Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[jb747]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

.... No doubt whatever problem it is has previously occurred, and the staff member would have an excellent idea of what to do.

Where do you get comments like this from? He's an engineer, of course he'll know how to do engineering...but there is nothing to say this issue had happened before.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The almost 24 hour delayed QF15 departed from BNE for LAX at 1009.

B744 VH-OJU as 'ferry' flight QF6016 took off from SYD at 0919 and is about to arrive in BNE at roughly 1035 for the supposed 1225 delayed departure of today's QF15.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for the mainstream media to start writing the occasional story about these constant delays to QF's long distance flights.

The increased utilisation of aircraft has nullified previous criticism that QF had too many A388 and B744 aircraft lying around (however unfair those comments may have been) and in theory is very good for shareholders (and also gives staff increased flying opportunities with a consequent favourable passenger perception that QF is no longer just cancelling international routes and frequencies but again expanding) but when aircraft are pulled out of service for either foreseeable or unfortunate incidents (as no one could predict the aircraft hangar A388 episode), it can lead in a worst case to many long distance flights being delayed.

One has to feel for the operations department staff who have to work very hard at rescheduling, rearranging catering, refuelling along with changed arrangements for perishable cargoes. That's not to mention the airline staff who thought they'd be home on day X at time Y and aren't, perhaps having to cancel social engagements, but most of all passengers whose holiday or business plans (especially for those who allow little or no buffer and want to hit the ground running) are thrown into disarray. And then there's the electronic or voice messages that have to be relayed to these delayed passengers by the airline.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Possibly as a result of its A388 fleet problems, QF127 (SYD - HKG) and the return working QF128 have been altered at least until 10 May (I did not look beyond) to a B744 every day, as it was today.

Happy to be corrected, and May in common with February and November tends to be one of the three lowest demand months for travel (varying by route) but aren't some of these days routinely operated by a QF A388?

If the flights are not full, this causes relatively minimal problems, but should there be bookings above the capacity of the B744, it becomes a 'fun' situation. I use the word advisedly.

 

[mannej]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Possibly as a result of its A388 fleet problems, QF127 (SYD - HKG) and the return working QF128 have been altered at least until 10 May (I did not look beyond) to a B744 every day, as it was today.

Happy to be corrected, and May in common with February and November tends to be one of the three lowest demand months for travel (varying by route) but aren't some of these days routinely operated by a QF A388?

If the flights are not full, this causes relatively minimal problems, but should there be bookings above the capacity of the B744, it becomes a 'fun' situation. I use the word advisedly.

I am sure you can find the information, but the reinstatement of the 388 on the HKG run was only seasonal was it not?

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Possibly as a result of its A388 fleet problems, QF127 (SYD - HKG) and the return working QF128 have been altered at least until 10 May (I did not look beyond) to a B744 every day, as it was today.

Happy to be corrected, and May in common with February and November tends to be one of the three lowest demand months for travel (varying by route) but aren't some of these days routinely operated by a QF A388?

If the flights are not full, this causes relatively minimal problems, but should there be bookings above the capacity of the B744, it becomes a 'fun' situation. I use the word advisedly.

Since DFW became A380 route, HKG has been a 744. It is seasonally operated by an A380.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thank you mannej and flyerqf for the clarification.

B744 VH-OEI is still running on time on QF64 ex JNB to form the four and a half hour delayed QF flight to SCL this afternoon.

 

[astrosly]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

astrosly, you are on the ground in ARM and I am not, but the QF2030 to QF2031 turnaround was 28 minutes according to the QF website. I see that QF2023 is slated to depart at 1904, 319 minutes late.

A couple of your times need to start with '18'XX as the time not '16'XX.

Sorry about the hour mix up, I was talking and typing very quickly at the time as there was a lot going on in the terminal with 2 flights due for departure. My idea of a turnaround is from when the plane stops and turns the engines off till when everyone is boarded and the engines are started up again, and they called for boarding only minutes after the passengers entered the "arrivals hall" which I was quite surprised to see - they had a full plane so I reckoned they were in a hurry to get boarding started. QF might have the turnaround from landing till take-off and there was some wait on the apron for QF2031 for a non-commercial flight to land.

