Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Flyerqf]

QF18, the 2010 hours FRiday 17 LAX - SYD B789 departed 50 late, arriving SYD on Sunday at 0648 hours, 33 behind schedule. The LAX to BNE QF56 was similar, arriving at its gate in the Sunshine State at 0532, 32 minutes tardy.

Only a small correction, QF18 is a 388 aircraft rather than 789.

 

[Melburnian1]

Only a small correction, QF18 is a 388 aircraft rather than 789.

You're not known as 'The Oracle' for no reason. Mistake corrected.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 19 January, QF129 (1055 hours SYD up to PVG, soon to be QFi's only flight into mainland China, excluding HKG SAR) was displaying until a few minutes ago as delayed in pushback to teh exact time of '1118': usually the QF website only specifies it to the nearest five minutes.

However departure has been revised to 1230 hours with arrival likely at 2010 tonight, 100 minutes tardy. QF130 back overnight to SYD will be delayed.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF27 Sat departure to SCL was late departing by 6 hours. As a result, QF28 return to SYD is 5 hours late. It will just sneak in before curfew. 744 VH-OEF, which is being retired next month, is the operating aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF27 Sat departure to SCL was late departing by 6 hours. As a result, QF28 return to SYD is 5 hours late. It will just sneak in before curfew. 744 VH-OEF, which is being retired next month, is the operating aircraft.

It departed SCL at 1915 hours, 340 late and is forecast to be at its SYD gate at 2240 tonight, 290 late, so on a gate-to-gate basis, 50 minutes is being chopped off the schedule.

 

[Silvia]

No expert obviously but QF8 diversions during US winter time are not uncommon. I do remember a few diversions due to high winds over the Pacific where they have diverted to BNE most commonly.

QF154 SYD-AKL 12 15 departure is now revised to 14 00 hours.

 

[maia200]

And so they never made their connecting flight in Singapore either. They asked to overnight and were told they don't do that. However they were booked on a Qatar flight to Doha and from Doha to Helsinki. A heck of a long flight for a 3 day dealer conference.. On the plus side there they were in the Q Suites which they loved. I haven't heard from them since they got on that plane though.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF11 on Sunday 19 was showing above as delayed by half an hour but this became 63 minutes late at 1213 hours in pushback. Arrival same day should be 47 late at 0647 hours, still allowing time for QF11, the 0820 hours B789 across the USA to depart in a timely fashion.

The 1055 hours SYD - PVG was also more greatly delayed than QFi had suggested, pushing back at 1306. Arrival late tonight is indicated as 2043, 133 minutes behind the eight ball. This will delay QF130, the 2005 hours and redeye, to about a 2155 ex busy PVG.

Saturday 18's QF12 departed JFK at 1831, 31 late but B789 VH-ZNB did not take off until 2032 hours, presumably due to wintry weather, so LAX arrival is an estimated 2315 hours, 130 minutes late. Rather optimistically, QFi suggests that the connecting A388 on QF12 will push back at midnight for SYD Monday 20 arrival at 0940 hours, 65 minutes tardy.

It appears on this occasion QF94 may be held for 'connectees' as it is displaying as a 2345 hours pushback with MEL Monday morning arrival 1010 hours, 20 late. Half an hour between 'the 12' arriving and '94' departing in LAX is quick given passengers must go through security and luggage ULDs have to be transferred.

QF16, the 2320 hours late Saturday evening LAX - BNE is forecast to depart 70 late, arriving BNE on Monday morning 20 January at 0830, 75 behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1421, Sunday 19 January (Q400 VH-QOE, the 1430 hours SYD - CBR short hop airborne at 1411) is arriving at 1557 hours, 32 behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 19 January, QF457 is the 1745 hours SYD - MEL that if anything was up up and away slightly early at 1755, always a creditable effort. B738 VH-VZD however must contend with severe storms around MEL - it won't surprise me if the airport is closed for a while in a few minutes given what the BOM radar indicates - and so arrival at this early stage is suggested as 1951 hours, 31 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 18 January after the B789 on QF12 ex JFK arrived LAX at 2303 hours (118 minutes late), the A388 on the onwards '12' departed at 0043 (Sunday 19, 73 late) with Monday 20 arrival suggested for SYD as 1033, also as luck would have it 118 late.

