Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF627, the 1615 hours BNE down to MEL on Saturday 18 July 2020 has been cancelled, so QF613 at 0915 this morning was the only QFd flight to operate in this direction today.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 21 July 2020 during coronavirus, QF439 and QF475, respectively the 1130 and 1730 hours from SYD down to MEL have been cancelled.

The leaves QF409 as the only timetabled SYD - MEL flight tomorrow at the early departure time of 0700 hours.

AFFer justinbrett correctly said QFd would further reduce its SYD - MEL - SYD schedules as the 'lockdown' in Victoria kicked in, while nervousness in NSW (although with a far smaller number of active or new cases) would also be contributing.

On the Sydney - Adelaide run, it's a similar picture tomorrow.

QF733, the 0820 hours and QF741, the mid afternoon 1535 hours have got the boot. This means QFd will not have a timetabled flight to ADL from SYD tomorrow (although subsidiary JQd has two).

The remaining QFd flights from SYD tomorrow make a "huge" total of 18 (including one to LDH and a couple of short hops down to CBR). In 'normal' times, a Tuesday might see about 35 - 37 SYD - MEL flights alone so the loss of revenue not just to QF but to Sydney Airport and QF suppliers must be huge, especially when one considers on many days the picture in recent months since about 23 March has been far worse.

18 flights ex SYD is however six times the QFd number timetabled from Melbourne Airport on Tuesday 21 July, with (as 'own metal') only QF2281 (0820 hours morning down to LST), QF773, the 0935 hours MEL - PER staple that must be surviving due to a strong mining sector up in the Pilbara, and finally QF490, the 1930 hours evening MEL - SYD that like the Perth flight seems to be almost always on the schedule menu.

It's been particularly interesting that QF appears to have stabled all but one of its A332s but that's not the case for A333s that have been regularly seen on many QFd flights, largely if I'm not mistaken SYD-MEL-PER and similar.

It's impossible to disagree with AFFer jb747 who is one of many commentators to observe that we are watching airlines going broke.

No doubt the Qantas CEO will be trying to convince the Federal Government to extend JobKeeper for the aviation section way beyond its original late September 2020 close while he'd also want more 'bickies' in other ways for Qantas Airways from the Feds.

The NSW Premier is talking tough and suggesting that further action (such as a lockdown) cannot be ruled out for Sydney (or presumably NSW) while in Victoria it's worse with the under siege Premier implying his residents are not far off incurring a Stage 4 lockdown that may mean no one is allowed out of one's postcode, and many more shops would have to close.

Happy times!

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2148, the 0830 hours morning MEL - CBR on Wednesday 22 July 2020 has been cancelled.

This means QFd will only operate its standard QF773 (0935 hours midmorning across to PER) and QF490 (also a frequent runner at the evening's 1930 hours up to SYD).

Once upon a time we'd have said 'amazing' if Qantas only had two 'own metal' domestic flights ex MEL on a weekday. Reality in 2020!

(JQd offers QFd codeshares on one flight each tomorrow to DRW, HBA and TSV).

 

[Melburnian1]

Further cancellations on Wednesday 22 July are QF2205, the 0825 hours SYD to ABX - fog? - QF733 and QF741 (the 0820 and 1535 hours SYD across to ADL, and QF439 (1130 hours SYD down to MEL) plus QF475 at an afternoon 1730 also down to MEL.

This means the only QFd SYD to MEL flight today was QF409 for earlybirds at 0700 hours.

The four cancellations means 'own metal' QFd flights from SYD are down to 20. While far better than a couple of weeks ago, it is but a shadow of the number of flights QFd would have operated on a Wednesday pre-COIVID-19, with perhaps a typical 36 flights from SYD to MEL, another maybe 16 up to BNE, plus numerous others.

Stablemate JQd had 15 flights timetabled but one so far has been cancelled. This also is significantly down on its 'normal time' offerings.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF605, first of the morning on Thursday 23 July 2020 from SYD at 0605 hours for BNE was cancelled.

A333 VH-QPJ on QF409, the 0700 hours SYD - MEL departed at 0745 and took off promptly at 0757, arriving at 0908 hours, 33 late. In turn this led to a delay for QF773, the 0935 hours across to PER that did not become airborne in MEL until 1017 hours.

Unusually, QF409 from SYD to MEL is cancelled on Friday 24 July, with FR24 suggesting it was to be a B738. Often since the pandemic started, this flight has been an A333 as invariably it then proceeds across the Bight/Nullabor to distant Perth.

