Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[JessicaTam]

I was on 460 tomorrow, but it has just been cancelled. Rebooked onto 458. Loads were pretty good so I don't think that was the reason.

My flight QF460 that became 458 (MEL-SYD) has now been delayed by late arriving cabin crew. 1530 pushed out to 1630 … maybe!

 

[tomlee1986]

My flight QF460 that became 458 (MEL-SYD) has now been delayed by late arriving cabin crew. 1530 pushed out to 1630 … maybe!

safe trip to Sydney

 

[Melburnian1]

There have been an unusually large number of delays affecting QFi flights from SYD on Friday 8 April 2022, even though the BOM site indicates weather was relatively benign at the departure point (unlike some of the last few days).

QF101 (0835 hours SYD - NAN) departed at 0934,. arriving at 1548, 73 minutes late. There has been an 'ex-Tropical Cyclone' named Fili in the Pacific so this may explain the lateness.

A333 VH-QPJ on QF143 SYD - AKL continued with its recent unpunctuality, arriving at the NZ major centre's airport gate at 1624 hours, 109 minutes late after taking off at 1122 hours for what ought have been an 0930 hours departure. The return flight, QF146, the 1615 hours was up up and away at 1815 with a 1926 hours arrival (96 late) the prediction for SYD.

B738 VH-VZQ on QF179, the 0930 hours SYD - NLK was not airborne until 1254, again probably due to inclement weather at destination or in the area.

The 0950 hours SYD - BKK, QF23 (A333 VH-QPH was in the air at 1201 hours so arrival is suggested as 1814, 94 minutes behind. The 1810 hours BKK back overnight to SYD, QF24 will be delayed.

A388 VH-OQD on the 1015 hours SYD - LAX, QF11 did not take off until 1213 hours so arrival should be 0811, 71 minutes behind. Again, was this due to cyclonic activity over the Pacific?

The morning SYD - SINB, QF81, is normally punctual or ahead of time at destination but this scheduled 1110 hours flight with A333 VH-QPB took off at 1321 hours. The estimate for at gate arrival tonight is 1904, 74 late. QF82 returning overnight isn't due out until 2100 from Singapore so in theory it ought not be delayed.

The 1230 hours (lunchtime) SYD - MNL, the now daily QF19, has A333 VH-QPD that spent overnight in Sydney, but still only became airborne at 1412 hours. Suggested arrival is 2008 hours, 78 minutes late, so the 2035 hours MNL - SYD QF20 will inevitably be late arriving SYD tomorrow morning.

QF7 (1540 hours SYD - DFW has become a six day a week operation including Fridays but today it was cancelled. The SYD airport site suggests the departure delay is exactly 24 hours. It's rare from what one has seen for this flight to be cancelled, but as utilisation of the international fleet slowly rises, perhaps this may occur a little more frequently if there's problems with B789 operations.

QF1 ex SYD on Thursday 7 April arrived LHR on Friday 8 at 0751 hours, 76 minutes late with VH-ZNB.

 

[Melburnian1]

safe trip to Sydney

QF458 wasn't as tardy as predicted, with this 1530 hours MEL - SYD airborne at 1608 hours (B738 VH-VZD) and arriving at gate half an hour behind at 1725 hours. The plane had been in MEL since 1432 so it was a slow turnaround for this size of aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

In yet another QFI today, the 1925 hours nicely timed for finishing work then heading to the airport QF103 (SYD up to HNL) is expected to push back at 2050.

It must be passengers' fault, as CEO Mr Joyce suggested today before he rescinded/qualified the comments after multiple media made a fuss.

 

[ayebee]

Interesting to note there were 3 departures from LAX for MEL this evening.
QF7780 (A330-200) dep 21.59, so is indeed an hour late, then QF94 (B787-9) dep 22.06, and appears roughly on time, and QF96 (B787-9) dep 00.21 and also on time.
Good to see more traffic on this route, but 3 flights on the same night seems like "good old times"

 

[Melburnian1]

Interesting to note there were 3 departures from LAX for MEL this evening.
QF7780 (A330-200) dep 21.59, so is indeed an hour late, then QF94 (B787-9) dep 22.06, and appears roughly on time, and QF96 (B787-9) dep 00.21 and also on time.
Good to see more traffic on this route, but 3 flights on the same night seems like "good old times"

Isn't QF7780 a freight flight?

