Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 7 May 2021, QF500, first of the morning from SYD to BNE was cancelled.

The 0930 hours SYD down to BXG, QF1409, is another to not run. Same for QF2121 at 1130 from SYD down to the Riverina's GFF.

QF435 at 1030 hours (SYD down to MEL) has also received the boot.

QF2078, the 0825 hours MEL - MQL (Q300 VH-TQK) took off at 0917 with arrival suggested as 1025 hours, half an hour late.

QF2009 (another Q300 flight!), the 0725 hours SYD - OAG was expected to push back at 0905 hours. It was airborne at 0929 (Q300 VH-TQD) with suggested arrival at 1021, 136 minutes late.

The 0855 hours SYD up to TMW, QF2002 (Q400 VH-LQK) was airborne at 0927 with suggested arrival 35 minutes late at 1035 hours.

The LDH - SYD QF2257 has Q200 VH-TQS with suggested arrival becoming 47 late at 0937 hours.

The 0825 hours from SYD across to PER, QF643 has A332 VH-EBE. It was in the sky at 0925 meaning likely at gate arrival of 1201 hours, 41 minutes late.

 

[servicerequired]

Continuing with Friday 7 May 2021, QF500, first of the morning from SYD to BNE was cancelled.

The 0930 hours SYD down to BXG, QF1409, is another to not run. Same for QF2121 at 1130 from SYD down to the Riverina's GFF.

QF435 at 1030 hours (SYD down to MEL) has also received the boot.

QF2078, the 0825 hours MEL - MQL (Q300 VH-TQK) took off at 0917 with arrival suggested as 1025 hours, half an hour late.

QF2009 (another Q300 flight!), the 0725 hours SYD - OAG was expected to push back at 0905 hours. It was airborne at 0929 (Q300 VH-TQD) with suggested arrival at 1021, 136 minutes late.

The 0855 hours SYD up to TMW, QF2002 (Q400 VH-LQK) was airborne at 0927 with suggested arrival 35 minutes late at 1035 hours.

The LDH - SYD QF2257 has Q200 VH-TQS with suggested arrival becoming 47 late at 0937 hours.

The 0825 hours from SYD across to PER, QF643 has A332 VH-EBE. It was in the sky at 0925 meaning likely at gate arrival of 1201 hours, 41 minutes late.

What is happening with the DHC 300 fleet! All sorts of disruptions across the network!

I notice this morning's MQL-SYD (and last night's SYD-MQL) was a Q400.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1510 (Saturday 8 May, the 0605 hours MEL - CBR (B717 VH-YQT) did not become airborne until 0704 with arrival nominally suggested as 0803, 53 minutes late. It however made one attempt to land at about 0754, resulting in a go-around. Then at 0803 after tracking towards the field, it took a right turn, presumably because fog had not sufficiently lifted. QF724 from ADL, a B738, was however earlier able to land.

This first of the morning MEL - CBR flight is only on Saturdays: a week ago, it arrived 74 late at 0824 hours.

The following MEL - CBR, QF1512 (the 0705 hours) was in the sky at 0726 with B717 VH-NXJ but as at 0806 hours was in a holding pattern a little north of Tumbarumba.

All QFi flights from SYD to New Zealand are cancelled for the second consecutive day due to the NZ Government's panicky reaction to Sydney's 'two cases'. The Oz - NZ 'travel bubble' did not last long. One each from SYD to AKL, CHC, WLG and ZQN are cancelled, as is the sole JQi flight (SYD - AKL).

 

[milehighclub]

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.

That someone would find themselves in MIQ at their own expense and potentially being charged with a $4000 fine or 6 months jail, as is happening to someone who tried to do exactly that. They also stopped over 70 others from doing it.

 

[Melburnian1]

That someone would find themselves in MIQ at their own expense and potentially being charged with a $4000 fine or 6 months jail, as is happening to someone who tried to do exactly that. They also stopped over 70 others from doing it.

'MIQ' is jargon, but apparently means 'managed isolation and quarantine'.

The stupidity of the NZ Government's actions is shown by how anyone who lived in Gundagai or Murwillumbah, NSW would have been 'caught' by the '48 hour flights pause SYD - NZ', yet the tiny number of 'cases' were in only part of Sydney.

We can't eliminate the virus. Not everyone may agree with Qantas CEO Joyce all the time, but in his repeated calls for international borders to be opened up, he's on the right light rail/tram. There are huge costs in lost economic output from scared politicians' instant border shutdowns.

No wonder there are occasional reports of TransTasman flights having well under 50 passengers. Ardern's two day closure won't help build travel confidence.

 

[Melburnian1]

Flights between Sydney and NZ are also all cancelled on Sunday 9 May as the 'travel bubble' doesn't recommence until midnight on Sunday evening/Monday morning. This means six eastbound QFi flights will not run.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 10 May sees QF437, the 1100 hours SYD - MEL, cancelled as is QF441 at 1200 'high noon'.

Earlier, QF1421 (0605 hours early morning SYD down the short hop to CBR) also received the boot.

QF2009, the 0725 hours SYD - OAG (Q300 VH-SBG) arrived at 0902 hours, 47 minutes late.

 

[servicerequired]

Sunraysia Daily reporting re MQL-SYD delays

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Tuesday 11 May 2021, QF409 (0700 hours SYD down to MEL) was cancelled. QF435 (the 1030 hours on the same route and in same direction) is also to get the flick.

