Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 27 December 2020, the only MEL to SYD (northbound) own metal QFd flights are QF410 at 0700 hours, QF420 (0830) then a large gap to QF460 at the odd time of 1330, followed by QF442 at 1500 and lastly QF450 at 1630. A very early close!

Most flights appear to have been cancelled a few days ago as they are not showing on Melbourne Airport's departure list, with the exception of QF438 (1400 hours MEL - SYD) that must have been cancelled not long ago.

A year ago on a Christmas holiday Sunday, QFd might have had 30-35 flights to SYD ex MEL, with a small minority operated by A332s. As AFFer jb747 reminded us, any replacement of an A332 with a B738 means an even greater effective reduction in seating capacity.

There's not been official word from the Victorian, Queensland or other state governments as to when the border closures may be lifted. This effective pursuit of an 'elimination strategy' (though never admitted as such) is a disaster for the economy including aviation and tourism, plus ciitzens' mental wellbeing. How many five and six year olds would be wanting to see their Nanna or Papa yet can't because branches of families live interstate?

Out of interest, say one state announced that border restrictions would end at midnight tomorrow night. How long would it take an airline like QFd to work out what extra flights it will schedule and be able to operate (after aircraft positioned and crews rostered) compared to the current infrequent timetables? Some aircraft mothballed may (this time) not have been inoperable for long, unlike the break from March to November 2020.

This must be a less than ideal Christmas for some airline staff who'd been allocated a line of flying only to have it totally snatched away or reduced. The number of baggage handlers and ground staff required would be less today than airlines would have assumed three weeks ago. Fuel sales and hence tanker requirements, plus catering needs, would also have suddenly decreased.

How on earth can businesses from the size of airlines down to much smaller suppliers operate efficiently and profitably in this 'go, stop, go' environment notwithstanding the generous JobKeeper that the Federal Government has provided at huge cost to its budget?

 

[milehighclub]

Out of interest, say one state announced that border restrictions would end at midnight tomorrow night. How long would it take an airline like QFd to work out what extra flights it will schedule and be able to operate (after aircraft positioned and crews rostered) compared to the current infrequent timetables? Some aircraft mothballed may (this time) not have been inoperable for long, unlike the break from March to November 2020.

Pretty quickly. QF hasn't stood down anyone again because of this. So there is simply a surplus of crew and aircraft. I mentioned this before, but there are currently arrangements outside of normal rostering to allow for this sort of flexibility.

 

[Melburnian1]

The picture on the SYD - BNE route is a little better than MEL - SYD on Sunday 27 December.

Six flights have been cancelled northbound but at this stage (with some yet to depart) six others remain operating.

The cancellations were/are QF504 (0705 hours ex SYD), QF518 (1105), QF528 (1305), QF532 (1505 hours mid afternoon), QF540 (1705) and lastly QF556 at 1905 hours.

Those flights remaining were/are timetabled departures from SYD at 0905, 1005, 1205, 1405, 1605 and 1805.

I failed to keep a record, but my hunch would be on a Sunday at this time of year in 2019 QFd might have had 20-25 flights from SYD to BNE using its own metal, typically all B738s. That it's down to six means about a 70 per cent cut in seating capacity.

Ex SYD, apart from the raft of cancellations to BNE and MEL, the other flights to get the boot are QF2066 (1710 hours SYD - BNK turboprop) and QF745 (the 1950 hours SYD - ADL).

Of 70 flights meant to operate from SYD today with QFd's own metal, 21 have been cancelled. The capacity decrease is however far greater as if my calculations are correct, of the QFd turboprop timetabled flights, only one has been cancelled thus far, but of 48 jet ones, 20 have got the boot.

A friend has just been advised that in a week's time, two flights on which he and his group were hoping to travel (SYD - BNE) have been cancelled, so this pattern of fewer flights is continuing. It's logical as many of us are prohibited from travelling by any means across some state borders.

