Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Also on Anzac Day (25 April 2022), QF19, the 1230 hours lunchtime SYD - MNL (A333 VH-QPB) was only about 10 minutes late in becoming airborne at 1302 but arrived 38 minutes late at 1928 hours. This will at least slightly delay redeye QF20 back to SYD.

A332 VH-EBM has been in SYD all day but as of 2201 hours had yet to depart on the 1955 hours transcontinental SYD across to PER (QF653). If this aircraft is forming a redeye back across in the 'small hours' to the east coast, that flight will be delayed.

The 2025 hours SYD - YVR departed at 2158 hours (93 minutes tardy) with B789 VH-ZND that as previously mentioned had arrived this evening from YVR, very late. QF75 tonight became airborne at 2217. QFi says arrival same day will be at 1843, 73 behind (FR24 stupidly claims '2146 hours').

As the end of a holiday weekend in Oz, there's a fair amount of late running: QF491 (B738 VH-VXR), the 2045 hours SYD - MEL was in the sky at 2220 hours, more than an hour late.

 

[flydoc]

Delays affecting the QF-marketed, QQ-operated DRW-ASP-ADL routes the past couple of evenings. The services are timed to cross each other in ASP.

Yesterday QF1956 ADL-ASP operated 2 hours late and the E190 that had punctually operated QF1960 DRW-ASP was around 3 hours on the ground awaiting it. Both return services QF1957 and QF1961 therefore operated late. Both aircraft returned to their points of origin, VH-UYN to DRW and VH-UYW to ADL, the latter beating the curfew by 10 min

This evening QF1960 (VH-UYU) operated 2 1/2 hours late and VH-UYW, which had also operated QF1956 a little late, waited 1 3/4 hours in ASP for it, resulting in both return services also running late. Again both aircraft returned to their points of origin, so presumably the flights are interdependent. Not sure why but possibly for connecting pax who choose to fly ADL <-> DRW via ASP due to the premium on the fare for the direct route.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I'd guess a crewing situation, presumably avoids 2 sets of overnights.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF333 previously operated from BNE to in-the-news APW a week ago, but a Tuesday 26 April 2022 0630 hours flight from SYD to APW via BNE (also QF333) has been delayed by 24 hours.

A333 VH-QPA on Monday 25's QF81 from SYD to SIN arrived four minutes early at 1811 hours, but return redeye QF82, the 2100 hours, was not airborne until 0022 on Tuesday 26 April, so estimated SYD arrival is 0942 hours, 172 minutes late. These flights are usually punctual or early.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Tuesday 26, QF151 (B738 VH-XZC) as the 0915 hours MEL - AKL was in the sky at 1011 with arrival half an hour behind at 1520 hours.

B789 VH-ZNG (QF1, 1545 hours SYD - DRW - LHR) took off at 1638 hours so a 32 minute late arrival at DRW at 2012 hours is the expectation. This aircraft had arrived in SYD at 1341 hours, 16 minutes late as QF64 overnight from JNB.

While not yet true for all of QF's fleet, increased utilisation has benefits but the drawback is little or no redundancy if say the incoming QF64 is significantly delayed. Thankfully unlike 'the 1' at times, 'the 64' generally has good to excellent timekeeping.

How well are aircraft cleaned internally given in this case it's just undertaken QF63 and 64 in rapid succession, and then limited time in Sydney?

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Tuesday 26 April, QF149, the 1915 hours early evening SYD - AKL is expected to push back an hour late while the similarly timed QF139 to CHC (the 1925 hours) is suggested as having an identical departure, 50 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 25 April saw the late night QF12 (2255 hours ex LAX for SYD, A388 VH-OQK) not take off until 0019 hours on Tuesday 26, so SYD arrival today (Wednesday 27) was 0807 hours, 72 minutes behind. It then returned to LAX on the 1015 hours QF11 that was not airborne until a little while ago at 1158 hours. Predicted same day arrival has become 0758 hours, 58 minutes behind schedule.

QF143 (0930 hours midmorning SYD - AKL, A333 VH-QPH) is back to its old tricks with the aircraft not pointing skywards until 1102 hours, so expected at gate arrival is 1546, 71 minutes late. This aircraft had overnighted in DSydney but even with that advantage failed to take off at anything close to time. This flight is often delayed more than half an hour arriving in Auckland.