QF840, the 0920 hours SYD to DRW was cancelled. Instead, QF858 is serving both ASP and DRW. It was an 0800 hours ex SYD that with B738 VH-XZI was airborne at 0853, being estimated to arrive in ASP at 1113 hours, 28 late and then form a delayed 1135 hours from ASP the shorter distance up to DRW.

The 0900 hours SYD up to TMW, QF2002, was also cancelled, perhaps due to fog up north, just as a ZL flight down south to WGA got the boot. QF2006, a 1525 hours mid afternoon that was also to be a SYD up to TWM has got the boot. However QF2004 at 1205 hours from SYD seems to be still operating.

As it was yesterday, QF439 on Thursday 23 July (1130 hours SYD down to MEL) has been axed. Similarly, QF475 (the 1730 hours) has been cancelled, again leaving QF409 (see above) as the only departure from SYD to MEL on Thursday.

Two further 23 July cancellations have been (or are to be) QF733 asnd QF741, respectively the morning 0820 hours and afternoon 1535 hours SYD across to ADL, leaving QFd without a flight on this route today. Subsidiary JQd cancelled one of its two flights SYD - ADL.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 24 July 2020 will see QF430, an 0930 hours morning MEL - SYD cancelled, leaving the evening QF478 (1800 hours) as the only flight northbound on the soute.

JQd is also operating one flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Another cancellation on Friday 24 July 2020 was QF2281, the 0820 hours MEL down to LST. This may have been due to fog in the latter.

QFd did not operate any SYD to ADL flights again today as its 0820 hours and 1535 hours were cancelled. (JQd ran one flight).

On the SYD - MEL important number one route in normal times, QF409 at 0700 hours, QF441 at 1200 'high noon' and QF475 at 1730 all got the boot, leaving only QF459, the mid afternoon 1530 hours.

QF2038, an 1155 hours SYD to DBO was also cancelled.

Tonight's QF583 at 1940 hours ex SYD for PER is also not to run.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 25 July 2020, the QF group is not operating any SYD to ADL flights as QF733, the morning 0820 hours has been cancelled, as have the two JQd flights on the route.

Another cancellation is QF483, the 1830 hours from SYD down to MEL. This leaves QF409 at the unattractive time of 0700 in winter as the only timetabled QFd 'own metal' departure on this once extremely busy route. JQd has one flight in this direction on Saturday while VAd is only flying to BNE and BNK tomorrow.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 26 July 2020 has seen QF2205, the 0825 hours SYD - ABX cancelled, perhaps due to fog.

Border closures/restrictions again see QF733 and QF741 on the SYD to ADL route cancelled, as has been a JQd flight. However competitor VAd is operating one flight.

QF1419, one of four SYD to CBR flights today, was also given the boot. Four sounds impressive but pre-COVID-19, at a guess there were at least 12 on a Sunday.

QF409, QF439 and QF475, respectively the 0700, 1130 and 1730 hours SYD down to MEL are also not operating, with only QF435 at the strange time of 1030 hours (not "peak hour" for a Sunday) having run. There is also one JQd flight southbound on this #1 route.

The 1940 hours SYD to PER QF583 has also got the boot but there was one flight this morning.

There are only four SYD to BNE QFd flights today, so like almost all other routes that are operating, the frequency is way below what we were used to seeing.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF439, the Monday 27 July 2020 scheduled late morning 1130 hours from SYD down to MEL has been cancelled, as has QF475, the 1730 hours southbound.

QF409 (A333 VH-QPJ), the 0700 hours, did however operate, but it's the only flight from QFd down to MEL today. A year ago, to assert this would have rightly been described as worthy of committal to what used to be called asylums.

Further north, QF2720, the 0555 hours early start from BNE up to RMA was also one that did not operate.

QF714, the 1335 hours late lunchtime from BNE up to CNS is delayed in its departure by a suggested 40 minutes.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 28 July 2020, once again QF733 and QF741, respectively the 0820 hours and 1535 hours SYD across to ADL have been cancelled, casualties of border restrictions with SA not keen to accept individuals from NSW and even less keen on those dastardly Victorians.

QFd has 18 flights timetabled from SYD today that at this stage are operating, compared to just three - not a typo - ex locked down Melbourne. Extraordinary if we'd said this 12 months ago but commonplace enough in the reality of the pandemic.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 29 July 2020, at around noon, the Queenland Premier (who is shortly facing a State election) announced that its borders would be closed to residents (and anyone else) from Greater Sydney.

I don't know if this was showing prior to the announcement, but QF544 (180-5 hours early evening SYD - BE) has been given the flick.

