Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF1 arrived at LHR 71 minutes late at 0801 hours on Saturday 27 November.

QF2 pushed back at 1011 and took off from LHR at 1029 so it may be somewhere between 'on time' and 20-25 late at the DRW gate tomorrow. FR24 claims it'll be five minutes late landing (i.e. 10 mins. late at gate).

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2262, the 0705 hours early morning Sunday 28 November 2021 SYD across to LDH was cancelled.

QF2256, the 0905 hours on the same route did not depart until 1430 this afternoon while QF2260, the 1155 hours closely followed, departing at 1445. I assume weather was not great.

 

[serfty]

Storms at tulla,


=

 

[Melburnian1]

These intense storms are continuing as at 1717 AEDT.

QF797, the 1300 hours ASP down to MEL took off early at 1300 as luck would have it, but did a couple of racecourse circuits near Bendigo and so should arrive at 1735, half an hour late.

With the airlines still operating way fewer flights into and out of MEL (and SYD!) than they were pre-COVID-19, there aren't as many aircraft delayed which is a solace for air traffic controllers.

Historically I've found living in Melbourne that summer storms are 'worse' than those in winter, counterintuitive as that seems.

 

[serfty]

Just landed ... first time I have heard rain/hail from row 6 on a 737

 

[Melburnian1]

One I missed - apologies - was that on Sunday 30 November, QF2 (B789 VH-ZNC), the 0950 hours LHR - DRW took off at 1034 but then travelled on the more southerly 'traditional' route, losing time en route and arriving at 1316 on Monday 1 December, 91 minutes behind. The second sector then saw takeoff at 1503 with SYD arrival at 2025, 80 minutes tardy.

I haven't looked at every QF2 since this passenger flight recently resumed, but the other two or three viewed took the northerly route over Denmark and Mongolia, rather than via Greece, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 3 December, QF2 from LHR arrived DRW at 1156 hours, 11 minutes behind with B789 VH-ZNG. However the second sector due to push back at 1315 did not see takeoff until 1417, resulting in a 40 minute tardy arrival in SYD at 1945.

Also on 3, QF2 from LHR (the 0950 hours with VH-ZNC) did not become airborne until 1045, so DRW arrival on Saturday 4 is estimated as 1236, 51 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 6 December 2021's QF2, the 0950 hours LHR - DRW - SYD pushed back at about 0953 in London but from the limited amount of what one can see on FR24, it looks as if B789 VH-ZNG is either returning to the terminal or joining the back of the queue again. Further information would be welcome.

It could be a problem with the aircraft, or a passenger, or something more benign.

UPDATE: By 2130 AEDT (1030 UK time), the aircraft had disappeared from the FR24 site. From past AFF discussion, sometimes this is due to interference from a building.

FURTHER UPDATE: By 2132 (1032), the FR24 site was claiming 'delayed 2006 (hours' that may refer to a new delayed landing time in DRW on Tuesday 7, which if so would be 501 minutes later than the schedule4d at gate time of 1145. (By 2144 AEDT, FR24 had updated it to '2015 hours'.

The QF website 'flight status' however is far more optimistic, suggesting that QF2 will depart LHR at 1045 - in seven minutes - so it may just be a passenger became sick and has had to alight back in the terminal. QF claims DRW at gate arrival time of 1220, only 35 down.

By 2150 AEDT (1050 UK time), the Heathrow Airport site was showing a suggested departure at 1130, 100 minutes late.

But at 2151 AEDT, the QF website suggested '1145' as the time the plane would push back. with DRW Tuesday arrival to become 1325, 100 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The above Monday 6 December 2021 QF2 from LHR has been delayed in departure from LHR until 0815 hours on Tuesday 7, the first time this has occurred since the flight recommenced AFAIK. Suggested DRW arrival on Wednesday 8 is 1000 hours, meaning SYD arrival at about 1700 - 1730.

 

[jb747]

These intense storms are continuing as at 1717 AEDT.

QF797, the 1300 hours ASP down to MEL took off early at 1300 as luck would have it, but did a couple of racecourse circuits near Bendigo and so should arrive at 1735, half an hour late.

With the airlines still operating way fewer flights into and out of MEL (and SYD!) than they were pre-COVID-19, there aren't as many aircraft delayed which is a solace for air traffic controllers.

Historically I've found living in Melbourne that summer storms are 'worse' than those in winter, counterintuitive as that seems.

Our winter doesn’t really have nasty storms. The ones you get in summer have masses of heat energy allowing the formation of really big CBs. In winter there just isnt’ the energy, and generally any CB’s are associated with frontal activity.

 

[Melburnian1]

The above Monday 6 December 2021 QF2 from LHR has been delayed in departure from LHR until 0815 hours on Tuesday 7, the first time this has occurred since the flight recommenced AFAIK. Suggested DRW arrival on Wednesday 8 is 1000 hours, meaning SYD arrival at about 1700 - 1730.

