Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[OATEK]

On Sunday 3 July, A388 VH-OQD arrived at its LHR gate as QF7001 (i.e. a delayed 'QF1') at 2149 hours, 914 minutes late.

It quickly turned around and formed QF2, the 2105 hours ex LHR that departed at 0009 hours on Monday 4 (184 minute slate), but did not take off until 0043. Heathrow has only a limited number of takeoffs and landings in the 'small hours' so this move probably required permission. SIN arrival today is estimated as 2031 hours, 186 minutes behind the timetable, so SYD arrival on Tuesday 5 is likely to be after 0800 hours.

So this is the aircraft that had a technical issue that started the rolling delays?

 

[Melburnian1]

So this is the aircraft that had a technical issue that started the rolling delays?

If you look back, Flyerqf gave some brief information that the aircraft -OQD was (obviously) eventually fixed.

Have a geezer at FR24 re VH-OQD for the last six or seven days. While like many such sites it can become 'confused' at times when flights operate a day late, the amount of red lines indicating severe delays will make your head spin.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF104, the Sunday 3 July 1055 hours late morning HNL down to SYD (A333 VH-QPE) was airborne at 1320 so on Monday 4, arrival is expected at 1921 hours, 116 minutes late, meaning that the 1925 hours SYD back up to HNL QF103 will be delayed until 2050 (and probably beyond) in pushing back.

This morning, A333 VH-QPF arrived from MNL as QF20 in SYD at 0624 hours, six minutes early. It is now operating QF23 (0950 hours SYD up to BKK) that did not become airborne until 1104 hours, so arrival should be at about 1719 hours, 39 minutes late.

The delay to today's QF19 out of SYD has become a predicted 105 minutes: 1415 hours is the further amended departure time.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQJ arrived in SYD as QF2 on Monday 4 July 2022 at 1256 hours, 766 minutes later than timetabled arrival of 0510 hours.

Problem child (see last Wednesday) VH-OQD on the next QF2 should arrive in SIN tonight at 2001 hours, 156 minutes tardy.

B789 VH-ZNJ on QF9 (1515 hours mid afternoon MEL-PER-LHR) took off at 1708 with PER arrival at gate suggested as 1845, 90 minutes behind schedule.

Although QF10 from LHR arrived in PER only eight minutes late at 1208 hours local time today, the second and final leg is not as punctual with departure at 1355 meaning projected arrival at 1923 hours in the early evening, 43 minutes tardy. VH-ZNA has the task.

A333 VH-QPC on the 1230 hours SYD - MNL QF19 was not in the air until 1446 hours so suggested at gate time in Manila becomes 2046 hours, 116 minutes late. Inevitably, QF20 will be delayed into SYD tomorrow morning.

The MEL-ADL-DEL QF69 today has lost time since arriving in ADL with A332 VH-EBQ at 0938 (33 minutes behind) as DEL arrival should be 1950 hours local time, 110 minutes tardy. This will delay the returning QF70 that 'runs express' from New Delhi down to Melbourne.

B789 VH-ZNG on the SYD across to PER and then up to FCO QF5 'newbie' is delayed at its origin with departure having been estimated at 1820 instead of 16755, though it's more delayed than that. Most times thus far, this flight has been early or on time arriving in distant FCO. The aircraft arrived late this afternoon at 1641 as QF6 ex PER and before that, FCO, so it was 36 late into SYD. To my mind, it's too tight a turnaround for a two-sector each way flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 4 July, the delayed QF1 (1555 hours ex SYD) has VH-OQK with the flight pushing back at 2011 hours, 16 minutes later than QFi had estimated.

It took off at 2031 hours. SIN arrival is estimated as 0220 hours on Tuesday 5, 245 minutes behind schedule.

The 1915 hours SYD - AKL has B738 VH-VZZ. It was taxiing by 2030, so will be close to an hour late arriving in the NZ's largest city (though not its capital).

