Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Must...Fly!]

It's not like there's anyone else flying the route at the moment. There's not really any threat if they do keep having to cancel.

 

[Melburnian1]

These scenarios are like living in hope that a flight may leave, you can’t plan things accordingly and are totally in limbo. I get delays, etc but QF is really not delivering on any of these products at the moment. 4 nights in a row qf 93 cancelled. What certainty does one have that this flight is going to go tomorrow night or the next night or next week?

We all know there's only two certainties in life.

Seriously, though, each day is different. Past history can be a good guide but it's not a given that the future will exactly match.

At present QFi unexpectedly has had B789 VH-ZNE inoperable since Saturday 9 April 2022 (see above for the collision). As with any transport operator, planning to use equipment or rollingstock and then suddenly finding it's out of service may cause delays or cancellations. Realistically we can't expect QFi (or any other air or surface operator) to have spare options sitting around idle. Even if it did in some Nirvana, there's every chance it'd be in the wrong place for immediate replacement use.

SYD is far and away the major QFi base in Oz. Working a plane down to MEL if available and when another goes awry is costly, and staff intensive. There are other considerations unique to 2020-2022 such as in some states, those who are considered 'close contacts' of COVID-19 must isolate for up to a week. Most unhelpful to staff availability, and in some industries, staff just take a seven day paid holiday with no illness proof (or 'contact' proof) required. (I'm not saying the latter is the cause of QAN delays, but it's been highlighted by employer bodies covering a wide spectrum of Oz industry sectors).

With the current situation, regrettably you face a fair prospect of this flight being flicked at relatively short notice.

 

[jrfsp]

I don't believe this was the case yesterday or this morning, but another B789 flight, QF7 (1540 hours mid afternoon SYD - DFW) looks to have been cancelled, possibly at short notice, on Easter Sunday, 17 April 2022. Did the aircraft fail, or were staff suddenly unavailable as a result of being a 'COVID-19 close contact and required to isolate', catching the virus or some other reason?

This long distance flight was also cancelled on 12 and 14 April 2022. Not ideal.

All is not lost, as QF95, the weekly 'extra' MEL - LAX that normally departs at 1440 hours is delayed until 2100 from MEL mid evening, so it's possible if there are spare seats for passengers to fly SYD to MEL to connect in plenty of time, and once in LAX, connect on to a domestic for the journey to their final destination.

Couldnt find flight crew to operate the flight

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed Easter Sunday 17 April 2022 QF95 (the 1440 hours mid afternoon MEL - LAX) took off at 2127 hours with B789 VH-ZNI that arrived from LHR and most recently DRW at 1908 hours, an unusual 22 early as QF10.

LAX arrival is suggested as 1758 hours same day, 358 minutes late.

 

[Scr77]

QF94 on 19 April has just been cancelled. So easy to sort when you’re overseas.

Surprisingly, QF have moved us to flight that make sense and works with our domestic USA connection. Now the race is on to actually get the eTicket before the flight in 2 days.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Easter Sunday, 17 April 2022, QF143 had a rare good day from SYD to AKL, arriving only 11 minutes late.

However on Easter Monday (18) it's 'back to normal' for this poor punctuality offering, with departure of the 0930 hours scheduled flight changed to 1200 'high noon'.

QF179, the 0930 SYD - NLK with B738 VH-XZH took off at 1055 hours on Monday 18 so arrival is estimated as 1406 hours, 56 minutes late. The aircraft had arrived as QF138 16 late in SYD at 0751 this morning ex CHC, so no standout reason for the NLK's flight tardiness.

The 1230 hours lunchtime SYD to MNL QF19 (now a daily flight) has been put back to a 1345 hours arrival so it's a certainty that QF20 tonight, the 2035 hours red eye ex MNL will be delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 18 April 2022, QF2124 (1205 hours MEL - MIM, Q300 VH-SBG) was airborne at 1238 hours but looks to have returned to MEL, landing at about 1359 after having flown as far as north of Lindenow. It took an odd route back on the diversion. QFd claims this flight will depart again at 1430 hours mid afternoon for MIM arrival at 1550 hours, 145 minutes late.

QF35, as luck would have it also a 1205 hours from MEL but instead up to SIN departed at 1401 hours. A332 VH-EBR has the task. From SIN, occasionally QF35 forms QF82 to SYD overnight instead of QF36 back down to MEL.

'The 19' from SYD to MNL is timetabled to push back at lunchtime (1230 hours) but on Easter Monday, it was still taxiing at 1417 hours. VH-QPH is the A333. It was airborne at 1419, even though it had been in Sydney all morning post-arrival as QF20 from MNL. Tonight's '20' will be delayed as QF19 is expected to arrive MNL at 1944, 54 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF11 on Monday 18 April (1015 hours SYD - LAX, A388 VH-OQK) took off at 1123 hours with same day at gate arrival predicted as 31 late at 0731 hours.

The 1430 hours mid afternoon MEL - DRW QF9 has B789 VH-ZNJ and was up up and away at 1521, so DRW arrival should be at about 1849 hours, 39 late. 'The 1' from SYD to DRW is expected to push back an hour late at 1645 hours this afternoon.

