Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Similarly, QF145 (1135 hours late morning from SYD across to AKL got the flick. QF149 at 1855 hours tonight on the same route is also not operating. Are these cancellations due to lower than expected passenger numbers, difficulties in sourcing (re)qualified crews, aircraft problems or some other reason? Weather in the North Island looks unexceptional. With a quick squiz I couldn't see anything adverse on the AKL airport website either.

QF has cancelled a lot of trans-Tasman flights since the bubble started due to insufficient demand. I think the LA flight is just codeshare on QF.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF has cancelled a lot of trans-Tasman flights since the bubble started due to insufficient demand. I think the LA flight is just codeshare on QF.

Thanks! Exactly the opposite of what Mr Alan Joyce has spruiked. Some of his claims regarding demand appear to be incorrect, although we'll ned the April 2021 BITRE figures to confirm, and they normally won't be issued until mid June 2021 for domestic and July for April's international statistics.

NZ PM Jacinda Ardern's suspension the other day of PER - NZ and return flights has not helped in building a narrative that if one travels, one won't be stranded on the 'wrong' side of the Tasman Sea.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thanks! Exactly the opposite of what Mr Alan Joyce has spruiked. Some of his claims regarding demand appear to be incorrect, although we'll ned the April 2021 BITRE figures to confirm, and they normally won't be issued until mid June 2021 for domestic and July for April's international statistics.

On Thursday 29 April 2021, QF145 (1135 hours SYD - AKL) is again cancelled, as are two flights in the same direction and on the same route of competitor NZ.

 

[Silvia]

Thursday 29th of April sees QF137 SYD-CHC (A333 VH-QPF) divert to WLG

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 29 April, QF cancelled the 0700 hours MEL - SYD (QF410), the 0825 and 1345 hours MEL down to HBA (QF1551/QF1555), QF1572 (MEL up to CFS, the 0945 hours), QF1524 MEL - CBR at 1350 just after lunchtime and QF693 MEL - ADL at 1635.

QF1526 (1925 hours MEL - CBR) is expected to push back 65 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 30 April 2021, QF137, the 0925 hours SYD - CHC departed at 0942 hours but is not expected to arrive until 1520 this afternoon, 55 minutes late. The FlightAware site ascribes this to a 'runway delay' : by 1038 hours, aircraft A333 VH-QPI had not become airborne.

 

[Melburnian1]

Today (Saturday 1 May 2021), QF149 (1855 hours early evening SYD across to AKL) got the boot.

With the exception of the NZ travel bubble that commenced on 19 April 2021, it's been a long time since QFi flights outbound (carrying revenue passengers) have appeared on flight status pages.

However on Sunday 2 May 2021, QF103, a proposed 2130 hours mid evening SYD - DEL has (in view of the ban on Australia - India travel, or more particularly, coming back) been cancelled.

QF419 (0800 hours SYD - MEL) and QF536 (1605 hours afternoon SYD up to BNE) are two more cancellations.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 2 May 2021, QF444 at 1300 hours from MEL to SYD has got the flick, as has QF691 at 1635 from MEL across to ADL.

QF419 (0800 hours SYD down to MEL) was another cancellation this morning.

The 0830 hours MEL - LST, QF1541 (B717 VH-YQX) was airborne at 0946, arriving at 1042, hours, 72 late. On Friday 30 April, this aircraft arrived in MEL ex HBA as QF1558 at 2235 late night, 100 minutes late. Yetsrday, the aircraft operated six sectors: two MEL - CBR returns and a MEL - HBA return and was about an hour late on every individual trip. It's like the 'bad old days' when Cobham Aviation operated the B717s from Melbourne south to Tassie: unpunctuality was rife.

The 1200 'high noon' BNE down to HBA, QF1721, has been cancelled. This would mean a much slower journey as there are no other QFd schedule nonstops on this route today, so passengers will have to change planes in MEL or (less likely?) SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2084, the 1525 hours MEL - MQL turboprop is expected to depart an hour late. Its aircraft may be from QF2056, the 1335 hours DPO - MEL that arrived 40 late at 1530 mid afternoon.

 

[Melburnian1]

Fog in Sydney (and perhaps smoke haze from autumn burn offs?) is causing many delays into SYD on Monday 3 May's morning, which as usual will compound and take a while to recover from unless planes have significant timetabled gaps between flights later today.

QF2161 from PQQ down to SYD (Q400 VH-QOX) is the 0630 hours that took off early at 0637, but which is expected to arrive at 0920 hours, 105 minutes behind schedule.

The 0635 hours ABX up to SYD, another Q400 in the shape of VH-QOE, was airborne 'on the knocker' at 0645 hours but arrival is delayed until 0918 hours, 88 minutes tardy.

The 0605 hours ADL across to SYD, QF730 was in the sky at 0627, only about 10 minutes tardy but arrival should be at 0923, 63 late.

QF414, the 0730 hours MEL - SYD has B738 VH-VYL and like one above pointed skywards early at 0738, but won't be at its gate until a projected 0935 hours, 40 minutes behind the timetable.