The expected departure for QF103 (1925 hours SYD - HNL) has blown out to 2145 hours. This route (including the return QF104) has poor timekeeping in the main. Often enough, the arriving QF104 forms the departing QF103 so any cycle of unpunctuality continues.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 4 July 2022, QF75 (2025 hours SYD - YVR, B789 VH-ZNF) was airborne at 2148. Predicted at gate arrival is about 1832 hours, 62 minutes late. FR24 shows a landing time of 2118 that is ludicrous unless the aircraft had an unscheduled intermediate stop.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 4 July's QF1 (A388 VH-OQJ) arrived in SIN on Tuesday 5 at 0149 hours, 214 minutes late and took off for LHR at 0418, so London at gate arrival should be at approximately 1030 hours, 235 minutes behind the eight ball.

Tuesday's QF1 (the 1555 hours) will not depart until at least 2010 hours. Is this due to pilots being unavailable (given the need for many mandated rest hours, which combined with influenza/COVID absences may make staffing challenging) given the huge amount of continual late running? QF2 (VH-OQK) was airborne from SIN last night at 2243 hours, arriving SYD this morning at 0817, 187 minutes tardy.

B789 VH-ZNJ is on QF9 that arrived PER on Monday at 1851, 96 late, and then took off at 2101 hours with Tuesday LHR arrival becoming an estimated 0625, 80 minutes tardy.

It is unusual for QF71 from PER up to SIN to be delayed but on Monday, A332 VH-EBE arrived at 1819, 59 minutes late. The returning 1840 hours QF72 arrived PER on Tuesday 5 at 0052, a very similar 62 minutes behind the timetable.

QF163, Monday's early evening 1840 hours SYD - WLG is instead departing on Tuesday 5 (today) at 1300 hours. Perhaps QFi was ashamed of the adverse publicity it received in the 'NZ Herald' (see separate thread under 'Qantas')?

A333 VH-QPC arrived MNL last night at 2138 hours, 168 minutes behind schedule, and then departed as QF20, airborne at 2318 hours. SYD arrival this morning should be 0935 hours, 185 minutes late.

The 0930 hours SYD - ZQN, QF121, is estimated to depart at 1100.

B789 VH-ZNE is on QF64, the JNB - SYD long redeye that ought pull in to its SYD gate this arvo at 1416 hours, 49 minutes late.

A332 VH-EBQ is on QF70 from DEL overnight to MEL, with gate arrival suggested as 1429 this afternoon, 89 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2280 (Q300 VH-TQE) is the 0630 hours LST - MEL that was not airborne on 5 July until 0827 (fog?) so arrival has become 0956 hours, 126 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

As noted above, QF1 today (Tuesday 5 July) was delayed until 2010 tonight, but is further put back to 2130 hours, which would mean on departure it'd be 335 minutes late.

QF149 (1915 SYD to CHC) is suggested as pushing back 40 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 5 July, QF104 (A333 VH-QPE) arrived SYD at 2024 hours, 179 minutes behind the schedule as last night, QF103 had been similarly late.

QF162 (0645 hours morning WLG across to YD) had B738 VH-VZU but was not in the sky until 1924, and should be at its gate at 2125 (shortly), 775 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sometimes buildings interfere with signals picked up by FR24 and competitor internet sites, and on other occasions planes only show just prior to pushback, but blowed if as at 2128 hours on 5 July one can view QF1, which tonight is supposed to depart at 2130 hours.

UPDATE: QF1 (A388 VH-OQD, the 'root cause' of delays since last Wednesday), pushed back at 2148 hours.

The 1855 hours SYD - OOL (B738 VH-VXN) was still taxiing in SYD at 2150, so will be more than two and a half hours late arriving. OOL has a 2300 hours curfew (as does SYD).

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF1 took off from SYD on Tuesday 5 July at 2214 hours, being delayed by a few further minutes as freight flight QF7581 (B747 N850GT) heavy was ahead of the flagship passenger service.

QF1 should arrive in SIN at about 0339 on Wednesday 6, a repulsive time to alight or (from say 0030) check in at this intermediate stop and then wait for an 0500 or later departure for LHR. Small children may find this particularly difficult.

QF340 from APW to SYD (A333 VH-QPB, a rather odd destination to operate a weekly flight to/from) is arriving at 2235 hours, an hour behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

Updating the previous post, Tuesday 5 July's QF1 (A388 VH-OQD) arrived SIN on Wednesday 6 at 0327, taking off at 0552 for LHR where at gate arrival should be approximately 1202 hours (2102 AEST tonight), 327 minutes late.