The longer journey of QF94 from LAX down to MEL commenced on Saturday evening close to the 'witching hour' at 2355 (75 late) but time on a gate-to-gate basis should be picked up as Monday arrival is estimated at 1030 hours, 40 down on the published schedule.

Meanwhile, the BNE-bound QF16 B789 pushed back in LAX at 0046, 86 late with Monday at gate arrival suggested as 0848 hours, 93 minutes tardy, but still in sufficient time to hopefully form a punctual QF15 should the same aircraft be operating it.

The domestic sector of QF10 on Sunday 19 saw the B789 depart 29 minutes late ex PER (1429 hours) with MEL arrival 2105, 40 behind. This flight is often early or punctual.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 19 January, QF636 (VH-VZD, the 2010 hours MEL - BNE airborne at 2050) is likely to arrive at 2155, 35 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1543 (first of the morning on Monday 20 January 2020, and what an early start!), the 0510 hours BNE down to CBR (B717 VH-YQX) took off at 0638 hours so arrival should be 65 minutes behind schedule at 0905 hours.

B738 VH-VYF as QF1010, the 0600 hours first HBA - MEL has also had an extremely late start to its day with takeoff at 0804 meaning suggested arrival at 0922, 122 minutes tardy. Unless this aircraft has a significant planned hiatus in the middle of the day when demand is lower, or one of its return trips is given the boot, it will be difficult to avoid running late all day, particularly given a large amount of rain is forecast for Melbourne and some for Sydney. Yet opposite number QF1011 (VH-VYI) is only five minutes late on the southbound down to HBA, showing what a lottery domestic airline timekeeping can be.

QF648, however, is worse than the above, with A332 VH-EBJ on this scheduled 2325 hours PER across to MEL not airborne until 0412 hours on MOnday, so arrival is predicted as 1022 mid morning, 262 minutes tardy for its zombie-like passengers. The plane had arrived in PER on Sunday evening as QF767 ex BNE only nine late at 2239 so something then went awry.

WIth QF12 arriving in MEL at 1044 hours, 54 minutes late, QF's flight status page claim that QF35, the 1210 hours to SIN will depart on time is unlikely.

 

[Melburnian1]

...WIth QF12 arriving in MEL at 1044 hours, 54 minutes late, QF's flight status page claim that QF35, the 1210 hours to SIN will depart on time is unlikely.

That prediction proved correct. QF35 departed MEL on Monday 20 January at 1259 hours so estimated SIN arrival is 1742 hours, 37 late.

QF129 departed SYD at 1125, half an hour tardy but arrival in PVG is not suggested until 1915, 45 down, meaning QF130, the redeye will be delayed for its trip back down to SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 20 January 2020, QF618 (B738 VH-VXP, the 1310 hours lunchtime MEL up to BNE airborne at 1411 hours) should arrive at about 1507 hours mid afternoon, 47 minutes behind the schedule.

The 1220 hours OOL down to SYD QF863 (VH-VXC) was in the sky at 1316 so arrival ought be 39 minutes tardy at 1529 hours.

QF2054 (1350 hours DPO to MEL in the sky at 1430 with Q400 VH-QOE) has estimated arrival of 1533, 33 minutes tardy.

B738 VH-VXI is on QF881, the 1155 hours OOL - MEL airborne at 1235 so arrival at gate looks to be 1540 hours, ahalf an hour late after a brief hold in the unusual location of above Jerilderie.

QF686 (VH-XZH, the 1305 hours AD:L across to MEL not in the sky until 1415) is arriving at 1552 hours, 57 minutes past the timetable.

