Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF1 (from 29 June) has now been cancelled.

Wednesday 29 June's QF5 arrived PER at 2133 hours, 43 minutes tardy, but ths 2220 hours did not depart until 2348 or take off for FCO until midnight, although arrival is estimated at 0858, 13 minutes late. Presumably the winds are favourable.

B789 VH-ZNA on the 28 June 2022 QF9 (1850 hours PER - LHR) was in the sky at 2125 so arrival became 0639 hours, 94 minutes behind on Wednesday 29. QF10 (1155 hours ex LHR) was up up and away at 1250 so arrival on Thursday 30 June in PER at gate should be shortly - 1246, 66 minutes behind schedule. This in turn will delay the second, final sector across to MEL.

VH-ZNK on 29 June's QF(3 (2130 hours mid evening MEL - LHR) was airborne at 2226 hours, so same day arrival was 67 late at 1937.

 

[Melburnian1]

Problems continue on the QF1 'flagship route' with Friday 1 July 2022's flight expected to push back in SYD at 2100 hours mid evening instead of 1555 hours, 305 minutes late. Saturday 2 arrival at LHR is mooted as 1250 hours, 375 late if my maths is correct.

On Wednesday 29 June, QF2 departed LHR 27 minutes late at 2132 with SIN arrival expected early this evening SIN time at 1755 hours, 30 minutes behind.

The Thursday 30 QF2 (the 2105 hours) is delayed overnight to an expected LHR pushback at a nicely timed 1230 hours - no rising at 0400 in an hotel - with the SIN stop 0850 to 1020 hours on Saturday 2 July, and gate arrival in SYD at 2000 hours mid evening, 890 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF10 on Thursday 30 June 2022 arrived MEL at 2023 hours, 143 minutes late with B789 VH-ZNA after yesterday taking off from LHR at 1250 hours, only about 35 minutes behind schedule.

'The 10' in its previous six trips from PER to MEL has arrived 90, 76, 66, 33, 17 and 56 minutes behind schedule, so only once has it been under my benchmark of '30 minutes late' that is more accommodating than the standard 'under 15 minutes late at gate' used by statisticians.

Is it adverse winds plus problems at Heathrow such as slow check-in/security or occasionally flight deck staff not having enjoyed the minimum mandated rest period? All the cabin crew are normally London-based are they not?

Tonight, the QF10 arrival is forming QF93, the 2110 hours mid evening MEL - LAX that is nominally delayed until 2205 in pushing back.

If QF93 runs late, it may imperil some connections to JFK and elsewhere in the USA.

 

[Melburnian1]

With a brief look one couldn't see any obvious adverse weather around Fiji (it's not cyclone season), but competitors VAi and stablemate JQi have had SYD - NAN flights delayed this morning, as has QF.

The latter's flight 181 (B738 VH-VZU), the 0835 hours, was airborne at 1019 hours so suggested arrival is 1555, 80 minutes tardy.

VH-XZA on QF169 (1030 hours SYD - NLK) took off at 1148 with predicted at gate arrival becoming 1446, 36 minutes tardy.

The 1230 hours lunctime SYD - MNL, QF19, is delayed a suggested 40 minutes in pushback so is unlikely to arrive much before 1910 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

To use 'back in my day it was better' makes one sound elderly (plus it wasn't always 'better'), but we can legitimately compare pre-COVID-19 with today - a sort of Limbo.

Pre-COVID, QF10 often, perhaps almost always, ran on time or was early arriving in PER.

However, continuing the recent tardiness, on Thursday 30 June 'the 10' took off from LHR at 1241 hours, arriving PER today (Friday 1 July) at 1237, 57 minutes behind schedule. B789 VH-ZNB should have taken off if on time at about 1530 AEST (1330 AWST) but has yet to do so as at 1550 hours AEST.

QF19 from SYD at 1230 hours today was airborne at 1333 hours so predicted at gate arrival for A333 VH-QPC becomes 1931, 41 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

As advised above, Thursday 30 June's QF2 should depart LHR at 1230 hours local time today (Friday 1 July).

However QF2 today is itself delayed overnight, suggested as becoming an 0830 hours departure on Saturday 2.

Amazing that QFi has so many major disruptions compared to the likes of SQ and many others. QR hasn't had a perfect record of punctuality from SYD for its evening departure lately, but it's way better than QFi.

