Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[jb747]

As a Victorian, who lives about 4km south of the NSW border, I was hoping to make use of the fact that NSW is now allowing some travel. But apparently not for me. Which brings us to the question of who is actually allowed to use the flights that exist, and why anyone would consider booking until the various governments get their acts together.

 

[Melburnian1]

As a Victorian, who lives about 4km south of the NSW border, I was hoping to make use of the fact that NSW is now allowing some travel. But apparently not for me. Which brings us to the question of who is actually allowed to use the flights that exist, and why anyone would consider booking until the various governments get their acts together.

There aren't any limitations from 1 June 2020 on you making a trip within country NSW are there?

The NSW-Victoria border is not "closed." You're not going to be fined for crossing it and there's no suggestion that the NSW intrastate travel is limited to residents of that state AFAIK.

 

[docjames]

Was just thinking how much easier this thread must be for @Melburnian1 at the moment.

 

[Melburnian1]

Was just thinking how much easier this thread must be for @Melburnian1 at the moment.

I spoke to him and he said he's doing other things.

More seriously, while I don't check every airport every day, with MEL and SYD having about 20 domestic flights each way six days a week (fewer on Saturdays), there isn't a lot to report. On many days, SYD has has four to five international flights each way, and MEL about six. BNE may have a few more domestic flights given the multiplicity of domestic coastal and inland QLD destinations, but it's easy to see how SYD can report a c.98 per cent drop in both forms of travellers for April 2020 compared with April 2019.

As we've said before, anyone who'd suggested this six months ago would have been in danger of instant committal to a mental hospital like Thomas Embling in Fairfield, Victoria. Even our esteemed aviators would have struggled to predict this. Truth can be stranger than fiction.

 

[Rangalad]

I spoke to him and he said he's doing other things.

More seriously, while I don't check every airport every day, with MEL and SYD having about 20 domestic flights each way six days a week (fewer on Saturdays), there isn't a lot to report. On many days, SYD has has four to five international flights each way, and MEL about six. BNE may have a few more domestic flights given the multiplicity of domestic coastal and inland QLD destinations, but it's easy to see how SYD can report a c.98 per cent drop in both forms of travellers for April 2020 compared with April 2019.

As we've said before, anyone who'd suggested this six months ago would have been in danger of instant committal to a mental hospital like Thomas Embling in Fairfield, Victoria. Even our esteemed aviators would have struggled to predict this. Truth can be stranger than fiction.

Live just down the road......

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 23 May 2020 during coronavirus, QFd did not operate a single nonstop 'own metal' flight northbound from MEL to SYD.

QF1418 (1400 hours ex MEL was the only one, operating via CBR. Sort of like East West Airlines in the 'old days.' I travelled a few times on previous operator AN when it used the same aircraft MEL - CBR - SYD and from memory did not have to alight and board again in CBR, unlike what I assume happens today.

 

[Melburnian1]

One delay I missed - apologies - was what is at present the twice weekly QF9 that on MOnday 25 May 2020 arrived LHR at 0539 hours, 34 minutes late with B789 VH-ZNH.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Thursday 28 May 2020, QF790, the early morning 0800 hours SYD - ASP during coronavirus got the boot. However QF858, the 0800 identically timed but to DRW operated via ASP so at least passengers got to 'The Alice.' This took off at 0835 hours with B738 VH-XZM, the aircraft having been in SYD since mid afternoon on 22 May 2020, ironically having arrived from ASP. This once again demonstrates the low utilisation of many Australian-registered mainline aircraft during 'the pandemic.'

It must be a long time since a QFd mainline flight operated SYD - ASP - DRW.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 29 May 2020, during COVID-19, has seen QF2567, the lunchtime 1250 hours CBR up to BNE (Q400 VH-QOJ) take off at 1344 hours, arrival becoming 1535, 35 minutes tardy. Today (when it operated three sectors) was the first day of use for this Q400 in the last seven days.

 

[Melburnian1]

The only scheduled passenger-carrying QFi departure on Monday 1 June 2020 ex SYD, QF143, an 0930 hours to AKL and the first timetabled departure for overseas of any airline that day has been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 2 June 2020 during coronavirus sees QF143, the 0930 hours midmorning SYD - AKL cancelled. This is the only scheduled QFi departure from Sydney tomorrow. Not sure why it's getting the flick.

QF790, the 0800 hours SYD - ASP has also been cancelled. This is the second time in recent days for this flight.

 

[flydoc]

Tuesday 2 June 2020 during coronavirus...QF790, the 0800 hours SYD - ASP has also been cancelled. This is the second time in recent days for this flight.