 

[sydneyboi]

On Sunday 27 December 2020, the only MEL to SYD (northbound) own metal QFd flights are QF410 at 0700 hours, QF420 (0830) then a large gap to QF460 at the odd time of 1330, followed by QF442 at 1500 and lastly QF450 at 1630. A very early close!

Most flights appear to have been cancelled a few days ago as they are not showing on Melbourne Airport's departure list, with the exception of QF438 (1400 hours MEL - SYD) that must have been cancelled not long ago.

A year ago on a Christmas holiday Sunday, QFd might have had 30-35 flights to SYD ex MEL, with a small minority operated by A332s. As AFFer jb747 reminded us, any replacement of an A332 with a B738 means an even greater effective reduction in seating capacity.

There's not been official word from the Victorian, Queensland or other state governments as to when the border closures may be lifted. This effective pursuit of an 'elimination strategy' (though never admitted as such) is a disaster for the economy including aviation and tourism, plus ciitzens' mental wellbeing. How many five and six year olds would be wanting to see their Nanna or Papa yet can't because branches of families live interstate?

Out of interest, say one state announced that border restrictions would end at midnight tomorrow night. How long would it take an airline like QFd to work out what extra flights it will schedule and be able to operate (after aircraft positioned and crews rostered) compared to the current infrequent timetables? Some aircraft mothballed may (this time) not have been inoperable for long, unlike the break from March to November 2020.

This must be a less than ideal Christmas for some airline staff who'd been allocated a line of flying only to have it totally snatched away or reduced. The number of baggage handlers and ground staff required would be less today than airlines would have assumed three weeks ago. Fuel sales and hence tanker requirements, plus catering needs, would also have suddenly decreased.

How on earth can businesses from the size of airlines down to much smaller suppliers operate efficiently and profitably in this 'go, stop, go' environment notwithstanding the generous JobKeeper that the Federal Government has provided at huge cost to its budget?

wow you raise so many good pints, it's just unimaginable what is happening, you can't keep stop starting stop starting all for what ??! single figure cases in NSW per day, yet they don't report how many deaths there has been over the last 3 weeks in NSW !

 

[Melburnian1]

wow you raise so many good pints, it's just unimaginable what is happening, you can't keep stop starting stop starting all for what ??! single figure cases in NSW per day, yet they don't report how many deaths there has been over the last 3 weeks in NSW !

It's a classic case of one source of advice - epidemiologists - being relied upon without input from others across the public policy spectrum.

More moderate voices such as that chap from the ACT, Prof Peter Collignon ignored because Premiers/Chief Ministers want to be seen to 'do something'. Yet politicians and bureaucrats mucked up responses - look at the hotel quarantine fiasco in Victoria that cost many aged care residents their lives.

Electorally popular to lock us down yet ultimately very costly - not just financially.

Commonwealth/State/Territory Prime Minister/Premiers/Chief Ministers and Chief Health Officers have access to the same scientific data, yet restrictions vary among each jurisdiction, as does advice. So many inconsistencies.

If I'm not mistaken, today it's 'safe' for a Sydney resident to travel to the NT, but 'not safe' to journey down to Melbourne or up to Brisbane, or across to WA or SA without quarantining, and then only for 'essential reasons' (doesn't include grandparents visiting grandchildren).

%^&*( lunacy.

Airlines and other travel providers, and staff, suffering financially when some of this could have been mitigated.

As you point out and imply, in 2019 the number of deaths in total in the community was above that of 2020, yet even in our 'closed economy' - no international travel unless one quarantines in Oz on arrival, and numbers very limited, we're still panicking.

So many jobs shedded, economic misery, young people having (in short term, at least) fewer opportunities or less than satisfactory starts to their working lives if they can find a position, previous patients refusing to visit hospital EDs during March to November and hence now in some cases having suddenly diagnosed incurable cancers or other major medical problems that may have been treatable if detected earlier (but I'm no physician)...

No wonder QFd is losing money, as are other airlines and surface travel companies.