QF1420 (Q400 VH-QOA) is the 0600 hours CBR - SYD that took off at 0906 hours (!) and is holding north of Wombeyan Caves along with four other turboprops. Arrival in SYD is estimated at an optimistic 1000 that is unlikely since it hasn't been released from its circuits. At a guess, 1020 or later may be the go which would at a minimum be 205 minutes late.

The BXG - SYD QF1408 (Q300 VH-TQK) is also caught up in that hold with this 0635 hours flight having taken off at 0807. If it arrives at say 1020, that will be 105 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with fog-related Monday 3 May 2021 morning delays, QF1901 (B717 VH-YQU), the 0840 hours SYD - CBR took off at 0937 with arrival likely at 1025 hours, 50 minutes behind the timetable.

QF418 (peak period 0800 hours MEL - SYD) was up up and away punctually at 0813 (B738 VH-VZX) but after holding above Gunning should arrive at 1006, 41 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Fog in Sydney (and perhaps smoke haze from autumn burn offs?) is causing many delays into SYD on Monday 3 May's morning, which as usual will compound and take a while to recover from unless planes have significant timetabled gaps between flights later today....

QF414, the 0730 hours MEL - SYD has B738 VH-VYL and like one above pointed skywards early at 0738, but won't be at its gate until a projected 0935 hours, 40 minutes behind the timetable.

VH-VYL arrived SDYD at 0934. Its next flights were QF993/994 SYD - HBA return, with the forward southwards journey, the 0935 hours taking off right on 1100, arrival at gate being 1236, 61 minute stardy. The northwards trip, the 1215 hours was airborne at 1332 for arrival back in the mainland Harbour city at 1512, 67 late. It then formed QF743 (1705 hours, a long layover) so this flight is on time.

QF841 (VH-VYA) was the 1320 hours DRW down to SYD in the sky 34 minutes later. SYD arrival was 1830, half an hour tardy.

Colleague VH-VYC is presently running QF634 (1920 hours MEL north to BNE, in the sky at 2037) so arrival should be 2244, 74 minutes behind. It was a mkinute early arriving in MEL on its previous flight and had a layover longer than the 'minimum' c.35 minutes so not sure why the BNE leg is delayed.

VH-VYD is on QF494 (2000 hours mid evening MEL up to SYD) that had yet to take off by 2050 hours, so it will be at least 45 minutes late arriving.

QF1527 (early evening 1835 hours CBR down to MEL) did not take off until 2013 so arrival is predicted as 2017 hours, 82 minute stardy for B717 VH-YQS.

 

[Silvia]

Tuesday 4th of May finds QF151 MEL-AKL (A332 VH-EBP) with a revised arrival at 15 12, 102 tardy. The return leg QF156 is suggested to depart at 16 10, 70 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF528 (1305 hours lunchtime SYD up to BNE) is cancelled on Tuesday 4 May.

Earlier, QF414 (0730 hours MEL - SYD) got the flick.

So did QF1551 at 0825 hours from MEL down to HBA and QF2051 shortly thereafter (0835 hours) MEL - DPO.

QF436 at 1100 from MEL to SYD is another that will not operate.

 

[Melburnian1]

Additionally on 5 May 2021, QF632 (1820 hours early evening MEL - BNE) and QF2194 from MEL up to ABX at 1905 have been cancelled, as has QF494 at 2000 hours from MEL to SYD.

If anyone was booked to Albury tonight, not sure how they get there (although ZL3188 at 1845 ex MEL is operating), but at least there is a 2100 hours flight from Melbourne to Sydney for the '494' passengers to board (assuming spare seats).

The spat between Alan Joyce and John Sharp is severe so I wonder if QFd will "lower itself" to placing passengers on Rex if a Qantas flight doesn't operate but Rex does?

There's always the NSW TrainLink XPT at about 2020 hours from Broadmeadows to Albury, a comfortable trip now that more than $200 million has been spent recently on the standard gauge main rail line.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on 5 May, QF2080, the 1205 hours MEL - MQL was cancelled.

So was the mid afternoon QF454 at 1500 hours from MEL to SYD and the following flight, QF458 at 1530.

 

[servicerequired]

Earlier on 5 May, QF2080, the 1205 hours MEL - MQL was cancelled.

So was the mid afternoon QF454 at 1500 hours from MEL to SYD and the following flight, QF458 at 1530.

@Melburnian1 what is going on with all of these cancellations and delays with the Dash 8 300s MEL-MQL SYD-MQL ... flights are reasonably full! Bring back the Q400!

 

[Melburnian1]

@Melburnian1 what is going on with all of these cancellations and delays with the Dash 8 300s MEL-MQL SYD-MQL ... flights are reasonably full! Bring back the Q400!

Apologies, I can't answer you. Maybe milehighclub, a QF staff member, can assist.

FlightRadar24 doesn't always record the Q300s well 'after the event' (if one is checking say an hour after the flight landed for flight history over a week), but using other sites like FlightAware allows one to mostly see what occurred.

Timekeeping can be poor. Autumnal/winter fogs at inland rural airports can be one hindrance.

