QF610, the Wednesday 2 December 2020 scheduled morning 0850 hours MEL - BNE took off at 0940 hours, so arrival for A333 VH-QPC was at 1035 hours, 34 minutes late. This A333 operated the same flight on Tuesday 1 - the day the Queensland border reopened for Victorians and Sydneysiders - with an A333 also showing tomorrow, but from then this flight becomes the 'standard B738' for this particular route (normally the third busiest domestically in Australia).
I can't recall there ever being an A333 on this two hour long route (which isn't to say it hasn't previously occurred).
This A333 also operated QF7310/QF7311 today, respectively an 0150 hours from MEL to BNE and an 0400 hours back. I assume these were for Australia Post parcels and mail given it's pre-Christmas and so many want to send gifts, while online shopping has also soared during 'the virus' but may be moderating a little given physical shops have reopened. QF7311 did not arrive until 0802, 42 late so at a guess the aircraft had to travel from the freight area to its passenger gate, explaining much of the delay.
QF773 (0935 hours MEL to PER - the sole flight that operated on this route during much of then lockdown) had another A333, VH-QPG. It was airborne at 1009 hours, arriving at 1111 hours, 41 late. On the previous three days, the flight was 47,. 72 and 37 minutes late arriving at its PER gate. The delay this morning was due to the aircraft being on QF409, the 0700 hours SYD - MEL that arrived at 0906, 41 late. This is the usual pattern at present, but before that (overnight) the plane ran QF7323 from SYD to MEL, QF7382 from MEL up to BNE and then down to SYD as QF7383, again all freight flights by the look of it for Qantas freight along with its Australia Post business arrangement. This is far more intensive usage than many of the two major airlines' B738 have typically had while some state borders were closed.
The 1130 hours MEL - SYD (QF428) was cancelled.