I originally thought one of our esteemed aviators was wrong to predict as he has, the demise of QF - for me, it's too big to fail, the Fed Govt would step in and if needed nationalise and before that, many (though not as many as previously) will start travelling) - but more and more I can see where our aviator is coming from.

 

[sydneyboi]

very true, it seems the each state CHO is running that state, we acted fast and breaks my heart to see my friends in USA and the UK in a hard lockdown, yet as you say we can go to Tasmania and Darwin but not Perth, Melbourne or the Gold Coast because of what 8 100 cases all linked, in the last 7 days ! give me a &*^*(& break.... how many more people will loose jobs and suffer because of this...

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Sunday 27 December 2020, between 1200 'high noon' and 1800 hours, winds at MEL have gusted to between 43 and 83kmh.

QF625 (1430 hours BNE - MEL airborne at 1454 with B738 VH-VZG attempted to land from the north on runway 16 but had a missed approach at about 1802 hours (as did VA1375 from LST, though not on the same runway as the VA flight attempted to land from the east on runway 27). Amended predicted arrival for QF625 has become 1822, 42 minutes tardy.

However, at 1823 hours, QF471 (the 1700 hours SYD - MEL that departed four minutes early), landed.

UPDATE: QF625 landed at 1828, so arrival at the terminal at 1833 will be 53 minutes behind schedule.

B717 VH-YQU on QF1535, the appropriately timed 1735 hours MEL down to HBA did not become airborne until 1847 so should be about an hour late arriving.

Another B738, VH-VZL on QF778 (1155 hours early lunchtime from PER across to MEL, in the sky on time at 1210 hours) is doiung a large circuit of MEL with an amended arrival time of 1913 hours at the gate, 53 minutes late. Subsequently, it did further circuits over Geelong, so has again been changed to an expected 1929 hours ai its arrival gate, 49 minutes behind the timetable.

QF703 from CNS has B738 VH-XZM and is the 1430 hours, in the sky at 1505 (about 20 minutes late). It should arrive MEL at 1920, 35 behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 30 December 2020, A333 VH-QPE initially opertated QF409, the 0700 hours SYD down to MEL before travelling across the continent on QF773, the 0935 hours to PER. This rotation has been standard for many days during 'the virus'. However 773 did not take off until 1000 hours, arriving at 1102, 32 late.

QF115, a 1545 hours from SYD to PER and on to FRA had its domestic leg cancelled. This is not the first time recently that a flight from SYD to Europ/UK via PER has not operated for the entirety, as domestic border closures in WA make operations harder, including as milehighclub informed us for staffing.

I assume that the return journey will be one of the occasional (partly?) Federal Government funded 'repatriation flights' that QFi has on occasion in December (and to come in January) been operating from CDG, FRA or LHR. B789s are used on all these.

 

[Melburnian1]

On New Year's Eve 2020, QF1531, the 0800 hours MEL - HBA was cancelled.

B717 VH-YQX on QF1545, the 1000 hours from BNE down to CBR was this aircraft's first flight of the day but it was not in the sky until 1057, meaning arrival at 1335 hours, 45 late. In turn this delayed QF1546, the 1340 hours from CBR back north to BNE, taking off at 1430. It has an expected arrival at 1501, 36 minutes late.

VH-YQU was this morning on the 0735 hours CBR - SYD (QF1500) that took off at 0849, arriving in the NSW capital at 0924, 54 minutes late. It then operated QF1583/84 SYD - HBA and return, arriving HBA 46 late at 1201 hours and SYD at 1430, 35 minutes down.

 

[Melburnian1]

On New Year's Day 2021, QF419 (0900 hours from SYD down to MEL) has been cancelled. Despite Victorians having to return to the state by 2359 hours tonight, QFd only has four remaining flights from SYD to MEL today. On the same public holiday a year ago, an estimate would have been 25 to 30 flights.