With heavy rain bearing down on SYD and some also approaching MEL, while one doesn't want to be a harbinger of doom, expect some further delays this afternoon though as always these will markedly vary depending on each aircraft's roster, and in some cases will still see flights timely.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2226, the 20 January scheduled 1325 hours WGA up to SYD (Q300 VH-SBB) was airborne at 1522. Expected arrival has become 1631 hours, 121 minutes late.

The 1500 hours SYD down to MEL took off to the north at 1556 after departing at 1529, so quite a lengthy taxi for B738 VH-VZV. Arrival is predicted for 1716, 41 late.

 

[Silvia]

As @Melburnian1 advised, weather hasn't been too kind in SYD and MEL.
QF470 MEL-SYD (B738 VH-VXF) arrived at 18 18, 68 behind.
QF446 MEL-SYD (B738 VH-VXO) is suggested to arrive at 18 45, 80 min tardy. This aircraft had been holding around the Goulburn area.
QF450 MEL-SYD (B738 VH-VXJ) is predicted to arrive at 19 08, 73 min late.
QF2213 ABX-SYD (DH8D VH-QOJ) is delayed to 19 24, 59 min behind schedule.
QF927 CNS-SYD (B738 VH-VZC) has a revised arrival at 20 55, 60 min tardy.
QF625 BNE-MEL (B738 VH-VXP) has a suggested arrival at 19 22, 62 min late.
QF834 MEL-CBR (B738 VH-VZR) is expected to arrive to gate at 19 13, 58 min behind original schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Adding to Silvia's post, QF544, the 1800 hours SYD - BNE (B738 VH-VZI) had not taken off by 1938, so will be at least 75 minutes late on Monday 20 January.

QF463, the 1830 hours on the same route was airborne at 1950, five minutes before it should be at its MEL aerobridge.

QF163 (1840 hours SYD across to windy WLG, B738 VH-VZK) was still on the ground in Sydney as at 1941 hours, so will be 40 late or more arriving.

QF454 is another delayd MEL to SYD flight, in its case the 1730 hours in the sky at 1836, with VH-VYC arriving at a projected 2002 hours, 67 minutes late.

The 1800 hours SYD to BNE QF544 northwards is not dramatically different with B738 VH-VZI up up and away at 1940 hours, meaning suggested arrival at 1953 tonight, 83 late.

QF1 departed SYD 43 late at 1743 with evening SIN arrival estimated as 2255 hours, 50 late.

 

[BgoFlyer]

Some shenanigans on the Sydney-Bendigo route this week....
QLK1407 on Sunday night was cancelled. Replaced with QLK1409 which arrived 14:25 on Monday afternoon.
QLK1408 formed from QLK1409 which was delayed for a few hours due to an intense rainstorm over Bendigo airport.
Last night's QLK1407 ran, but plane defective and a rescue plane sent down this morning with QLK1408 3.5 hrs late...

 

[Melburnian1]

Some shenanigans on the Sydney-Bendigo route this week....
QLK1407 on Sunday night was cancelled. Replaced with QLK1409 which arrived 14:25 on Monday afternoon.
QLK1408 formed from QLK1409 which was delayed for a few hours due to an intense rainstorm over Bendigo airport.
Last night's QLK1407 ran, but plane defective and a rescue plane sent down this morning with QLK1408 3.5 hrs late...

QFd can't control the weather, but these difficulties show inherent travails in operating a single plane to an airfield where it overnights.

Added to the mix is how pilots and cabin crew come in this case from Sydney.

While impractical for airlines, this isn't how trucking companies or various rail operators often operate, or did even more in latter case in say the 1970s when there were many branch line passenger trains. There'd more often than not be a train driver based at the rural origin station for the morning's trip. This facilitated easier operations, but it's too costly for airlines and has problem of 'how do we get the staff back to home base for the night if the weather's bad, or an aircraft is defective and there's no available substitute?'

Yes, QF1408 is arriving SYD on 21 January 2020 at about 1147 hours with Q300 VH-SBG.