Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Looks like the cancellations are starting to kick in more. The first two to BNE gone tomorrow not to mention a heap of MELs. Hopefully QF can provide some clarity on upcoming route cutbacks.

 

[Melburnian1]

Looks like the cancellations are starting to kick in more. The first two to BNE gone tomorrow not to mention a heap of MELs. Hopefully QF can provide some clarity on upcoming route cutbacks.

Media suggests there'll be some more information to come tomorrow (Wednesday 18 March) with the remainder on Friday 20.

Domestic schedules in recent years have been subject to some on-the-day changes anyway, particularly when adverse weather occurs. But this goes beyond that.

Whether QFd abandons some smaller routes and reduces frequencies on the most highly patronised routes, or merely cuts back frequencies severely on all routes major and minor is the $64 million question.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 18 March 2020 is to see QF472 and QF406, the 0615 and 0645 hours MEL - SYD flights again cancelled, as they were on Tuesday 17. QF418, the 0900 hours northbound is also receiving the boot. The 1000 hours (QF418) is another. The 1200 'high noon' (QF430) is also cancelled, as is the 1400 hours, QF438. Mid afternoon, the 1530 hours, numbered QF444, is a further non-runner as is QF450, the 1630 hours departure. SO is QF496, the 1745 hours and its colleague 'the 460' at a normal pushback of 1830 early evening. QF492, the 2030 hours is another to get the boot.

So that's 11 cancellations on one of the normally less busy weekdays in one direction on Australia's most popular domestic route. VA is sure to also be cancelling flights. Sometimes more are notified as the day progresses.

MEL - SYD - MEL isn't down yet to an hourly frequency only from QF each hour, say 0600 to 2100 hours, but it's heading that way. However one would think day-to-day will markedly vary, as they always have. IIRC correctly in the 1980s 'the twins' each operated an hourly frequency for peak periods on weekdays and sometimes every two hours during the middle of the day.

QF675 (0835 hours MEL - ADL) has been flicked as well. Yesterday when I checked early in the day, there weren't any cancellations by QFd on this route.

QF610 and QF614 are respectively the 0910 hours MEL - BNE and the 1110 hours. Both won't run. Nor will dinnertime's QF640, the 1840 hours.

The 0915 hours MEL - CBR, QF814, is another coronavirus casualty.

Longer distance QF37 (1720 hours MEL - SIN) is also cancelled on Wednesday 18 March.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Wednesday 18 March 2020, QF11, the often punctual 1010 hours SYD - LAX departed at 1138 with same day at gate arrival suggested as 0705 hours, 65 minutes tardy. Hopefully this won't delay the QF11 B789 crosscountry across to JFK. 'The 93' and QF15 are either early or basically expected in to LAX on time.

QF10 on Tuesday 17 creditably departed LHR at 1154 (a minute early), arriving PER today at 1303, 33 late. However the domestic PER - MEL sector is predicted to only be 20 late (1420 hours) in pushing back.

One I missed yesterday (Australian time) was QF15 being badly late ex BNE, pushing back at 1338 hours (198 minutes behind schedule) and hence arriving LAX at 0926 hours, 196 minutes tardy. QF11 was also delayed from SYD yesterday, though not by as much.

The delayed QF15 led to the transcon QF11 departing at 1104 hours (164 late) and arriving 'The Big Apple' at 1853, cutting the deficit down to 143 minutes. The returning QF12 B789 then pushed back in JFK at 2030 - 150 minutes late - with suggested LAX arrival similar at 2330, 175 behind. In turn this will mean some east coast Oz-bound flights are delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 19 March has seen QF11, the 1010 hours morning SYD - LAX depart at 1216 hours. Arrival at gate (same day) is predicted as 0740 hours, 100 minute stardy. The normally connecting B789 (QF11 also) across to JFK has been cancelled, as has QF12 JFK back to LAX.

QF93 is also very late, pushing back in MEL at 1202 hours, 142 minutes tardy. Projected LAX arrival is 0759 hours, 109 late. The BNE - LAX QF15 is expected to arrive early but for whatever reason (low loads, connecting MEL/SYD flights running late) is not proceeding to JFK.

Despite Wednesday 18's QF12 arriving in LAX (from JFK) only four minutes behind schedule at 2109 hours, the different aircraft on the continuing sector to SYD did not push back until 2321 hours, 51 behind, so Friday 20 arrival should be 0820 hours, 45 late. 'The 94' departed lAX 17 minutes late at 2307 and on Friday looks to be arriving MEL at 0922, 32 minutes behind the timetable.

Wednesday's QF8 departed DFW at 2110, 25 behind with SYD Friday arrival an estimated 0650, 45 minutes tardy.

 

[nordic]

My friend is meant to be on the QF36 flight from Singapore to Melbourne tonight but was just advised that she's been put on a BA flight to Sydney instead (and then domestic to Melbourne).

I didn't even know BA flew to Australia, and still don't think they do, but it's definitely a BA flight number 15...

ANyone know why? The Qantas site says QF36 is still going to fly as scheduled.

 

[JessicaTam]

My friend is meant to be on the QF36 flight from Singapore to Melbourne tonight but was just advised that she's been put on a BA flight to Sydney instead (and then domestic to Melbourne).

I didn't even know BA flew to Australia, and still don't think they do, but it's definitely a BA flight number 15...

ANyone know why? The Qantas site says QF36 is still going to fly as scheduled.

