Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The past may not be a perfect guide to the present, but A388 VH-OQJ went to MNL on 30 January and came back to SYD on 1 March, so perhaps the Airbus that recently left for maintenance up there will be out for a similar period of 30 days. The other 'unplanned' A388 withdrawl due to the hangar incident is until some time in July.

Together, this may give passengers an idea as to the likelihood of a B744 substituting for at least a few A388 flights. It also gives a clue as to when the current increased likelihood of delays or cancellations due to lack of 'equipment' may lessen.

 

[Dmac6345]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The past may not be a perfect guide to the present, but A388 VH-OQJ went to MNL on 30 January and came back to SYD on 1 March, so perhaps the Airbus that recently left for maintenance up there will be out for a similar period of 30 days. The other 'unplanned' A388 withdrawl due to the hangar incident is until some time in July.

Together, this may give passengers an idea as to the likelihood of a B744 substituting for at least a few A388 flights. It also gives a clue as to when the current increased likelihood of delays or cancellations due to lack of 'equipment' may lessen.

Qantas said up to 6 weeks until the return of the damaged A380, and that was very late April. How do you know it has been extended out until July?
12 or so weeks is a big difference.
I gather changing maintenance schedules is a NO GO?!

 

[Timtammi]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

My daughter is on QF93 today and I just found out that her prized 71D seat on the A380 morphed into a middle seat right at the back on the 747 so there was obviously an aircraft swap on this flight today.

 

[Dmac6345]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

My daughter is on QF93 today and I just found out that her prized 71D seat on the A380 morphed into a middle seat right at the back on the 747 so there was obviously an aircraft swap on this flight today.

Tuesday's QF94, which arrived this morning was that aircraft. It looks like they are pretty much alternating the 93/94 and 11/12.

 

[Timtammi]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

It looks like they are pretty much alternating the 93/94 and 11/12.

She has the same seat reserved for her flight home on 94 next month. Hopefully that will be a day that is operated by the A380.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF63 from SYD to JNB departed 76 minutes late this morning (Thursday 7 May 2015) at 1106, with a 1 hour 40 minute late arrival (presumably due to headwinds) forecast into JNB at 1750. This is the second time in recent days that this normally punctual flight has been late, probably as a byproduct of the lack of long range aircraft available at present for all of QF's timetabled long haul flights. The computer has not yet altered the departure time of tonight's return working, QF64, but it will have to be late ex JNB for SYD.

The 1020 MEL to HKG this morning (QF29, operated by A330 VH-QPH) departed two hours and 33 minutes late at 1253 just a few minutes ago, again unusually. It is not due into HKG until 2010, two hours and 10 minutes behind time, meaning that an evening flight ex HKG tonight will be delayed, presumably QF30 that normally departs at 2030.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF63 from SYD to JNB again departed late today - this time, 62 minutes was the deficit. It is expected to be 45 minutes late into JNB at 1655 on Friday 8 May 2015.

Its opposite number, last night's departure of QF64 departed an hour and 38 minutes late but presumably due to favourable winds has made up a fair bit of time and should only be 57 minutes late at 1457 arriving in SYD this afternoon. It is to form QF17 from SYD to LAX, the 1740 departure, so despite its late running the latter should depart on time barring any other problems. Nonetheless a less than three hour turnaround is relatively tight and does not give much time to attend to anything slightly out of the ordinary. It again shows the pressure on some days that the B744 fleet is under.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

On the domestic front there has been snow down to 400 metres around Mt Wellington in HBA. QF1500, the 0550 first of the morning ex HBA for MEL did well departing at 0546 and arriving MEL at 0653, 12 minutes ahead of schedule.

However, QF1501, the 0745 back to HBA, did not depart MEL until 0903, arriving HBA 73 minutes late at 1013.

QF1014, the 0940 from HBA to MEL did not depart until 1100 with a 1210 arrival in MEL, 75 minutes late. QF1503, the 1135 departure from MEL was in contrast a relatively benign 24 minutes late departing and 22 minutes late arriving in HBA at 1312.

These delays do not occur everyday but overall this route continues to be a problematic punctuality performer.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

We can all sympathise with transport operators including airlines who lose planes, trains, buses or trucks to service on an unplanned basis - and the A380 damage incident may have been simply a most unfortunate accident, or conversely recklessness on the part of employees or contractors - but in the end, passengers on whatever mode want to safely get where they are going at the advertised time.

I think I prefer the European model. No sympathy required by passengers, the airlines need to make alternative arrangements, or pay compensation.

yes safety is the number one priority. That's a given. No one is suggesting an airline operate a damaged or unsafe aircraft. But I might expect to be put on another carrier, at my choice, if I so wish.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

While QF129 from SYD to PVG operated normally today, arriving PVG seven minutes late at 1837, the return working QF130 has been delayed in PVG from its normal timetabled departure of 1955 to a revised time of 2130, meaning a likely SYD arrival on Saturday 9 May 2015 of 1010. There does not appear to be any fog or other adverse weather in Shanghai. On Saturday morning, this A333 does not look to be forming any of the Saturday morning SYD international departures so its late running tonight may not affect anyone travelling overseas tomorrow.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF63 from SYD to JNB departed 55 minutes late this morning - Sunday 10 May 2015 - at 1045 but should only be 15 minutes late arriving in South Africa.

Saturday 9 May's QF1 unusually departed SYD 91 minutes late at 1731 and has maintained that unpunctuality through to LHR where it is expected to arrive 95 minutes late at 0830 today (Sunday.) QF9 last night departed MEL 49 minutes late at 2344 and is about to arrive DXB approximately 70 minutes late. Optimistically, QF suggests it will arrive in LHR at 1410 today, only 20 minutes late.

 

[jb747]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

....The other 'unplanned' A388 withdrawl due to the hangar incident is until some time in July.

