Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

There could be many reasons (maintenance, crew not having had sufficient required rest, slow security screening, delays with luggage loading or others) but once again, QF2 has failed to get away from LHR in a timely fashion. On Wednesday 6 July, 'problem child' A388 VH-OQD took off on this 2105 hours flight at 2252 hours, so on Thursday 7, SIN arrival is estimated as 1849 hours, 84 minutes behind schedule.

QF1 with VH-OQD arrived SIN last night at 2257, 47 late but overstayed, becoming airborne this morning at 0144 hours, so LHR arrival this morning local time is estimated as 0737, 62 minutes tardy.

B789 VH-ZNK yesterday as QF10 took off from LHR at 1305, 70 minutes after scheduled pushback, so today its arrival in sunny PER should be 1240 hours, an hour late. Expect something similar (or a bit less) in Melbourne early this evening.

QFi must be close to being the least punctual long distance (anything say over eight hours) into and out of London Heathrow, not a welcome 'award'. Years ago the company had to front Heathrow management to explain its shocking timekeeping, as like many major airports at the time, LHR was under pressure re slots and naturally wanted to minimise late running. Nothing much has changed re QFi there, sadly.

'The 69' from MEL across to ADL and up to DEL has A332 VH-EBS. It isn't predicted to push back until 0930 hours from the former, 75 minutes tardy, so will be late into DEL, but may pick up a bit of time enroute or during the usually efficient ADL intermediate stop.

QF103 (A333 VH-QPC) attived HNL (ex SYD) at 0938 on 6 July, 28 late but departure back down to SYD was delayed, taking off at 1207 hours so suggested arrival today back in Australia becomes 1817 hours, 52 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Thursday 7 July 2022, QF69 (1005 hours ADL - DEL) was not up up and away until 1219 so arrival tonight in the Indian capital should be at 1950, 110 minutes late. Aircraft remains A332 VH-EBQ. It had not taken off from MEL until 1007 hours on the first leg, a longer than predicted delay (see above).

 

[mitti]

QF1 left Sydney on time today for the first time in many days. A miracle!

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1 left Sydney on time today for the first time in many days. A miracle!

QF2 (A388 VH-OQD) arrived in SIN on Thursday 7 July 2022's evening at 1842 hours, 77 minutes late. It had yet to take off by 2026 SIN time (2226 AEST). (Scheduled pushback is 1930, so it'll be late into SYD on Friday 8's early morning).

'The 9' from PER to LHR has B789 VH-ZNB: it was airborne from PER this evening at 1957, 67 late so tomorrow's LHR arrival should be at about 0544 hours, 39 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 7 July saw QF2 (2105 hours LHR - SIN - SYD) takeoff from its initial departure location at 2218 hours with A388 VH-OQK, so on Friday 8, SIN arrival (at gate) will be around the 1817 hours mark, 52 minutes tardy.

QF10 arrived in MEL last night at 1914 hours, 34 minutes behind schedule with B789 VH-ZNK.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 8 July 2022, QF179 (1015 hours SYD across and up to NLK) is predicted to depart at 1125 hours.

I am not there but FR24 suggests SYD may be down to one runway. QF433, the 1000 hours SYD - MEL (B738 VH-VXS) looks as at 1133 to be first in the takeoff queue, so it's at least 70 minutes late. QF645 (VH-XZK) is the 1025 hours SYD across to PER, which at 1135 hours was another five aircraft back waiting for takeoff clearance.

The 0845 hours SYD - DBO (QF2040, Q400 VH-LQL) had not started to taxi in Sydney by 1145 hours, but ZL's 0815 hours wasn't hugely ahead, so perhaps there was fog at this inland city this morning.

If this single runway only (the east-west) continues, delays will build during the afternoon, as 1135 hours is offpeak.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF11, the 8 July SYD - LAX (B789 VH-ZND) did not take off until 1130 hours so estimated same day arrival is 0737 hours, 37 minutes tardy.

B738 VH-XZA on the 1030 hours midmonring SYD - NLK (QF179) was in the sky at 1236 for anticipated arrival at 1535, 85 minutes late.

A333 VH-QPJ on QF19 (1230 hours SYD - MNL) departed at 1405 hours, so should be more than an hour late arriving. This is despite the aircraft overnighting in SYD. Perhaps late connecting passengers from MEL or BNE?

With continuing single runways ops in Sydney, QF1435 (Q400 VH-QOP, 1235 hours SYD - CBR) had not even commenced taxiing by 1411 hours.

QF528 (1305 hours SYD up to BNE, B738 VH-VYK) had similarly not done so by 1416 hours.

UPDATE: QF19 should arrive MNL at 1959 hours, 69 minutes tardy.

 

[JohnK]

Just advised by SMS QF549 1h10m delay tonight.

I'm guessing quite a few similar delays tonight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Just advised by SMS QF549 1h10m delay tonight.

I'm guessing quite a few similar delays tonight.

EY451 (B773 A6-ATS) is the 1515 hours SYD - AUH using runway 34L, and likely to take off a little after 1610 hours, but all other aircraft bar such as QF7 (B789 VH-ZNI) seem to be using the east-west runway 25. Obviously, delays will compound at busier times such as when you're travelling, unfortunately.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF451 (1430 hours mid afternoon 8 July SYD down to MEL: B738 VH-VZB) was third in the takeoff queu at YD as at 1619 hours, so is at least 80 minutes late.