The decision to have two different routes into LHR (MEL-PER-LHR and SYD-SIN-LHR) serves varying markets and is impossible to prudently financially achieve with the same aircraft model. However, using two differing 'types' has substantially reduced QFi's operational flexibility. There's also a marked seating capacity difference.

We need to assess six months down the track but at this early stage, delays are unacceptable, and almost constant.

Intermediate passengers in SIN are also affected and may sometimes have to check-in and board at less than ideal times, though perhaps QFi places such travellers on flights like QF36 to MEL or QF82 to SYD if there's seats available.

Given QFi mostly charges premium fares higher than competitors on the 'Kangaroo Route', the distinct lack of punctuality is far from optimal. The one benefit is arriving in LHR or SYD at c.0510 hours is way too early, especially for leisure travellers who aren't connecting, as without paying extra it's often impossible to check into an hotel room until 1400 hours or later. If flights are an hour or more late, that wait reduces.

 

[popeoferuke]

The overnight delayed QF1 (from 29 June) has now been cancelled.

Wednesday 29 June's QF5 arrived PER at 2133 hours, 43 minutes tardy, but ths 2220 hours did not depart until 2348 or take off for FCO until midnight, although arrival is estimated at 0858, 13 minutes late. Presumably the winds are favourable.

B789 VH-ZNA on the 28 June 2022 QF9 (1850 hours PER - LHR) was in the sky at 2125 so arrival became 0639 hours, 94 minutes behind on Wednesday 29. QF10 (1155 hours ex LHR) was up up and away at 1250 so arrival on Thursday 30 June in PER at gate should be shortly - 1246, 66 minutes behind schedule. This in turn will delay the second, final sector across to MEL.

VH-ZNK on 29 June's QF(3 (2130 hours mid evening MEL - LHR) was airborne at 2226 hours, so same day arrival was 67 late at 1937.

Wednesday's QF1 wasn't cancelled. It departed at 1845hrs on Thursday 30/6 almost 27 hours after scheduled departure. It arrived in LHR about an hour ago.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday's QF1 wasn't cancelled. It departed at 1845hrs on Thursday 30/6 almost 27 hours after scheduled departure. It arrived in LHR about an hour ago.

Thanks. IIRC, I took that cue from the SYD Airport website, so it must have again changed after 1257 hours when I submitted the post.

 

[Melburnian1]

The early evening QFi departures from SYD to Kiwiland are often late. On Friday 1 July 2022, so are major competitor NZ's.

QF149, the 1925 hours SYD - AKL (B738 VH-XZE) had not taken off by 2029 hours. Its previous flight was QF164 from WLG, arriving SYD at 1807 hours, 37 minutes behind schedule.

Friday 1's QF1 remains showing as a 2100 hours predicted pushback from SYD as noted above. Added to this, tomorrow afternoon's QF1 is suggested as departing at 2130 hours from SYD, so is unlikely to be arriving in LHR on Sunday 3 much before 1230 hours.

Friday 1's QF9 (B789 VH-ZNK) arrived in PER at 1745 hours, half an hour behind schedule, so may still be on time or better into LHR.

 

[popeoferuke]

Yes, it showed up initially on the Flight status screen of SYD Airport as QF1D then not long before departure it was changed again to QF7001.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes, it showed up initially on the Flight status screen of SYD Airport as QF1D then not long before departure it was changed again to QF7001.

Thanks: latter is an unusual flight number. The '60XX' series usually indicates an empty positioning ('ferry') flight. I can't recall the last time I saw one in the '70XX' series.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 2 July 2022, QF69 (0815 hours MEL - ADL - DEL) is expected to depart 45 minutes late.

A388 VH-OQJ on the Friday 1 delayed QF1 was airborne last night at 2225 hours, arriving SIN at the unattractive time of 0417 this morning. It then took off for LHR at 0632, ten minutes ago as I write, so arrival at gate is estimated as 1251 hours, 376 minutes behind the timetable.

VH-OQD is on the overnight delayed southeast bound QF2 that was in the sky at LHR on Friday 1 at 1407 after pushing back at 1341. SIN arrival today (2) should be 0955 hours, 1010 minutes late. QFi is unrealistically estimating it will depart the city state at 1105 for SYD arrival mid evening at 2045 hours.