The 5 July QF2 was airborne from LHR at 2215 so SIN arrival today is estimated as 1813 hours, 48 late.

B789 VH-ZNJ on 'the 10' from LHR to PER is arriving at a suggested 1218 hours, 38 minutes tardy. Pre-COVID, this flight had a very good punctuality record but it's not been quite as pleasing in the last few weeks.

Tuesday 5's QF6 from Rome (FCO) to PER was airborne at 1141 hours so arrival at gate should be 0915 hours, 40 minutes tardy. Punctual arrival in SYD (1605 hours) is unlikely. IF ZNG then turns around and makes a third consecutive QF5, that flight will be at least slightly delayed as it's due out at 1755 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 5 July 2022, QF143, one of QFi's worst performers for timekeeping (0930 hours SYD - AKL) took off at 1057 hours with B738 VH-VZW, arriving at gate at 1523, 48 minutes late.

Wednesday 6 has A333 VH-QPF running it, with takeoff at a similar 1039 meaning likely arrival at 1517, 42 late. This aircraft had spent overnight in SYD after arrriving from AKL so perhaps the delay was due to slow security checking in Sydney.

 

[ayebee]

Not delay related, but thought the enthusiasts here may know ...

Does anyone know why Atlas Air cargo uses Qantas QF flight numbers ?

 

[Melburnian1]

Not delay related, but thought the enthusiasts here may know ...

Does anyone know why Atlas Air cargo uses Qantas QF flight numbers ?

Wiki suggests it's because two B747-8Fs are used (exclusively) for QF's freight division.

 

[Melburnian1]

Unusually, after arriving in BNE as QF632 on Sunday 3 July at 2141 hours, 61 minutes late, A333 VH-QPH's next outing was as empty ('ferry') flight QF6102 on Tuesday 5 down to SYD, arriving at 1353 hours. Today (6), it took off on QF19 (the 1230 hours SYD - MNL) at 1321 but at this stage estimated arrival will only be 22 minutes late at 1912 hours.

Maintenance was presumably required in Brisbane but to have to work these aircraft down 700 air kilometres for the next flight is a good way to push up expenses at a time when despite a small drop in the oil price, QF's costs remain under pressure. Operating a one way flight between BNE and SYD that has only crew on board must cost at least A$10000. Some years ago, AFF's resident guru Mattg compiled an estimate and IIRC stated that MEL - SYD one way costs A$10000 so I may be conservative.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Wednesday 6 July, QF6 (B789 VH-ZNG, 1005 hours PER - SYD that earlier arrived from FCO in Perth) took off at 1112 with SYD arrival soon, at 1635 hours, half an hour tardy. This aircraft is 'forming its own', returning to PER and FCO as QF5 but will likely be delayed departing, as pushback is timetabled for 1755 but hard to achieve.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1, the 1555 hours SYD - LHR via SIN on 6 July was meant to depart on time. Then it was put back to 1615 and more recently 1630. By 1650 hours, A388 VH-OQK had not pushed back.

UPDATE: It departed at 1706 hours, 71 minutes tardy. After waiting for a few arrivals including most importantly an air ambulance from Griffith (GFF), the flight was airborne at 1732 hours to the south. SIN arrival is suggested as 2303 hours, 48 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

VH-OQD landed in LHR on Wednesday 6 July as the delayed QF1 at 1205 hours, so by the time it gets to the terminals - for ease I allow five minutes as a 'median' - it'll be 335 minutes late.

Stablemate VH-OQJ arrived in SIN tonight as QF2 at 1809 hours, 44 minutes late.

As suggested above, QF5 (1755 hours SYD - PER - FCO) is delayed, with the aircraft B789 VH-ZNG on its now familiar route taking off at 1900 hours for mooted PER arrival at 2142, 52 minutes tardy. QF651, the 'regular' 1825 QFd offering was in the sky at 1932 so its arrival ex SYD and in PER should be not far behind at 2211, a very similar 51 late.