It was great to finally get to Sydney last night and I hope that everybody got where they were going safely and without too much drama in that wild weather. I'm quite amazed at how quickly QF can make changes on such sort notice such as subbing to a larger aircraft and getting another aircraft fixed on the hop especially when services were impacted all along the QLD south and NSW north coast throughout the day. The crew member told us the engineer was meant to knock off at 6pm. He was very humble at all the praise from the passengers for his effort

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The delayed QF27 departed SYD at 1617, 17 minutes beyond what QF had forecast and is estimated to arrive SCL at 1530 on Saturday 2 May. The turnaround in SYD ex QF64 was 137 minutes. The departure time of today's QF28 has not been adjusted from the previously advised, amended time of 1710 but it is unlikely that the B744 can be on the ground in SCL for only 100 minutes.

In turn, this may mean a late departure for the Sunday 3 May 2015 2130 departure of QF21 to NRT should the same aircraft still be used. Given Flyerqf's information, QF may have little choice but to do this (or, as Flyerqf suggested may occur, substitute an A330.)

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF127 this morning (Sunday 3 May 2015) is delayed from 1005 to a suggested 1050 departure ex SYD for HKG, while QF81 from SYD to SIN is delayed 70 minutes until 1130 ex SYD this morning.

QF97 from BNE to HKG is also delayed in its departure this morning from 1050 to 1135.

The delayed B744 on QF28 ex SCL that is now arriving SYD at 2030 tonight (two and three quarter hours late) does not appear to be forming the 2130 QF21 to NRT at this stage. I had thought from Flyerqf's observations that QF would 'run out' of long range aircraft of a suitable configuration tonight given the number inoperable.

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF127 this morning (Sunday 3 May 2015) is delayed from 1005 to a suggested 1050 departure ex SYD for HKG, while QF81 from SYD to SIN is delayed 70 minutes until 1130 ex SYD this morning.

QF97 from BNE to HKG is also delayed in its departure this morning from 1050 to 1135.

The delayed B744 on QF28 ex SCL that is now arriving SYD at 2030 tonight (two and three quarter hours late) does not appear to be forming the 2130 QF21 to NRT at this stage. I had thought from Flyerqf's observations that QF would 'run out' of long range aircraft of a suitable configuration tonight given the number inoperable.

QF127 is being operated by an A333

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The A333 operating QF127 (VH-QPF) departed 72 minutes late at 1117 but is expected to be 45 minutes late into HKG.

A333 VH-QPB operating QF29 from MEL to HKG departed 119 minutes late at 1219 and is forecast to be 80 minutes late into HKG at 1920.

QF81 from SYD to SIN (VH-QPJ) departed 100 minutes late at 1200 and should be about an hour late into SIN at 1745.

While a B744 not an A333, QF15 from BNE to LAX had been expected to depart about two hours late but was off blocks exactly three hours late at 1325 with a predicted two hour 15 minute late arrival into LAX at 0840 on Sunday 3 May 2015.

Even the often punctual QF63 to JNB departed SYD this morning 52 minutes late, although this is a particularly busy time of the day for international flights as any lounge lizard knows.

As someone else said, the whiz kid at QF HQ in Mascot who dreamt up the 'enhanced' timetables has probably already sailed off into the sunset with a bonus. While good for shareholders and in theory great for QF because these assets are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and should be idle as little as possible, the problem is that when unplanned maintenance is necessary, punctuality rapidly declines. Some members of the fleet are being worked hard at present with constant quick turnarounds.

 

[Grimace1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

While a B744 not an A333, QF97 from BNE to LAX

I think you mean BNE To HKG

 

[geordieladinoz]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

VH-OJT as QF6018 just taxied past BNE J Lounge about to ferry down to SYD following an 8 hour late arrival of QF16 today. Due into SYD just after 6pm.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Grimace1, no, I was referring to QF15 and have now made the correction. Many thanks.

QF16 from LAX to BNE is continuing to be unpunctual with Saturday 2 May's departure delayed from 2345 to 0115 this morning (Sunday 3 May) which is about now. It is forecast to arrive in BNE at 0755 on Monday morning, 75 minutes late, but if this occurs it should not delay QF15 back to LAX on Monday 4 May as that is a 1025 departure, allowing two and a half hours for all the turnaround tasks.

UPDATE: QF16 had a longer delay in LAX than expected and departed at 0211 on Sunday. It will now not arrive until 0855 tomorrow morning in BNE, two and a quarter hours late and certain to mean a late departure for QF15 if this aircraft (VH-OJS) operates both QF16 and QF15.

geordieladinoz, QF has a turnover of A$16 billion a year but these ferry flights up and down between SYD and BNE must cost a pretty penny, even if insignificant in the overall picture.