Earlier on Thursday 28 May 2020, QF790, the early morning 0800 hours SYD - ASP during coronavirus got the boot. However QF858, the 0800 identically timed but to DRW operated via ASP so at least passengers got to 'The Alice.'

QF858 has operated via ASP, replacing QF790, since the Commonwealth-supported minimum flight network was operationalised in mid/late April. Operates twice-weekly Tue & Thu, returning DRW-ASP-SYD Wed & Fri as QF859

 

[Melburnian1]

QF858 has operated via ASP, replacing QF790, since the Commonwealth-supported minimum flight network was operationalised in mid/late April. Operates twice-weekly Tue & Thu, returning DRW-ASP-SYD Wed & Fri as QF859

Thanks. Yes I had noted that above once. Good to know it's 'permanent' but last night when I looked the other flight IIRC didn't show as operating to two destinations.

 

[Melburnian1]

For the second consecutive day, QF143 (0930 hours SYD - AKL) has been given the boot. (Wednesday 3 June). This was the only passenger-carrying QFi flight timetabled ex SYD today.

 

[Melburnian1]

Again, QF143 (0930 hours midmorning SYD across to AKL, QFi's only scheduled visible passenger flight ex SYD on Friday 5 June 2020) was cancelled. Logically, the reason may be lack of demand given the restricted number of eligible passengers under coronavirus travel bans in each direction.

QF1485, a mid afternoon 1435 hours SYD - CBR was also cancelled. Thsi was meant to be a Q400 turboprop. The only other flight from SYD to CBR on 5 June was QF1493, the 1725 hours that is a combined CBR/MEL, something that prior to COVID-19 had not occurred for many years. I have previously travelled on msuch flights (AN not QF, which dates it) so that may have been in the early to mid 1990s.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 7 June 2020, with still only minimal flights operating on the routes that remain open during the coronavirus pandemic, QF642, the 1045 hours PER across to SYD is expected to arrive 40 minutes late at 1730 hours late this afternoon. This should be an A333, but on Saturdays seems to be a B738 that yesterday worked down from KTA before flying to SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 17 June's QF773, the 0935 hours midmorning MEL across to PER (A333 VH-QPJ) took off at 10912, arriving 35 late at 1220 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 19 June 2020 during coronavirus, QF2285 (1025 hours midmorning MEL - LST) took off at 1118 hours, arriving at 1213, 33 late. Aircraft was Q400 VH-QOC. This flight has operated on five of the last seven days but from 22 June looks like it's becoming daily.

Return flight QF2286 arrived MEL at 1352 hours, 32 minutes tardy. Yesterday this aircraft operated six single sectors but on Friday, thus far, the return to/from LST are the only trips. On one other day within the last week it sat idle.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF436, the Monday 22 June 2020 MEL - SYD scheduled to depart at 1100 hours was cancelled. In the southbound direction, QF447, a 1330 hours SYD down to MEL has also got the flick.

Flights have ramped up a little ex MEL with 14 other QFd flights scheduled today, but when one considers that on the MEL - SYD northbound route there used to be around 35 to 40 flights on most weekdays, to have 14 for the whole route network ex Oz's (normally) second busiest airport is paltry.

QFd has 22 flights listed departing SYD today (omitting the above cancellation). Again, way short of what even the SYD down to MEL route would offer on a Monday. Of these, eight are QantasLink flights to rural NSW destinations such as Moree and Tamworth, so only 14 are 'mainline' interstate (or to ACT) flights, most with B738s or A333s. IIRC, all the A332s are stabled at present, which has been the case since (typically) around 23 March 2020.

 

[Melburnian1]

Still dsuring the lengthy coronavirus situation, QF2205, the 0825 hours SYD down to ABX did not depart until 1115 hours and then was very slow to undertake its takeoff roll, with latter at 1158 hours. Arrival in Twin Cities was at 1256 hours, 196 minutes tardy with Q400 VH-QOM. Maybe the late running was due to fog in Albury/Wodonga? This turboprop had overnighted in SYD.

The return flight, QF2206 (the 1010 hours) was airborne at 1329, arriving in the mainland harbour capital at 1426, 181 late.

The aircraft formed the 1505 hours SYD - CFS that was in the sky at 1520, basically on time. Usually pre-COVID19 this Q400 would be unlikely to have had such a long scheduled gap between flights in Sydney but it's an ongoing reminder how much demand for air (and surface) urban-rural travel has collapsed.

While not yet a delay, an evening flight - QF139 - from SYD to CHC tonight is the first time for many days that Qantas has operated an international flight. AFAIK the Federal Government is not subsidising such flights at present. Is it for a special reason such as a sporting team transferring from Oz to NZ or vice versa?