardy.

Are you certain it's operating Brisbane to Sydney? Have first hand reports that they didn't just refuel and continue onwards (lack of fuel was the reason stated on board for the diversion). Now the pax, at least some of them, have are still in Brisbane looking for alternative onward flights.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'd say QF8. Friends are on it. Has been an absolute disaster for them. Have been taken off the flight, they mentioned something about no shuttle bus so had to walk in the rain, and are not queued up to find a new flight to their final destination....Are you certain it's operating Brisbane to Sydney? Have first hand reports that they didn't just refuel and continue onwards (lack of fuel was the reason stated on board for the diversion). Now the pax, at least some of them, have are still in Brisbane looking for alternative onward flights.

Re your question, 'yes', as QF8 is viewable on FR24 (and other such flight viewing sites) with arrival in SYD now further altered to 1036 hours. As I write it is about to land.

You may also want to examine the QF website flight status pages that show how QF8 diverted to BNE and subsequently operated the far shorter BNE down to SYD sector, vital to ensure it's in the correct position for its next outbound flight ex Oz.

 

[jb747]

Are you certain it's operating Brisbane to Sydney? Have first hand reports that they didn't just refuel and continue onwards (lack of fuel was the reason stated on board for the diversion). Now the pax, at least some of them, have are still in Brisbane looking for alternative onward flights.

You can't just gas and go. Your original slot in Sydney has disappeared, so now you're subject to the entire domestic slot and delays allocation game. The window for the original crew to continue is quite narrow, so unless there happens to be an entire new crew available, the diversion can end up with the flight being stopped in Brisbane. A couple of pilots may have to pax up from Sydney to get the aircraft. There are many permutations on this.

QF regularly pre positions pilots in case of diversions, so if this hasn't happened it means that the diversion and delay was not expected.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on a rainy Friday 17 January in Sydney, QF2106 (Q300 VH-SBB, the 0835 hours SYD - CFS airborne at 0949 hours) should arrive at 1107 hours, 77 late.

QF418 (B738 VH-XZM, the 0900 hours MEL - SYD) was in the sky at 0949 with arrival estimated as 1113 hours, 48 minutes late.

QF420, the 0930 hours on the same route should arrive at 1127, 32 late with B738 VH-VZY.

 

[Vic]

You can't just gas and go. Your original slot in Sydney has disappeared, so now you're subject to the entire domestic slot and delays allocation game. The window for the original crew to continue is quite narrow, so unless there happens to be an entire new crew available, the diversion can end up with the flight being stopped in Brisbane. A couple of pilots may have to pax up from Sydney to get the aircraft. There are many permutations on this.

QF regularly pre positions pilots in case of diversions, so if this hasn't happened it means that the diversion and delay was not expected.

Although as reported in this thread, the aircraft has flown to Sydney. Suggesting they had crew and they somehow managed to find a landing slot. As brisbane has less than half the number of daily flights to where my friends want to end up, compared to Sydney. It's hard to understand how dumping them in Brisbane is the best option.

Don't think I said it was an expected delay. Friends report being told - weather in Sydney, not enough fuel, going to brisbane.

 

[Melburnian1]

... As brisbane has less than half the number of daily flights to where my friends want to end up, compared to Sydney. It's hard to understand how dumping them in Brisbane is the best option...

What is the final destination of your friends? On what flight ex BNE were they rebooked?

QFi may have known that this A380 would be in BNE for a considerable time, so perhaps having some passengers leave the aircraft in BNE, not SYD, was the best option. It might however take a while to retrieve luggage depending on in which ULD it was stored.

There may also be other considerations such as fewer weather-related delays in BNE, and/or more (and sufficient!) seats available for your friends ex BNE but not SYD.

 

[Vic]

What is the final destination of your friends? On what flight ex BNE were they rebooked?

QFi may have known that this A380 would be in BNE for a considerable time, so perhaps having some passengers leave the aircraft in BNE, not SYD, was the best option. It might however take a while to retrieve luggage depending on in which ULD it was stored.

There may also be other considerations such as fewer weather-related delays in BNE, and/or more (and sufficient!) seats available for your friends ex BNE but not SYD.

They were always going to miss the connection to adelaide. there are only 4 direct flight brisbane to adelaide, and 9 from Sydney to adelaide. the timing of it all means that only 2 of the domestic flights from brisbane were realistic options.

 

[flydoc]

Aerodrome warning for thunderstorms at DRW has seen QF824 (B738 VH-XZP) ex-BNE divert to KTR (Katherine/RAAF Tindal)