On Wednesday 5 May, Q300 VH-TQG operated QF2192, the 1715 SYD up to distant MRZ that did not become airborne until 1810 hours, arriving at 1941, 51 minutes tardy.. It arrived back in SYD as QF2193 at 2130, 45 minutes late.

Today, the same Q300 was initially on another SYD - MRZ, the 0710 hours (QF2180) that took off at 0910 but did not arrive in Moree until 1140 hours, 175 minutes late. There may have been fog. The plane couldn't recover all this lost time when flying back to SYD, then a newish QFd route to OAG and back, and flying again to MRZ and back to SYD, arriving at 2127 hours, 42 late.

VH-SBT on Tuesday 4 was on QF2059, the 1850 hours MEL - DPO that departed about 45 minutes late, but diverted back to MEL - fog? It hasn't been used since and may go some way to explaining problems with the MQL flights.

QF2031 from ARM to SYD this afternoon arrived at 1855, 50 minutes tardy with Q300 VH-TQH.

The Airfleets site suggests only a couple of the Q300s are stored (i.e. out of use) but while I didn't record them, four or so (at least) haven't been recently used. This could be due to lack of passenger demand, maintenance, insufficient (re)qualified crews available given the COVID-19 hibernation or some other reason.

Five Q300s are more than 20 years old. If maintained properly (which QFd would do), it has little or no bearing on safety but despite a cabin refurbishment in recent years, like the ZL SAAB340Bs they're probably in an ideal world due for replacement. But others with greater knowledge suggest it's difficult to find a suitable model/design to replace the SAABs of the competitor, so maybe QFd's turboprops have a similar problem.

On Friday 7 May 2021, the only QFd cancellations ex MEL I can see thus far are QF466/QF474 at 1630 and 1730 hours - peak afternoon time - to SYD.

 

[servicerequired]

Apologies, I can't answer you. Maybe milehighclub, a QF staff member, can assist.

FlightRadar24 doesn't always record the Q300s well 'after the event' (if one is checking say an hour after the flight landed for flight history over a week), but using other sites like FlightAware allows one to mostly see what occurred.

Timekeeping can be poor. Autumnal/winter fogs at inland rural airports can be one hindrance.

On Wednesday 5 May, Q300 VH-TQG operated QF2192, the 1715 SYD up to distant MRZ that did not become airborne until 1810 hours, arriving at 1941, 51 minutes tardy.. It arrived back in SYD as QF2193 at 2130, 45 minutes late.

Today, the same Q300 was initially on another SYD - MRZ, the 0710 hours (QF2180) that took off at 0910 but did not arrive in Moree until 1140 hours, 175 minutes late. There may have been fog. The plane couldn't recover all this lost time when flying back to SYD, then a newish QFd route to OAG and back, and flying again to MRZ and back to SYD, arriving at 2127 hours, 42 late.

VH-SBT on Tuesday 4 was on QF2059, the 1850 hours MEL - DPO that departed about 45 minutes late, but diverted back to MEL - fog? It hasn't been used since and may go some way to explaining problems with the MQL flights.

QF2031 from ARM to SYD this afternoon arrived at 1855, 50 minutes tardy with Q300 VH-TQH.

The Airfleets site suggests only a couple of the Q300s are stored (i.e. out of use) but while I didn't record them, four or so (at least) haven't been recently used. This could be due to lack of passenger demand, maintenance, insufficient (re)qualified crews available given the COVID-19 hibernation or some other reason.

On Friday 7 May 2021, the only QFd cancellations ex MEL I can see thus far are QF466/QF474 at 1630 and 1730 hours - peak afternoon time - to SYD.

Interesting ...

1. arrived at MQL airport Tuesday to find VH-SBI stranded at on the tarmac, going through several tests - then taking off back to MEL (?) - ferry flight with no passengers.
2. onboard QF2084 01/05/21 .. departed MEL - pilot advised pax of a small technical issue, made U bolt back for MEL ... advised further, engineer is instead at MQL - therefore flight would U bolt back and continue along to MQL.
3. this morning aboard QF2078 ... yesterday's QF2086 must have been cancelled, with the pax bumped to the following morning's QF2078.

 

[Melburnian1]

The NZ Minister for COVID-19 embarrassed himself yesterday by stating there'd not be any changes to the Australia-New Zealand travel bubble, but within five hours, he changed his mind, massively inconveniencing travellers, and all for some tiny number of 'cases' in Sydney.

As a result for today (and, while I've yet to check, tomorrow) Tasman flights ex (and to) SYD have been cancelled.

Ex SYD, these include QF143 at 0900 for AKL, the 0925 hours QF137 to CHC, QF121 to skiers' paradise ZQN at 0930, QF161 to WLG at 1005 hours and the 1135 hours to AKL (QF145).

I'm not suggesting it's legal, or wise to do it but if someone made their way by any means from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane and then booked on a TransTasman flight from there, not sure how NZ border authorities would pick up (without a detailed search of passengers' phones or documents) that a Sydney resident was endeavouring to evade quarantine.