Expect more BNE - SYD - BNE flights to be cancelled at short notice over the next few days. This is not QFd's fault but simply reflects that fewer passengers will be (legally) allowed to travel.

QF447, the 1330 hours SYD down to MEL has also been cancelled. It was the only remaining QFd SYD - MEL flight today.

Unimaginable a year ago to contend that QFd wouldn't have a single southbound flight on its busiest route today.

So has QF741, respectively the 1535 hours SYD across to ADL. This leaves QFd lacking any flights on this route today.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 30 July 2020, QFd is cancelling a slew of flights from Sydney.

The 0825 morning and sole flight to ABX by it, QF2205 has got the flick.

QF741, the 1535 afternoon offering to ADL has the boot. Again, there wil not be any QFd 'own metal' flights on this route.

The first of the morning at 0605 hours from SYD up to BNE, QF605, is cancelled. So far, four other QFd flights northbound look to be running but given the Queensland border closure to Sydneysiders (see the previous post), this may change.

To Melbourne, QF405, the 0630 hours is expected tomorrow to depart 75 minutes late at 0745. Meanwhile, QF409, 439 and 475 are cancelled. These were the only other 'own metal' flights timetabled south to Melbourne. Respectively, they had been meant to push back at 0700, 1100 and 1730 hours.

Two of the three Tamworth flights from Sydney have also got the boot, with QF2002 and QF2006 (the 0900 and 1525 hours) scrubbed, while QF2004 at 1205 hours continues to operate. The reason may be that it 'splits the difference' between the two other flights in terms of changed departure and arrival times if there's only a low number of passengers booked.

Lastly the sole QFd flight from SYD to WGA, QF2229 at 1500 hours has been cancelled. This may please ZL that has two flights scheduled at 0845 hours and 1900 hours ex Sydney.

These cancellations mean QFd is down to 16 domestic flights from Sydney tomorrow, but as suggested the Queensland border closure to Greater Sydney residents and visitors may see even more trips getting the boot.

UPDATE: Queensland's ban on (Greater) Sydneysiders is effective from 0100 hours on Saturday 1 August 2020, not today or tomorrow.

 

[Melburnian1]

For quite a few days, QF773 has been an 0935 hours midmorning from MEL across to PER.

On Thursday 30 July, it becomes an 0905 hours but is estimated to depart at 1020 hours.

QFd has just two flights scheduled from MEL tomorrow: QF773 and much later, QF492, the 1945 hours MEL - SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

In the end (assuming the few later flights this afternoon/early evening operate) on Thursday 30 July 2020, QFd operated just eight flights from Sydney.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 31 July 2020 rounded off a depressing month for normal users of airlines in Oz with QF409 (0700 hours SYD down to MEL), QF439 (1130 hours on same route) and QF475 at 1730 hours all cancelled. This meant again, QF459 at 1530 hours was the only SYD to MEL flight to run. B738 VH-VYE operated it, rather than an A333 that on the low number of SYD to MEL flights remaining has been commonplace.

QF733 and QF741 (0820 hours and 1535 hours SYD across to ADL) also got the flick. Once more there were no QFd 'own metal' flights on this normally fairly busy mid length sector.

The evening 1940 hours SYD to PER, QF583 was another non starter.

So was QF2038 at a timetabled 1155 hours late morning from SYD to DBO.

All up QFd ran 29 'own metal' flights from Sydney Airport today. The Queensland border closure to Sydneysiders that starts on Sunday morning must mean fewer flights next Friday (assuming that ban is not lifted). It'll put the kybosh on the SYD to BNE route, usually the second busiest for air travel in Australia.

To cap things off, the Victorian Premier is suggested by media as likely to announce so-called 'Stage 4 restrictions' on Sunday 2 or Monday 3 August, perhaps kicking in at midnight that same day. This could mean residents restricted to travelling within five km of their homes for supplies and the vast majority of shops closed. It's a further impediment to travel although the State border closures are far more important to the airlines in inhibiting us from boarding.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sydney to Adelaide flight (see above: QF733 at 0820 hours) is again to be cancelled on Saturday 1 August 2020. The second one isn't in the system because Saturday is a lower demand day for travel.

QF1461 at the early time of 0615 hours from SYD to CBR has got the boot, but two others are operating at this stage.

QF2064 at 0800 hours from SYD to BNK is cancelled, but QF2062 at 1055 hours is running. BNK has become a far more popular route in the last 20 years with QFd's recent decision to commence 'own metal' flights one indicator of Byron Bay's popularity.