MEL to SIN's QF35 (A332 VH-EBR) should arrive SIN at 2003 tonight, 148 minutes late. Often this flight is punctual or early.

 

[larrymull]

Do we know if the damage Dreamliner from last week is back in service?

 

[milehighclub]

Do we know if the damage Dreamliner from last week is back in service?

Not yet but should be by Friday all going to plan.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF1 (B789 VH-ZNA) on Easter Monday 18 April was up up and away at 1706, in line with the anticipated one hour delay. A 2038 hours arrival in DRW (ex SYD) at 2038 hours is expected. This should mean that eligible passengers from the less badly late QF9 have cleared the limited capacity former Catalina DRW lounge in use by QFi.

VH-ZNA had arrived from DFW only nine minutes late at 0644 hours this morning so the delay may have been due to slow check-ins, security or something apart from a late arrival of an aircraft.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Not yet but should be by Friday all going to plan.

Wonder what has taken such a long time? Unless the damage was more than just the cowling.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wonder what has taken such a long time? Unless the damage was more than just the cowling.

To the untrained non-aviator eye (me!), it looks like minor damage. But that mustn't be correct.

How would "they" repair it?

One factor in the length of time may be that pre-arranged leave (Easter plus school holidays) meant fewer staff were available each day.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF69, the 18 April 1005 hours ADL - DEL (A332 VH-EBO) took off at 1102 so forecast at gate arrival has become 1835 hours, 35 minutes tardy.

If it isn't further held up, QF70, the return nonstop DEL down to MEL overnight shouldn't be very late (if at all) into MEL tomorrow afternoon, judging by recent performance.

QF104 from HNL (A333 VH-QPA) arrived in SYD tonight at 1803, 38 late but thankfully its next flight, QF104 back to HNL (1925 hours timetabled from Sydney with takeoff at 2018) should see arrival less than half an hour late.

 

[milehighclub]

Wonder what has taken such a long time? Unless the damage was more than just the cowling.

I imagine a few days to assess the damage and work out what needs to be ordered, then finding those parts and getting them in. As you say, the cowling was obvious, we don't know what was damaged on the inside. I don't know if cowlings are kept at the SDC or need to be flown in from elsewhere.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I imagine a few days to assess the damage and work out what needs to be ordered, then finding those parts and getting them in. As you say, the cowling was obvious, we don't know what was damaged on the inside. I don't know if cowlings are kept at the SDC or need to be flown in from elsewhere.

I guess you're right and it has to have been more than just the cowling. I can't imagine ops and engineering didn't have this repair at the top of the list

 

[Melburnian1]

I do wonder when the schedule will be back to some sort of normal.

Easter Tuesday, 19 April 2022 sees QF9, the mid afternoon 1430 hours MEL - DRW - LHR put back to a 2105 hours departure tonight from the southern capital. This is yet another effect from QFi being one B789 down as VH-ZNE continues to be repaired following its Saturday 9 April 2022 ground incident (see a few posts back).

B789 VH-ZNG looks to be forming 'the 9'. It is enroute from LHR to DRW as QF10, with arrival fortunately expected only seven minutes late at 1327 this afternoon. Timetabled arrival in MEL for QF10 is 1930.

'2105 hours' seems a tad optimistic.

If it is a quick 95 minute turnaround for this 236 seat aircraft, how well would the passenger cabin be cleaned?

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPH arrived as QF19 on Easter Monday in MNL at 2014 hours, 84 minutes late. The return working took off at 2209 with SYD Tuesday 19 April 2022 arrival at 0750 hours, 80 late.

QF19 today is displaying as predicted to push back in SYD half an hour late at 1300 this early afternoon.

B789 VH-ZNH is operating QF64 from JNB to SYD that was in the air last night at 1818 hours, with today's arvo arrival suggested as 1355, half an hour behind.

 

[docjames]

Any ideas on yesterday’s (18/4/22) QF770 PER-MEL which diverted to ADL and again meant to head ADL-MEL early this AM, but now delayed to a 1045 arrival into MEL?

Now causing delay rolling into QF702 MEL-CNS (schedule 0945 now showing 1135) - but was being pushed into later departure from midday yesterday - so either advance planning to get the aircraft to ADL at least to allow it to get to MEL operate the CNS flight today, rather than keep aircraft in PER, or second problem….

 

[larrymull]

Easter Tuesday, 19 April 2022 sees QF9, the mid afternoon 1430 hours MEL - DRW - LHR put back to a 2105 hours departure tonight from the southern capital. This is yet another effect from QFi being one B789 down as VH-ZNE continues to be repaired following its Saturday 9 April 2022 ground incident (see a few posts back).

B789 VH-ZNG looks to be forming 'the 9'. It is enroute from LHR to DRW as QF10, with arrival fortunately expected only seven minutes late at 1327 this afternoon. Timetabled arrival in MEL for QF10 is 1930.

'2105 hours' seems a tad optimistic.

If it is a quick 95 minute turnaround for this 236 seat aircraft, how well would the passenger cabin be cleaned?

Not great I am guessing, but something has got to give. They need to start meeting schedules. The way they are using the Dreamliner seems optimistic and hard to stay on-time.