BA15/16 flies LHR-SIN-SYD/SYD-SIN-LHR daily. Well it does at the moment.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Despite Wednesday 18's QF12 arriving in LAX (from JFK) only four minutes behind schedule at 2109 hours, the different aircraft on the continuing sector to SYD did not push back until 2321 hours, 51 behind, so Friday 20 arrival should be 0820 hours, 45 late. 'The 94' departed lAX 17 minutes late at 2307 and on Friday looks to be a

I believe I saw on another thread that QF operations in JFK have now ceased under the international suspension.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Thursday 19 March, flagship QF1 departed SYD at 1919 hours tonight, 139 minutes late. The SIN stop should be 0005 - 0130 hours on Friday 20 (the latter 95 late) with LHR arrival predicted as 0715, an hour behind.

The B789 on QF9 departed PER 32 minutes tardy at 1952 with Friday LHR arrival said to be 0535, half an hour behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 20 March 2020, QF19, the 1225 hours SYD - MNL was cancelled. It doesn't appear to be operating on Saturday or Sunday, so this may have something to do with Metro Manila's 'lockdown' or which flights are allowed to operate to/from Manila NAIA.

QF7 pushed back in SYD at 1439 hours mid afternoon, 59 minutes late. Forecast arrival is 1344, 49 late.

Earlier, the morning 0925 hours BNE - NRT QF61 departed 85 late so arrival should be at roughly 1835 hours, 65 minutes behind its schedule.

QFi still has not posted the exact dates 'last flight' (for time being) operate on various sectors. Of course it may be concentrating on simply advising those who are rebooking when they will travel, and on which carrier(s).

 

[Melburnian1]

One of the diminishing number of flights still operating, QF154 (B738 VH-VZT), the 080 hours Sunday 22 March AKL across to MEL took off at 0959 hours with arrival likely at 1213 hours, 88 minutes tardy.

QF63 (1135 hours SYD - JNB B744) departed 56 late with suggested arrival at 1713 hours, 38 minutes behind the schedule.

On Saturday 21, QF2 (A388) pushed back in SIN at 2227 hours (192 minute stardy), arriving in SYD on Sunday 22 at 0901 hours, 171 minutes late.

One would expect that today's announcement by the Prime Minister that 'non essential travel' will be discouraged or banned (to be discussed at the 'national Cabinet meeting' tonight, Sunday 22) may see even fewer flights operating.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 22 March 2020 saw QF63, the 1135 hours SYD - JNB arrive 20 minutes late at 1655 hours. However the return QF64 (scheduled to push back at 1850) did not do so until 2145 hours, so expected Monday 23 arrival in SYD has become 1809 hours, 154 minutes behind the timetable. Aircraft is B744 VH-OEG.

 

[jb747]

On a positive note...if they cancel all of the flights, then they won't be late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a positive note...if they cancel all of the flights, then they won't be late.

A stellar 100 per cent punctuality rate. The aim of every transport operator.

At this stage though, while it's unclear, indications were that "some" domestic flights will continue. Probably because of the late notice on Sunday of various further travel restrictions, QFd (and competitor) haven't this morning updated the ASX.

How will domestic flights be viable if restricted to mainly government employees plus individuals travelling for funerals and so on? In some States/Territories mandatory self-isolation for 14 days makes even this impractical, and funerals have been flagged as mostly if not all online.

 

[milehighclub]

How will domestic flights be viable if restricted to mainly government employees plus individuals travelling for funerals and so on? In some States/Territories mandatory self-isolation for 14 days makes even this impractical, and funerals have been flagged as mostly if not all online.

I know it's been said a few times over various threads but freight can make these flights viable. At the last count the flights went from 250 a week to 88 (and no doubt about to be less). Everyone of those flights carries important freight. Less passengers (less bags) = more freight that can be carried. I believe that 2 X 330 are being kept in service, and perhaps these will continue to uplift valuable freight that will need to be transported.

 

[SeatBackForward]

On a positive note...if they cancel all of the flights, then they won't be late.

I see you've worked with Sydney Trains before!

 

[Melburnian1]

I know it's been said a few times over various threads but freight can make these flights viable. At the last count the flights went from 250 a week to 88 (and no doubt about to be less). Everyone of those flights carries important freight..

milehighclub, is the '250' to '88' you quote a reference to the MEL - SYD route each way per week?

The vast majority of interstate freight goes by rail or road, as air rates per kilometre/nautical mile are much higher and overnight delivery for the shorter routes like MEL - SYD is satisfactory for many goods, or even 36 hours. High value items plus mail and smaller parcels may go by air.

 

[milehighclub]

milehighclub, is the '250' to '88' you quote a reference to the MEL - SYD route each way?

​

250 and 88 are return services. I expect this to go down to about 28 (4 flights a day) given the current restrictions if not even less.

These are truly scary figures.

 

[Melburnian1]

250 and 88 are return services. I expect this to go down to about 28 (4 flights a day) given the current restrictions if not even less.

These are truly scary figures.

I don't know anyone who on 1 January 2020 would have predicted this. But one day, please God, the situation will improve, and in the meantime, my prayers are for those who've died, are critically ill or have lost employment.

It's not worth me or anyone else recording domestic cancellations at present because it's such a wipeout.

What's also not clear now with some airlines is 'will every route continue', or will they go part of the Regional Express route and shut everything/almost all down?

 

[Melburnian1]

We don't normally consider early running to be worthy of mention but given we're in this time of pandemic, I had to look twice as Monday's 23 March's QF1 (A388 VH-OQK) from SYD to SIn departed 29 early at 1631, taking off at 1648, and so should arrive at its gate in SIN at about 2126, 39 early.

This is by far the earliest I can recall an international flight pushing back in Oz.

Was it simply that passengers were co-operative and all ready to go, or is it more that, plus loadings northbound now being extremely low due to Australians being strongly discouraged from travelling?

There may be some 'repatriation' flights post-1 April but as far as I'm aware there won't still be a regularly timetabled QF1, at least not for some months.