It isn't 'old times' yet because QFi used (pre-COVID) to have at least a daily A388 on this route but two B789s (236 seats apiece) have fewer seats than one A388. QF96 appears to only be once a week so on the other six nights, seating capacity is c.50 per cent down on pre-virus times.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delay to Friday 8 April 2022's QF103 (SYD - HNL) was worse than expected, with takeoff of A333 VH-QPJ at 2136 hours, meaning likely arrival (same day) at 1053 hours, 103 minutes behind schedule. Yesterday's flight was 84 late.

 

[ayebee]

Isn't QF7780 a freight flight?

maybe, but I understood VH-EBR is not configured purely for freight.
Looking at FR24, it originated from the remote gates at western part of LAX.
Could be a positioning flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Last night the QF7 (SYD - DFW) scheduled for Friday 8 April was displaying as delayed for 24 hours.

It and today's QF7 are both cancelled. This is most unusual to have two Sydney - Texas flights consecutively given the bullet.

Of the 11 QFi B789s, VH-ZNK has been in SYD since Friday 8 morning, and may be defective, while ZNC, ZNF and ZNG have all arrived this morning form international flights.

QF101 from SYD to NAN, the 0835 hours on Saturday 9 April 2022 is expected to depart at 0715 hours on Sunday 10, presumably due to adverse cyclonic-type weather.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 9 April 2022, the overnight MNL - SYD QF20 arrived at 0730, an hour late, with A333 VH-QPD.

VH-QPH on QF24 ex BKK was worse, puling in to its gate in SYD at 0828, 118 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Saturday 9 April 2025 SYD - YVR, QF75 was at short notice delayed overnight. Departure will be at 1155 hours on Palm Sunday, 10 April 2022. This will mean QF76 will be tardy.

Quite a few problems are starting to emerge with the QFi B789 schedules as the fleet gets used somewhat more.

 

[OATEK]

The Saturday 9 April 2025 SYD - YVR, QF75 was at short notice delayed overnight. Departure will be at 1155 hours on Palm Sunday, 10 April 2022. This will mean QF76 will be tardy.

Quite a few problems are starting to emerge with the QFi B789 schedules as the fleet gets used somewhat more.

I do wonder how many of the delays are caused by staffing issues. Heard it mentioned on my last B789 flight, and also a lot of staff issues for other airlines (eg BA).

 

[Melburnian1]

I do wonder how many of the delays are caused by staffing issues. Heard it mentioned on my last B789 flight, and also a lot of staff issues for other airlines (eg BA).

In relation to having to isolate due to being exposed to a close contact who's caught COVID-19?

An Englishman I was talking to today claimed that in the past week, more than 1 in every 14 aults in the UK had caught it.

In Australia, official figures suggest it's lower, but 'iso' being mandatory has been criticised by employers as awarding employees (in any sector, not just aviation) a free seven day holiday (i.e. on sick leave).

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 10 April 2022, the overnight delayed QF75 (SYD - YVR) was airborne at 1332 hours, so arrival same day for B789 VH-ZNB should be at 1013 hours, 878 minutes late.

This will delay the Friday 9 2225 hours YVR - SYD, QF76 until a suggested 1140 hours on Sunday 10, which seems a little optimistic. SYD arrival is suggested as 1945 hours on Monday 11, which is likely to be a slight underestimate of the delay.

QF23 (Sunday 10, the 0950 hours SYD - BKK) took off at 1225 hours with A333 VH-QPJ. Arrival should have been a few minutes ago at 1823 hours, 103 late.

Most unusually for a flight that is sometimes on time or not badly late when it arrives at LHR, QF1 (the 1545 hours Sunday SYD - DRW - LHR) has been delayed in SYD departure until a predicted 0700 hours departure on Monday 11. Maybe lack of staff due to COVID-19 mandatory iso?

 

[OATEK]

In relation to having to isolate due to being exposed to a close contact who's caught COVID-19?