The mid morning 1005 hours SYD up to BNE, QF516, is another to bite the dust, QF508 at 0805 hours and, much later, QF544 at 1805 hours should however be conveying passengers.

QF409 at 0700 and QF435 at 1030 hours from SYD down to MEL are expected to run but QF447 and QF483 (respectively 1330 and 1830 hours southbounds) are cancelled. Saturday afternoon is normally not busy but it's still odd to have the final QFd 'own metal' flight on this by far most popular domestic route connecting our two largest cities departing before 1100 hours.

This leaves QFd operating just ten flights ex Sydney Airport on 1 August.

Interestingly, neither today (31 July) or tomorrow have any JQd flights been cancelled ex SYD. Tomorrow it has 16 flights scheduled from the mainland harbour city.

On Saturday 1 August, QFd has a grand total departing MEL of two flights to SYD and the usual QF773 across to PER. JQd has one to each of ADL, HBA, PER and SYD. None of this is a typo.

Mind you, the latter is magnificent compared to VAd that does not have any flights timetabled out of MEL on Saturday 1 August 2020. Extraordinary, but apart from super depressed travel demand due to so many being ineligible for travel, the AFL teams that VAd usually conveys have decamped to Queensland so (at least from Melbourne) no demand from that loss making organisation.

 

[Melburnian1]

...This leaves QFd operating just ten flights ex Sydney Airport on 1 August.

Interestingly, neither today (31 July) or tomorrow have any JQd flights been cancelled ex SYD. Tomorrow it has 16 flights scheduled from the mainland harbour city.

On Saturday 1 August, QFd has a grand total departing MEL of two flights to SYD and the usual QF773 across to PER. JQd has one to each of ADL, HBA, PER and SYD. None of this is a typo.

Mind you, the latter is magnificent compared to VAd that does not have any flights timetabled out of MEL on Saturday 1 August 2020. Extraordinary, but apart from super depressed travel demand due to so many being ineligible for travel, the AFL teams that VAd usually conveys have decamped to Queensland so (at least from Melbourne) no demand from that loss making organisation.

It wasn't apparent last night, but by this morning JQd had cancelled 11 of its 16 proposed flights from Sydney Airport on Saturday 1 August 2020.

So it's (as logic would suggest) being hit by the border ban NSW-Queensland just as hard as its parent QF.

This means JQd has just five departures from SYD on 1 August: one each to ADL, BNE,, BNK, MEL and surprisingly PPP.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 4 August 2020 during coronavirus, the SYD airport website indicates that QFd had been planning to operate 43 domestic departures.

However as at 1500 hours mid afternoon, 34 had been cancelled, leaving only nine.

These were (or are) QF508 to BNE at 1235 hours with QF556 tonight to BNE at 1905 also on the same number two in popularity in normal times route; QF2062 to increasingly popular BNK (the airport for trendy, expensive Byron Bay) at 1055 hours; QF1463 to wintry CBR at an early 0725 followed by QF1419 at 1215; QF2116 to CFS shortly at 1505 hours; ; QF2040 to DBO at 0825; QF583 to PER at 1940 hours this evening and lastly QF2221 to WGA this morning at 0810 hours.

Note the absence of any flights on what was in non-CoVID-19 times far and away Australia's most well patronised route, the just above 700 air km SYD to MEL sector.

JQ513 at 1315 (though departed later) was the only SYD to MEL flight offered by the QF group today while competitor VA has seven flights overall departing SYD with one, VA826 to MEL at mid morning 0930 hours the only southbound on this route.

Irrespective as to how much airline accountants/financial controllers are remunerated, this must be a very challenging job at present.

Who can plan for an announcement that sees one state impose a nightly curfew and a five kilometre travel restriction, both at two hours' notice, as occurred on Sunday evening 2 August 2020 in Victoria?

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 5 August 2020, QF773, the 0935 hours MEL across to PER (A333 VH-QPE) was airborne at 1022 hours, arriving at 1156, 41 minutes late.

The aircraft had not been on any flight since arriving MEL on Sunday 2 August on QF30 at 0637 hours, 48 early. There is a ban on any passengers arriving internationally in MEL: this QFi flight would have only conveyed freight (and mail) in each direction as presently QFi do not appear to be operating any international passenger flights even though outbound, passengers can legally be conveyed.

QFd, JQd and VAd were each down to one flight from MEL to SYD today. The 1300 hours announcement by the NSW Premier that from Friday 7 August any Victorians will only be permitted to arrive in NSW by air and must quasrantine for 14 days at their own expense will further reduce already abysmal passenger figures using the airlines (or what's left of the latter).