QF430, the 1200 'high noon' from MEL up to SYD has similarly got the boot. There are only three remaining QFd 'own metal' MEL - SYD flights today, at 0900, 1500 and 1700 hours. A year ago many of us would have said 'this would never happen'.

The 1705 hours MEL to PER, QF781, is a casualty of the WA Premier slamming the WA-Vic "border" shut.

QF2285, the 1700 hours MEL - LST turboprop, is expected to depart at 1800 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 1 January 2021, QF2260 (1155 hours late morning from SYD to LDH) departed at 1300, taking off at 1314 hours with VH-TQG, its third consecutive day operating this flight.

B789 punctually operated the 31 December 2020 overnight flight from the unusual origin of MAA to DRW (QF106) as the 1920 hours airborne at 1935 for a 1 January 2021 arrival of 0722, just seven minutes late. I assume some or all passengers were transferred to the Howard Springs 'quarantine camp'. However from then on the B789 was delayed, with DRW departure of its scheduled 1015 hours second sector tardy by about two hours. Take off was at 1234 hours with SYD arrival predicted as 1740 hours, 110 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2078, the Saturday 2 January 2021 scheduled 0700 hours early morning MEL up to MQL (Q300 VH-SBB) took off at 0737 with expected arrival 0850 hours, half an hour tardy. Pre-COVID-19, QFd flights to and from Mildura were typically larger Q400 turboprops not Q300s. While I've not performed an extensive search, a quick look for example on Saturday 16 January 2021 southbound showed only one flight with the cheapest fare being a high $210. Prospective passengers may instead be driving via the Calder Highway or travelling on one of the up to four V/Line daily train/coach (or in one case coach) trips each way.

QF2281 (0730 hours MEL - LST) got the flick.

B738 VH-VXC on QF791, the 0630 hours DRW down to ASP took off at 0721, so delayed arrival is a suggested 0909 hours, 34 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Saturday 2 January 2021, QF610, the 0920 hours MEL up to BNE up up and away punctually at 0933 by 0949 looked as if it was returning to MEL. I don't know whether something has gone wrong with the aircraft, whether there's a disruptive passenger on board, bird strike or some other reason.

QF2420 (0705 hours NTL - BNE) did not take off until 0952 hours, so arrival has become a forecast 1009 hours, 154 minutes late for Q400 VH-LQB.

UPDATE: QF610 arrived back at a MEL gate at about 1009 hours. Brisbane Airport is showing the flight as arriving at 1155 AEST (1255 AEDT).

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Saturday 2 January 2021, QF610, the 0920 hours MEL up to BNE up up and away punctually at 0933 by 0949 looked as if it was returning to MEL. I don't know whether something has gone wrong with the aircraft, whether there's a disruptive passenger on board, bird strike or some other reason.

QF610 passengers look to have been transferred to B738 VH-VXK (in its first, and probably unscheduled, flight for 2 January 2021) with the aircraft airborne at 1142 hours from MEL. BNE arrival should be at 1236, 136 minutes tardy. While the delay is not ideal, at least QFd had patrons on their way again after about 80 minutes at the gate in Melbourne.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 3 January 2021, QF439 (afternoon 1400 hours SYD - MEL) has got the boot. This leaves five SYD - MEL QFd 'own metal' flights tomorrow, a surprising number given that many are ineligible to cross the border.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more for Sunday 3 January, QF778 from PER, the 1155 hours, took off at 1312 with B738 VH-VZD. Arrival should be 66 minutes late at 1926 hours. Earlier, this aircraft was on QF773, the midmorning 0935 hours from MEL across to PER that was airborne at 1056, arriving at 1146, 76 late. This rotation until recently tended to be an A333 on most days.

QF1536 from HBA to MEL is predicted to arrive 50 late at 2230 late tonight. QF1537 in the reverse direction, scheduled as a 2120 hour s departure should depart at 2205.

The 1600 hours from MEL up to SYD, QF446, was cancelled while QF781 (1705 hours MEL - PER) also got the flick.