An Englishman I was talking to today claimed that in the past week, more than 1 in every 14 aults in the UK had caught it.

In Australia, official figures suggest it's lower, but 'iso' being mandatory has been criticised by employers as awarding employees (in any sector, not just aviation) a free seven day holiday (i.e. on sick leave).

My sense is that covid is a leading cause of delay, and alongside it is the inability of airlines and airports to draw back staff they let go during the pandemic. An FA who regularly did the QF7/8 runs was last seen driving for Sydney Trains. Would she take the chance and come back, or stay where she is settled?

 

[Melburnian1]

My sense is that covid is a leading cause of delay, and alongside it is the inability of airlines and airports to draw back staff they let go during the pandemic. An FA who regularly did the QF7/8 runs was last seen driving for Sydney Trains. Would she take the chance and come back, or stay where she is settled?

A friend told me that 'most' QFi/QFd staff who worked for c.18 months for NSW Train Link (separate to Sydney Trains) as long distance passenger/buffet attendants 'went back' a small number of months ago.

IIRC, Mattg remarked he was on a train (possibly to Griffith?) and every passenger was addressed by name. He said this was unusual on trains. They do it when checking tickets (as the staff look at an iPad and address you by your first name), but beyond that, yes, not normal.

Some airline staff, especially if they were cabin attendants, may have discovered that jobs with various railways/tram and bus operators are either better paid or see one at home more often, or sometimes both. My guess is there'll be others who love the lifestyle and /or direct passenger contact, plus allowances, of (say) being an international cabin attendant and who couldn't wait to get back in the air.

For airport staff, unless they were managerial, most might well earn more working in rail jobs and possibly even driving trams or buses, or (not that there are many vacancies) working on say Sydney's ferries.

I also know of one QF pilot (I assume domestic) who was based in Cairns but to come back had to take the equivalent position in Melbourne. Apparently he chose to do that. My informant didn't say if the gent had a family: if so, it'd be a major uprooting, but justifiable at that higher paid level.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday 10 April 2022 QF1 that was delayed overnight (see above) was rescheduled to depart SYD at 0700 hours on Monday 11 but ended up taking off at 0839 hours with VH-ZND. Too early to suggest what time it will arrive in LHR.

This aircraft had arrived this morning at 0512 hours, only two minutes late, as QF2 from LHR.

The Monday 11 QF1 (the 1545 hours ex SYD) is predicted to depart at 2115 mid evening, 330 minutes late.

Tonight's QF75, the 2025 hours SYD - YVR has been delayed overnight and is expected to depart on Tuesday 12 at the unusual time of 1315 hours.

B789 VH-ZNB arrived in YVR on Sunday 10 April at 1017 hours and quickly turned around to form the 2225 hours Saturday 9 April YVR - SYD that departed at 1205 hours on Sunday. SYD arrival on Monday 11 should be at 2017 hours mid evening, 827 minutes later than the scheduled 0630. This means passengers connecting to domestic destinations in Oz will have to stay overnight in SYD, as even to MEL on a Monday at present the latest scheduled flight is QF497 at 2130 hours, so given it's in a different terminal, that would be a too tight connection.

There may be some maintenance or other downtime in the B789 rosters to enable schedule recovery, but given the few days prior to Good Friday are the start of one of the busiest annual travel periods, it's not ideal to have aircraft delayed overnight.

OATEK's point about possible staff unavailability, compounded by COVID-19 isolation requirements, are other flies in the ointment.

 

[Melburnian1]

A further delay - possibly weather-related - is QF179, the 0930 hours SYD - NLK that has been deferred by more than 24 hours to 1020 hours on Tuesday 12.

QF143 (0930 hours SYD - AKL) continues being untimely, with suggested departure shortly at 1100. This flight is often formed by an international arrival on the same morning. It is rarely less than half an hour late arriving in AKL, and going by recent days, often a fair bit worse.

The bonus is one receives the A333 standard of accommodation in J on a relatively short flight, so perhaps a good one to redeem on FF points.

 

[CMA222]

NLK has ex-cyclone Fili passing to the east of the island, closest this afternoon. Gale warning and heavy rain. Not great flying weather.