On Wednesday 8 December, this arriving QF2(D) may be forming QF11, the 2155 hours from SYD to LAX, as QFi indicates gate numbers are identical. Apart from availability of a slot ex LHR, this may be another reason why it's scheduled to depart less than 22 hours late (0815 UK time this morning), not closer to the 'new normal' of 0950 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF332 is the new designation for the delayed 'QF2' from Monday 6 whose aircraft, B789 VH-ZNG had to return to the LHR terminal.

In the past (mythical pre-COVID days), usual QFi practice was to name such flights 'QF2D', with 'D' presumably standing for 'delayed', distinguishing it from the 'correct' departure for that day.

From memory, '332' as a flight number is close to some former (or current?) QFi codeshare flight numbers.

ZNG pushed back in LHR at 0857, 42 minutes late on the amended timetable. It was airborne at 0916. Wednesday 8 DRW estimated arrival has become 1035, so departure should be at around 1205, just after 'high noon' for arrival in SYD at 1730-1745 at a guess.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2, the Tuesday 7 December 0950 hours LHR - DRW, pushed back at 1034, took off at 1047 with B789 VH-ZNJ and on Wednesday 8 is predicted to arrive DRW at 1224, 39 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

The c.22 hour delayed QF2 (which is operating as QF332) was in DRW from 1050 to 1223 hours on Wednesday 8 December, so SYD arrival should be 1753, 1368 minutes tardy.

The 'normal' QF2 spent from 1221 to 1425 in DRW today, so its arrival is suggested in SYD at 2011, 66 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

One I missed yesterday was QF68, the second of the recently initiated DEL - SYD flights (1755 hours ex DEL) did not on Tuesday 7 December become airborne until 1939, so on Wednesday 8, SYD arrival for A332 VH-EBV was at 1319 hours, 99 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 9 December 2021, B789 VH-ZNF on QF10 arrived DRW (from LHR) at 1152, seven minutes late but takeoff was not until 1411, 56 minutes after timetabled pushback. As a result, MEL arrival was 1929 hours, 34 minutes behind schedule.

A332 VH-EBV on QF68, the 1755 hours DEL - SYD did not take off until 1924 so on Friday 10, arrival was at 1336, 116 minutes late. Early days but from the limited number of departures thus far, it risks becoming a pattern.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 13 December has seen the first leg of QF67 (early risers' 0610 hours SYD - DEL with A332 VH-EBV) take off at 0658 hours, arriving ADL at 0814, 29 minutes tardy. However there was a greater delay to the second sector with takeoff at 1003 for this 0845 hours scheduled pushback, suggesting arrival in the Indian centre of government at 1636, 56 minutes late.

Inevitably, QF68 back nonstop to SYD will be delayed.

A side issue but this early QF67 timetabled departure must mean that the Sydney International Terminal has to be opened earlier than what I'd thought was its normal 0400. That it's closed overnight attracts criticism from the backpacker brigade and occasional others who don't want to pay for an hotel room overnight, preferring to 'slum it' sleeping inside an airport. There's no access to toilets if the terminal closes in the small hours.

 

[bogusidiot]

QF67 (early risers' 0610 hours SYD - DEL with A332 VH-EBV)

As someone who's been following these, I've noticed that every single QF67 & QF68 thus far has been using this same aircraft VH-EBV - I wonder if Qantas have any spare A330's to swap should this aircraft go unservicable...

A side issue but this early QF67 timetabled departure must mean that the Sydney International Terminal has to be opened earlier than what I'd thought was its normal 0400.

Emirates used to have a regular 6:00 am departure pre-covid

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 13 December has seen the first leg of QF67 (early risers' 0610 hours SYD - DEL with A332 VH-EBV) take off at 0658 hours, arriving ADL at 0814, 29 minutes tardy. However there was a greater delay to the second sector with takeoff at 1003 for this 0845 hours scheduled pushback, suggesting arrival in the Indian centre of government at 1636, 56 minutes late.

Inevitably, QF68 back nonstop to SYD will be delayed.

QF68 (VH-EBV), the 1755 hours Monday 13 December DEL - SYD was airborne at 1938 so on Tuesday 14 SYD arrival was at 1257, 77 minutes late.

We don't have a large sample but so far, QF68 has poor timekeeping.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 17 December saw QF1 (B789 VH-ZNG) arrive DRW at 1913, 27 minutes early but the second leg due to depart at 2210 was not airborne until 2233, resulting in LHR Saturday 18 arrival at 0614, 69 minutes late. However this should be in plenty of time to form the 0950 hours midmoning QF2 back to DRW and SYD.

Also on Friday 17, the unpunctuality of QF68 (DEL - SYD) continued, with arrival at 1216, 36 minutes behind for A332 VH-EBO.