QF418 (0800 hours MEL - SYD) has also not run today.

QF178, the 1600 hours arrival in MEL ex wintry ZQN has also been cancelled, as has the much earlier MEL - ZQN (0830 hours) QF177.

QF149, the 1855 hours early evening SYD to AKL is also not to run.

Interestingly, QF103, a proposed 2130 hours SYD - DEL tonight mid evening is another cancellation. Presumably this would have turned into a repatriation flight from DEL back to DRW. Who knows why it's got the boot? Very politically sensitive.

 

[milehighclub]

Interestingly, QF103, a proposed 2130 hours SYD - DEL tonight mid evening is another cancellation. Presumably this would have turned into a repatriation flight from DEL back to DRW. Who knows why it's got the boot? Very politically sensitive.

Imagine cancelled because of the ban. There is a repatriation flight scheduled for Friday. It will be operating from DRW though as a return to avoid the crew having to stay in India.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 14 May 2021, QF446 and QF486 (respectively 1330 and 1900 hours MEL - SYD) are cancelled.

milehighclub's information above has proven correct, as QF111 is operating at 1250 hours on Friday from DRW to DEL.

One I missed on Sunday 9 May was that QF109 (DRW - LHR, the 2025 hours, was cancelled, with B789 VH-ZNH instead operating as QF6100 back to SYD. This would have become a southbound repatriation flight from London back to Darwin.

It has however operated on Thursday 13, taking off from DRW at 2103 tonight local time with B789 VH-ZNH. Seems to have operated as a SYD - DRW ferry flight today (no revenue passengers, but almost certainly would have freight and mail), becoming airborne at 1404 for arrival at 1748 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Media is reporting that due to 'more than 40 passengers' booked on a QFi repatriation flight from India's DEL to DRW testing positive for COVID-19, about 70 of the 150 booked won't be travelling on Saturday 15 May 2021 (the other 30 are 'close contacts' of those with the virus).

If I have the flight number correct, it's QF112 to be operated by B789 VH-ZNE. This aircraft was airborne (as QF111) from DRW at 1344 hours, 54 minutes after scheduled takeoff on Friday 14 May, and is due at DEL tonight (early evening local time) at 1814 hours, nine minutes behind the timetable.

How do flight and cabin crew spend overnight? Are they taken in a disinfected road coach wearing full PPE to a specially selected hotel near DEL airport? I flew from DEL pre-COVID-19, but arrived in India via another airport, so didn't become acquainted with the nearby Aerotroplis (GMR Aerocity - Hospitality District) that has 15 upmarket hotels.

Wasn't there a case in Melbourne of a coach driver (Skybus perhaps) acquiring the virus from a passenger despite his garb? This is in reverse: none of the QFi crew will have COVID-19 (one hopes) upon landing in India.

 

[milehighclub]

How do flight and cabin crew spend overnight?

That would be the part where I said they do a return to avoid staying in India.

 

[Melburnian1]

That would be the part where I said they do a return to avoid staying in India.

Sorry. I took 'avoid staying' as meaning 'avoiding a fortnight's quarantine', but you were meaning 'they don't step off the aircraft'.

No doubt well paid, but also very tiring even if occupying the J cabin.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 14 May 2021, QF2177 (1220 hours lunchtime SYD down to MIM) took off at 1326 hours with Q300 turboprop VH-TQH. Arrival was at 1426 hours, 41 minutes late. The plane returned to SYD as QF2178, arriving at 1556 hours, 36 behind.

B717 VH-YQU arrived in CBR as QF1773 (ex BNE) at 2248 hours, 78 minutes tardy on Thursday 13 May and hasn't been utilised today. Maybe there's a reason other than it failing, but CBR is an unusual location to park this aircraft overnight and into a Friday afternoon.

 

[g-lock]

My OOL-SYD on QF597 got canned and turned into JQ415. Is Friday arvo at Gold Coast airport always nuts, or do I keep getting unlucky?

 

[Melburnian1]

My OOL-SYD on QF597 got canned and turned into JQ415. Is Friday arvo at Gold Coast airport always nuts, or do I keep getting unlucky?

Affer flying fan kindly chimed in on the equivalent VA thread and said a SYD runway had been closed, causing delays. Winds are from the west, gusting at up to 32kmh.

QF1534 from HBA to SYD, the 1615 hours took off at 1700 hours with B717 VH-NXE and is arriving at 1849 hours, 44 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 14 May, QF1401 (1745 hours late afternoon SYD - MQL, Q300 VH-SBI) took off at 1853 but diverted to CBR. It spent overnight there and has just taken off at 0806 hours on Saturday 15, with arrival suggested as 0917 hours, 697 minutes tardy. Presumably crew and passengers were accommodated overnight in the National Capital. This may be the first time for this newish route to have an unexpected 'overnight' en route. Something different.

The previous day (Thursday 13) this flight arrived MQL at 2123, 83 minutes late while on Tuesday 11, the flight diverted back to SYD, eventually arriving on its second sector (i.e. SYD - MQL again) in MQL at 2340 hours, 220 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 15 May has had QF161, the midmorning 1005 hours SYD - WLG cancelled. Predicted wind at WLG has been low (eight kmh) so not sure why it got the boot. Low passenger numbers?

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 16 May, QF153 and QF159, respectively the 1145 and 1850 hours MEL - AKL have been cancelled.

Apart from possible low bookings, is there any other reason for these not running?