B738 VH-XZC on QF151 (0915 hours MEL - AKL) was not in the sky until 1041. Predicted at gate arrival is 1601 hours, so identically to the SYD flight, it should be 71 late.

The 1230 hours lunchtime SYD - MNL, QF19 is expected to depart an hour late.

A332 VH-EBS from ADL to DEL, the continuation of this MEL-orginating flight was airborne from the wine capital at 1042 so a half hour late arrival at 1830 is the expectation. The return working is another QFi flight that lacks good punctuality.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 27 April, the forecast delay to QF19 of an hour became longer with A333 VH-QPI arriving in SYD as QF513 from BNE, the at gate time in the former becoming 1039 hours, six minutes early. It would have toddled across to the international terminal, with takeoff at 1439 meaning suggested MNL arrival at gate at 2023 tonight, 93 late and only 12 minutes before QF20 is supposed to push back.

B789 VH-ZNK came in from JNB and was at its SYD gate today at 1323, two minute early, a creditable performance. It then more or less immediately was prepared for QF7, the 1540 hours SYD - DFW that wasn't up up and away until 1723 hours, so expected Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas arrival is 1701, 61 minutes tardy. The limited time in Sydney is good utilisation but there's not much recovery time if the inbound '64' is delayed for any reason.

B738 VH-VZY is operating QF43 on Wednesday 27, the 1625 hours SYD - DPS that was airborne at 1728 for estimated at gate arrival at 2139 hours, 34 minutes late mid evening local time up there.

 

[flydoc]

Booked to fly ASP-ADL QF791/737 today.
Delayed inbound QF790 ex-SYD this morning

Efficient ASP groundstaff noted looming missed connection and no space on subsequent SYD-ADL flights, and rebooked me onto QF797/693 prior to my arrival at airport. Nice recovery.

 

[Melburnian1]

Another recently (resumed) flight is QF139, the 1925 hours evening SYD - CHC. Given the two hour time difference, it is scheduled to arrive in the South Island "capital" at 0030 hours the next morning.

On Wednesday 27 April 2022, it has B738 VH-VZX but as it did not take off until 2056, expected arrival is 0142 hours, 72 late.

Going backwards for the previous four days of operation, it was 88 late, 107 late, 38 late and 45 late. Poor punctuality, so perhaps a flight to avoid if you have a business meeting in the morning at 0900.

QF43 (Thursday 27) is the 1625 hours afternoon SYD - DPS (VH-VZY). It was airborne at 1728 hours with gate arrival suggested as 2146 hours, 41 behind. Three of the four other most recent flights have been similar in their tardiness.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 27 April saw QF20 (delayed by the late inbound QF19) take off from MNL at 2205 hours with A333 VH-QPI. On Thursday 28, the flight should arrive in SYD at 0743 hours, 73 minutes behind schedule.

Tuesday 26's QF12 (A388 VH-OQK) departed at 2308 hours and was airborne at 2330, but has diverted to BNE, arriving at gate on Thursday 28 at 0636 hours, 19 minutes before the timetable states it ought be pulled up in SYD. This is the first time for many months (if not a couple of years) I've seen this, but may have missed other examples. QF suggests that the aircraft will push back in BNE at 0745 hours (in 10 minutes) with SYD arrival at 0915 hours.

Optimistically, Thursday's QF11 from SYD back up to LAX is only estimated to suffer a 45 minute delay in its departure today, from the normal 1015 hours to 1100.

UPDATE: The '12' pushed back in BNE at 0739, but only took off at 0816 hours. SYD arrival was 0937 hours, 162 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Thursday 28 April, QF11 took off at 1231 hours so expected same day arrival in DFW is estimated to be 90 minutes late at 0830 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Thursday 28 April 2022, A333 VH-QPH on QF104 from HNL down to SYD arrived at 1836 hours, 71 minutes late. The inbound flight yesterday (to HNL) was 38 minute stardy arriving but the Airbus then spent excess time on the ground.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 30 April, QF63 (0935 hours morning SYD - JNB) has been altered to instead depart at 1050 hours on Sunday 1 May with arrival at gate expected at 1700 hours on Sunday, 1560 minutes behnd schedule. This is rostered for a B789.

B738 VH-XZE had overnighted in Melbourne but as QF151 (0915 hours to AKL on 30 April) it's had a shocker of a delay, with takeoff at 1236 meaning suggested arrival at 1754 hours, 184 minutes late.