 

[Silvia]

Monday 4 January finds QF702 MEL-CNS (B738 VH-XZA) with an expected arrival at 14 06, 181 tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Our man the very pleasant AviatorInsight reports in the VA delays/cancellations thread that the weather in CNS today is appalling, but it doesn't look to be much better in SYD with much rain. The heaviest band extends from Merriwa NSW, a graingrowing area near Muswellbrook to about Sydney.

QF442, the 1500 hours MEL - SYD took off about 10 minutes late at 1523 hours with B738 VH-XZM. BY 1652, it had done quite a few laps/circuits above the Tasman Sea, as is 5X34 (an inbound UPS B747 freighter from HNL). The 442 was due in SYD at its gate at 1625 but that looks like being later than 1715 hours.

QF597, the southbound 1430 hours afternoon OOL down to SYD (VH-VZA) was also about 10 minute stardy in becoming airborne at 1455 but by 1655 was undertaking circuits above NSW, though at more than 12000m.

Also on Monday 4 January 2021, QF703 (1430 hours CNS - MEL) managed despite the weather to become airborne at 1513, so arrival down south should be at 1917, 32 minutes late for VH-XZA, a ubiquitous B738.

B717 VH-YQW on QF1511 (1635 hours SYD down to CBR) was airborne at 1733, arriving at 1806, 31 late. This was its first flight since arriving in SYD this morning at 0806, 24 early on QF1500 ex CBR.

Colleague VH-NXJ operated QF1702, the 1125 hours late morning NEL - MCY, taking off at 1213 and arriving 61 late at 1341. It then operated QF1703 back down to MEL, arriving 50 minutes tardy at 1745 before its next duty, QF1535, the 1735 hours down to HBA that took off at 1837 for arrival at 1940, 55 down. What is probably its final flight for today was QF1536, the 1925 hours that by 2020 had not been recorded as airborne.

Another B717, VH-YQV started its day in HBA on the 0600 hours to MEL, QF1530, that did not take off untilo 0704, possibly because last night QF1537 (2120 hours ex MEL mid evening) was 69 late arriving HBA at 2339. Today, YQV was between 45 and 68 late on its initial four sectors (HBA - MEL - CBR - MEL - CBR) but then spent from 1336 hours until 1900 hours in Canberra and so is on time (or a little early) on QF1512, the 1900 hours CBR - SYD. This plane's four unpunctu sectors today added to five badly late ones yesterday. Look it up on FR24: it's like the 'bad old days' when a few short years ago B717s often had a terrible timekeeping record on MEL - HBA flights. At that time, the operator for QFd was Cobham Aviation.

 

[Silvia]

Also last night QF464 MEL-SYD (A333 VH-QPF) was airborne at 21 32, arrived at 22 40, 110 min behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a 'normal', pre-virus Tuesday in early January, there wouldn't have been much if any business travel, but at a guess, QFd would have operated at least 30 flights from MEL to SYD (and similar returning ex SYD).

However with the ongoing Victorian Government-initiated border closure with NSW, on Tuesday 5 January 2021, QFd only operated QF6710 at 1200 'high noon' (presumably for Australian/Indian cricketers and support staff/coaches), plus QF408 (B738 VH-VZT) at 0700 hours ex MEL, QF434 (VH-VZE) at 1300 and lastly QF464 (A333 VH-QPD) at 1930. This last working of the twin aisle aircraft is normally because it earlier operates QF778 from PER (and sometimes, though not today, the 0700 hours SYD - MEL and the 0935 hours MEL - PER).

Few of us are allowed to travel by any means from SYD to MEL southbound. Not even allowed to swim across the Murray River to cross the border (actually not accurate, since 'the border' is the high water mark on the Victorian side IIRC). There's some story on 'The Age' website tonight about Victorians struck in NSW being denied approval to return even where funerals of loved ones are concerned. A disgrace!