Qantas said up to 6 weeks until the return of the damaged A380, and that was very late April. How do you know it has been extended out until July?
12 or so weeks is a big difference.

As above. How do you 'know' the 380 won't be back in service until 'some time in July'?

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Dmac6435 and jb747, apologies for my not replying previously but I had forgotten where I saw mention of 'July'rather than 'June.'
I finally found it, as it had been mentioned on the Professional Pilots'Rumour Network so it presumably is someone with specialist knowledge:

QF A380 off jacks? - Page 3 - PPRuNe Forums

 

[jb747]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Dmac6435 and jb747, apologies for my not replying previously but I had forgotten where I saw mention of 'July'rather than 'June.'
I finally found it, as it had been mentioned on the Professional Pilots'Rumour Network so it presumably is someone with specialist knowledge:

QF A380 off jacks? - Page 3 - PPRuNe Forums

Ah, an anonymous source from one of the least reliable web sites around.......

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

B744 service QF18 has been delayed departing from LAX from its normal 2355 hours on Saturday 9 May to a suggested 0330 on Sunday 10 May. If this comes to pass (as it's still a couple of hours before 0330 in LAX), then SYD arrival will be at 1055 on Monday morning 11 May 2015 in lieu of the timetabled 1040.

Depending on how long ago QF knew about this delay, wouldn't crew hours be at risk of being exceeded if there was much more of a delay than this?

While the QF website has yet to say so, this B744 may be forming the 1125 on Monday morning (QF27) to SCL so if that occurs, expect QF27 to be at least an hour and a half late departing SYD. As long as QF27 is not much later than suggested, the return on Monday - QF28 from SCL to SYD - should not be affected as the allowance to turn around the aircraft coupled with QF27 often taking less than the timetable from SYD to SCL should be sufficient.

By the way, a 'thank you' to the more than 400 AFFers who 'like' this thread. With this sort of subject matter, 'liking' will sometimes be through semi-gritted teeth as the only thing to 'like' is the advance notice of a delay or cancellation, not the actual occurrence of such an inconvenience. At times as shown with the yet to be amended QF28 timings for tomorrow, the QF website does not notify passengers or meeters and greeters of delays much in advance.

As with any airline, rail or bus operator, longhaul services are regarded as the 'cream of the crop' and a source of operator and staff pride. It must be disheartening at present for QF staff to have to continually witness poor punctuality and aircraft substitutions from A388s down to B744s, and far less often an A330 subbing for a B744. But it is far worse for passengers who miss important business meetings or social occasions because many of QF's longhaul flights cannot run even close to time.

Although many seats are sold well in advance, QF must be starting to lose a few bookings because of its unreliability.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The delayed QF18 (B744 VH-OEH) is taxiing at LAX. It is still publicly shown as arriving at gate 25 at SYD tomorrow morning at 1055 with QF27 to SCL supposedly departing from the same gate on time at 1125. This cannot be so: either QF27 will be late, or somehow it is being formed by another B744 and departing from a different gate. Roughly two hours seems to be minimum turnaround time for A388s and B744s, not surprising given the multitude of deplaning and preparatory tasks that must occur along with a change of crew.

 

[jb747]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

The delayed QF18 (B744 VH-OEH) is taxiing at LAX. It is still publicly shown as arriving at gate 25 at SYD tomorrow morning at 1055 with QF27 to SCL supposedly departing from the same gate on time at 1125. This cannot be so: either QF27 will be late, or somehow it is being formed by another B744 and departing from a different gate. Roughly two hours seems to be minimum turnaround time for A388s and B744s, not surprising given the multitude of deplaning and preparatory tasks that must occur along with a change of crew.

Gate allocations mean nothing. They are planned, but they change all the time. Often what we are told at top of descent has changed 20 minutes later when we land. To be honest, I'd just as soon be told by ATC as we leave the runway, at least it would then be the actual gate.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

QF now expects the badly late QF18 to arrive SYD at 1100 on Monday 12 May. The website has acknowledged what I was surmising above, in that the departure time of QF27 on Monday has been delayed from 1125 to 1240, which once again is a tad optimistic to expect a turnaround in an hour and 40 minutes. Perhaps more like 1255 or 1300 ex SYD. QF expects an SCL arrival of 1220 on Monday afternoon (scheduled 1105) that would allow QF28 sufficient time to depart as scheduled at 1430.

So on this occasion, the computer originally stated 'gate 25' for this particular arrival and departure and has stuck to that. As noted above, on many other occasions allocated gates do alter, although the increasing penchant of some airlines around the world for direct lounge to aircraft boarding as a point of distinction mitigates against changing gates for a few flights.

 

[jb747]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

So on this occasion, the computer originally stated 'gate 25' for this particular arrival and departure and has stuck to that. As noted above, on many other occasions allocated gates do alter, although the increasing penchant of some airlines around the world for direct lounge to aircraft boarding as a point of distinction mitigates against changing gates for a few flights.

Whilst it does vary a bit around the world, the airport gates (internationally) are generally controlled by the airport. Airlines often have little say in which gate is used. Lounge to aircraft boarding happens in places where the airline has control of the terminal, or part thereof. Of the places to which I fly at the moment, Dubai is the only one with such access, and the entire aviation industry there is a subset of Emirates. London, Melbourne, Sydney, LA are all quite randomly shared gates (in some terminals anyway).

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: General Qantas Delays/Cancellations/etc. Discussion

Thank you jb747. Does anyone (including jb747) yet have a definitive date on when the 'hangar incident' inoperable A388 will be back flying? This would be helpful to passengers wondering whether their timetabled A388 will be substituted by a B744 on day X, but yet to be notified by QF. (No news is 'good news' as far as aircraft substitutions go.)