From the gate numbers, this aircraft is forming the delayed QF1, nominally showing as a '2130 hours departure'. My guess is this will be impossible. There is some chance that QFi may have to ask the Federal Department of Transport's delegate for approval for taxiing after 2245 (which IIRC is the requirement, rather than media concentration on a '2300 hours curfew'). Our esteemed (former main line) aviator filled us in re this pre-COVID-19 but as with many such blogs, the reference is difficult to search.

 

[Melburnian1]

A media report in 'The Australian' this morning claims 'high hopes' for airline travel during the school holidays as 'Qantas scrambles to get back on course'.

However on Saturday 2 July, there are quite a lot of QFd cancellations ex MEL.

QF1596 to NTL at 0605 was the first to not operate, then came QF406, QF418 and QF422 and at 0630, 0800 and 0830 hours to SYD plus QF1551 at 0820 down to HBA as further no-shows. QF1543 to LST is also cancelled (the 0850 hours). QF432 to SYD at 1000 and the later 1400 hours (QF448) have also been axed. QF454 at 1500 hours MEL - SYD is another that isn't running.

There has been fog predicted this morning in MEL (though not apparent to me many kilometres from Tullamarine) but other airlines don't seem as affected as QFd (VAd has a few cancellations), so perhaps there are staff shortages due to influenza/COVID-19. Given it's school holidays, it'd be harder to combine flights as bookings should be heavy.

 

[Flyerqf]

From the gate numbers, this aircraft is forming the delayed QF1, nominally showing as a '2130 hours departure'. My guess is this will be impossible.

The inbound OQD (as the delayed QF2) is due at 2140. So your prediction of this being impossible is looking even more likely. I suspect it will be delayed overnight.

QF1/2 has had rolling delays since Wednesday due OQD going tech. Initially the flight was cancelled but then was able to take off late on Thursday.

They probably should have left it cancelled to avoid all the delays further down the line for multiple days.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF9, the Saturday 2 July 2022 1515 hours MEL - PER - LHR B789 is expected to depart shortly at 1600 hours from the former.

 

[Melburnian1]

The inbound OQD (as the delayed QF2) is due at 2140. So your prediction of this being impossible is looking even more likely. I suspect it will be delayed overnight.

QF1/2 has had rolling delays since Wednesday due OQD going tech. Initially the flight was cancelled but then was able to take off late on Thursday.

They probably should have left it cancelled to avoid all the delays further down the line for multiple days.

I don't have a window into QFi's decision making but it's possible that the company had its collective eye on school holidays, as flights are busier (and for northwest bound on QF1, passengers are travelling to LHR during the UK summer, a popular time to get away from wintry conditions in Victoria and NSW (not that one can rely on the UK to be sunny!)

The overnight delayed QF2 in London was to depart at 0830 on Saturday 2, but became 0930 hours. I can't see it on FR24: often not a good sign.

 

[Melburnian1]

Flyerqf, our joint hypotheses were correct (yours being definitive!), as the SYD airport site has (again) changed to show today's QF1 (the 1555 hours to SIN and LHR) delayed until 0630 on Sunday 3 July in its departure from SYD.

This will have repercussions for passengers to/from SIN, and also for the Sunday 3 2105 hours LHR back down to SIN and SYD QF2.

Happy times.

Somehow, the schedules will eventually recover. Does QFi have a 'spare' A388 at times with the current schedules, given IIRC only VH-OQD/J/K are operable? Three of these giant flying machines are having their cabins refurbished in AUH: VH-OQB/C/H, while VH-OQF is being scrapped and -OQE is allegedly to follow.

 

[Melburnian1]

With overnight delays of long distance flights (not just at QFi), it'd be fascinating to know what percentage of passengers on a typical flight are badly disadvantaged (businessmen who have appointments within a few hours of a scheduled early morning arrival, those rushing to a funeral that isn't in London but say in Penzance, requiring a transport connection or long drive, travellers with a booked cruise or other event starting soon) versus passengers who can live with such a delay (VFR market is one example).

No one ever does this research.

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-EBP on the 2 July ADL - DEL QF69 is suggested as arriving at gate at 1837 hours, 37 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Flyerqf]

Somehow, the schedules will eventually recover. Does QFi have a 'spare' A388 at times with the current schedules, given IIRC only VH-OQD/J/K are operable?

That’s correct. The 388’s are flying at full utilisation 100% of the time. They urgently need a 4th aircraft back in operation as a spare. In a few weeks there will also be QF11/12 returning to 388 service which will take up another 2. So hopefully they are planning on having 6 in operation allowing 1 spare.