The 0930 hours SYD - AKL (QF143) had another bad day, taking off at 1041 hours with A333 VH-QPA and arriving 46 late at 1521 hours mid afternoon.

A388 VH-OQD is on QF11 (1015 hours SYD - LAX) that was airborne at 1126. At this stage, at gate arrival should be 37 late at the appropriate time of 0737 hours.

QF81 (1110 hours SYD - SIN) has a very good record of timely arrival but today was an exception with VH-QPI (A333) finally taking off at 1404 hours. Expected arrival is 2009 hours, 139 minutes behind schedule. This will delay QF82, the 2100 hours redeye back to SYD, or the similar QF36, the 2045 hours ex SIN. Sometimes the aircraft from Sydney and Melbourne swap in SIN and return to the other Oz capital, a practice that QFi undertook prior to COVID-19. It's reassuring some things have not changed.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 30 April 2022, QF9 is expected to arrive LHR at 0555 hours, 50 minutes late as despite arriving DRW on Friday early evening at 1815 hours (only five minutes late), it departed 87 minutes late from the NT capital. Aircraft is B789 VH-ZNC.

Also on Saturday 30, the 1430 hours mid afternoon QF9 is predicted to push back at 2100 hours, not the first time this has recently occurred.

QFi in the last couple of weeks has had quite a lot of punctual London/Darwin/Sydney or Melbourne and reverse flights ("punctual" by my and official measures being under 15 minutes late arriving at gate) and previously added extra time (30 minutes) to schedules to try to ensure this occurred more regularly. But it's having problems with its B789s given they're now being worked more intensively and becoming probe to delays, something not true in every case of some of its other models of planes.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Saturday 30 April, QF94 arrived from LAX in MEL at 0640 hours, 40 minutes late with B789 VH-ZNB.

QF96 (the weekly second flight) arrived on the same route at 0855 hours this morning, half an hour late with VH-ZNJ.

 

[flyingfan121]

I see QF93 and QF95 have both been canceled tomorrow. Received this helpful message from Qantas ~ 28 hours before I was due to depart:

We are sorry we had to cancel your flight QF95 from Melbourne at 14:40 on Sun 1 May. Go to Manage Booking via qantas.com/yourbooking or the Qantas App to review the options available to you (including Flight Credit or refund). If your booking was made through a travel agent, contact your travel agent for options available to you (including a refund). If a pre-departure COVID-19 test is a requirement, ensure you check and confirm the validity of your test result still meets the timeframe outlined or you may be denied boarding. Check your travel requirements at qantas.com/travelready

 

[tm.smile]

I see QF93 and QF95 have both been canceled tomorrow. Received this helpful message from Qantas ~ 28 hours before I was due to depart:

Have they rebooked you onto something else?

 

[flyingfan121]

Have they rebooked you onto something else?

I jumped on to the website as soon as i got the message and was luckily able to change to ADL-SYD-DFW-EWR from my original ADL-MEL-LAX-JFK. Expertflyer was showing availability for SYD-DFW as Y3 when i booked, was at zero in all classes a few minutes later.

Wasn't going to chance it waiting for the call center to pick up and find me a flight... Though, am currently on hold trying to get a later Dallas - NYC flight, qantas would only give me the one option for DFW to ERW, and the 90-minute connection in DFW is making me nervous

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 30 April 2022, QF149 (B738 VH-XZH, the 1915 hours SYD - AKL) was not in the sky until 2024, so expected arrival on Sunday 1 May is 0105 hours, 45 minutes tardy.

B789 VH-ZNF arrived MEL tonight at 1924 hours, six minutes early, as QF10 from LHR and today, DRW. Departure of QF9 back to these locations was put back not to just 2100, but 2110, with this aircraft, and occurred then. Something must have gone wrong with another B789 as it's abnormal for 'the 10' (due in at 1930) to form 'the 9' (due out five hours earlier at 1430 hours).

QF9 was pointing skywards at 2128 mid evening so expected DRW arrival on Sunday 1 May is 0054 hours, 404 minutes behind schedule.

Incredibly, B738 VH-XZE on QF152 (early riser 0600 hours Saturday 30 April AKL - MEL) only took off at 1959 hours so at gate arrival has become 2142 instead of 0815, so 807 minutes late. If passengers had to front at AKL at 0300 hours (not knowing about the delay), they'd be very tired (as might the crew).