 

[Himeno]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I noticed on theqantassource.com that there is a 747 in HKG and a 380 in MNL for maintenance, plus the 380 in SYD from the hanger incident. Is anything else out of service at the moment? Have the recent 747 charters (QF100 and some ASY flights) cause the fleet to be more overextended then it would normally have been?

 

[Flyerqf]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

I noticed on theqantassource.com that there is a 747 in HKG and a 380 in MNL for maintenance, plus the 380 in SYD from the hanger incident. Is anything else out of service at the moment? Have the recent 747 charters (QF100 and some ASY flights) cause the fleet to be more overextended then it would normally have been?

The 747 charters took place before OQD went to MNL and OJM went to HKG.

The fleet is extended at the moment because of the OQF incident and a 744 going tech at BNE on Friday resulting in a 24 hour delay to QF15.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

VH-OJS has just landed, even later than predicted, in BNE ex LAX on QF16 at 0909, two and a half hours late, for an 0912 or so arrival at the gate. The QF website is persisting with the myth that QF15 using the same aircraft can depart on time at 1025.

The A388 on QF11 from SYD to LAX is delayed by an hour until a forecast 1050 this morning. One contributing factor could be waiting for 'connectors' ex CBR as flights were late or cancelled this morning due to fog.

QF1543, the 0600 from BNE to CBR (VH-YQV but after many go arounds appears to be diverting to SYD for an arrival at about 0939 there instead of 0750 in CBR. The QF computer still shows a departure from SYD at 0955 for a 1050 arrival in CBR, three hours late, but that is now unachievable.

The 0630 from SYD to CBR, QF1511 operated by VH-YQS, did not take off until 0759 and is also circling around CBR airport, but looks to be landing at 0933 so the fog may have sufficiently cleared. QF706 ex ADL is running more than half an hour late due to it also being in a holding pattern and was right behind QF1511, but is forecast to land at 0940 when it should be at the gate by 0850.

Other QF SYD - CBR flights are up to 75 minutes late or in the case of QF1461, the 0650 ex SYD, cancelled.

These delays into and out of CBR give those travelling who have appointments with public servants or parliamentarians the opportunity to reflect on why Australia has failed to build a properly constructed, largely elevated high speed east coast rail network that would be far more reliable than the flights and deliver many other economic benefits as well.

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

VH-OJS has just landed, even later than predicted, in BNE ex LAX on QF16 at 0909, two and a half hours late, for an 0912 or so arrival at the gate. The QF website is persisting with the myth that QF15 using the same aircraft can depart on time at 1025.

The A388 on QF11 from SYD to LAX is delayed by an hour until a forecast 1050 this morning. One contributing factor could be waiting for 'connectors' ex CBR as flights were late or cancelled this morning due to fog.

QF1543, the 0600 from BNE to CBR (VH-YQV but after many go arounds appears to be diverting to SYD for an arrival at about 0939 there instead of 0750 in CBR. The QF computer still shows a departure from SYD at 0955 for a 1050 arrival in CBR, three hours late, but that is now unachievable.

The 0630 from SYD to CBR, QF1511 operated by VH-YQS, did not take off until 0759 and is also circling around CBR airport, but looks to be landing at 0933 so the fog may have sufficiently cleared. QF706 ex ADL is running more than half an hour late due to it also being in a holding pattern and was right behind QF1511, but is forecast to land at 0940 when it should be at the gate by 0850.

Other QF SYD - CBR flights are up to 75 minutes late or in the case of QF1461, the 0650 ex SYD, cancelled.

These delays into and out of CBR give those travelling who have appointments with public servants or parliamentarians the opportunity to reflect on why Australia has failed to build a properly constructed, largely elevated high speed east coast rail network that would be far more reliable than the flights and deliver many other economic benefits as well.

Why would you build a high speed rail into the "anus" of Australia.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The delay to QF11 has increased, it now being projected to depart at 1130.

Lonely Flyer, if it's any consolation, a high speed east coast rail line would travel from Melbourne to Shepparton, Albury, probably Wagga, Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle and up the coast to Gold Coast and on to Brisbane. If typical international timetables were adopted, some trains would be express Melbourne to Sydney (except for one suburban pick up and set down in the outer suburbs) so you could have the pleasure of giving a particular salute as you passed at a good clip through Canberra. I don't think you'd be alone in such sentiments!

 

[Lonely Flyer]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

You are right. Australia needs a big project ala "Snowy Mountains". The money is the problem and would it be patronised. The Gold Coast to Brisbane rail is well patronised because you cannot fit more cars on the hoghway. Personally I am a fan of Rail.