The MCY to SYD QF903 (VH-VZC) is the 1210 hours up up and away at 1459, but arriving shortly at 1627, 152 minutes behind schedule.

Delays are highly variable, and in some cases arrivals in Sydney are within the 15 minute window where a flight is considered 'on time'.

 

[JohnK]

Obviously, delays will compound at busier times such as when you're travelling, unfortunately.

Absolutely no doubt I'm a jinx.

QF549 delayed and offered seat on QF545. I thought sweet until I got into lounge and received another SMS that QF545 is delayed.

The moral is you can't cheat fate....

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1 (A388 VH-OQD) is the 1555 hours Friday 8 July 2022 QF1. It departed SYD at 1633, and took off at 1651 via the east-west runway 25 with expected SIN arrival at 2245 late this evening, half an hour behind the timetable. QF7 had preceded it but used the north-south 34L.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 8 July, QF148 (A333 VH-QPC), the 1740 hours late afternoon AKL to SYD was airborne at 1843, arriving at 2003 hours, 43 minutes tardy.

QF163 (B738 VH-XZA, the 1840 hours SYD - WLG) departed at 2003 hours so another 'late night' for what has recently been a controversial flight given the 0100 hours curfew in the antipodean Windy City.

QF103 (1925 hours SYD - HNL, often a late runner) has A333 VH-QPH and similarly departed at 2003.

Mercifully, single runway working in Sydney looks to have ceased, so JohnK and other travellers may suffer fewer 'delay minutes.' QF483 (1830 hours SYD - MEL, B738 VH-VZK) was about to take off at around 2010 so earlier delays are not easily eradicated.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1 left Sydney on time today for the first time in many days. A miracle!

On Friday 8 July, VH-OQD on 'the 1' was only 16 minutes late arriving in SIN at 2231 hours. However it did not take off for LHR until 0151 hours (scheduled pushback is 2345 hours) so on Saturday 9, estimated arrival becomes 0750 hours, 75 minutes late.

Similarly, QF2 (A388 VH-OQK) arrived in SYD on 9 July at 0612 hours, 62 minutes late, and the next one, operated by stablemate VH-OQJ, took off from LHR on 8 July at 2233 (2105 being timetabled pushback) so on Saturday (today) should arrive in SIN at 1830, 65 minutes behind time.

mitti, QFi is back to its normal self. What is it about QF that unlike its major competitors such as SQ, QF cannot seem to run at anything close to time so frequently on the LHR - SYD route in particular? Although LHR - PER - MEL (Qf9/QF10) is operated by different aircraft in the B789s, so different flight crews, it also isn't as punctual as prior to COVID_19, although nowhere near as shocking as QF1/QF2.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF149, 1115 hours SYD - AKL is expected to depart at 1200 'high noon' on Saturday 9 July.

The LHR to PER QF10 (B789 VH-ZNB) should arrive today at 1223 hours, 43 late, so an on time MEL arrival is unlikely.

VH-ZNJ is on its opposite number, 'the 9' that arrived PER on Friday 8 at 1803 (47 late) but promptly took off at 1942 for suggested Saturday 9 LHR arrival at gate at 0542 hours, 37 minutes behind the timetable.

QF103 yesterday was 28 late arriving in HNL with A333 VH-QPH but in a frequent occurrence, overstayed compared to the allowance in HNL, so takeoff yesterday was at 1218 hours with likely arrival in SYD on Saturday at 1822 hours, 57 minutes behind schedule.

B789 VH-ZNE is on Saturday's QF63, the 0935 hours SYD across on the lengthy trek to JNB. It was airborne at 1053 hours so expected arrival is 59 minutes late at 1639 hours.

A332 VH-EBQ had another late start on the 0815 hours initial Saturday 9 July sector for QF69, MEL to ADL (the 0815 hours that was not in the sky until 0924). It arrived in the Wine City at 0958 hours, 53 late, but FR24 asserts it won't depart for DEL until 1115 hours ACST, 70 minutes tardy.

 

[OATEK]

QF1 on Sat 9/7 got away a few minutes early! A miracle?

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1 on Sat 9/7 got away a few minutes early! A miracle?

Don't get too excited. Miracles are rare, and as the Catholic Church correctly suggests, have a lot of requirements before acceptance.

Perhaps proving my point, QF1 on Sunday 10 July 2022 (the 1555 hours mid afternoon SYD - SIN - LHR) is altered to depart at 2100 hours mid evening (although FR24 suggests '2000 hours'). Let's hope for passengers booked that this doesn't translate into an unexpected overnight stay in Sydney. A388 VH-OQJ arrrived this morning in SYD at 0607, 57 late as QF2 ex SIN and before that LHR, so I don't know why tonight's return (should be the same aircraft) is delayed.

A332 VH-EBQ arrived on Saturday 9 in DEL (QF69) at 1850 hours, 50 late, so the return working QF70, the redeye, should be back in MEL this afternoon at 1403 hours, 63 minutes behind schedule.

When checking early this morning, fog in Melbourne wasn't causing any noticeable delays, but QF151 (0710 hours MEL - AKL, B738 VH-VZW) was not airborne until 0759, suggesting at gate arrival of 1316 hours, 31 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Sunday 10 July, QF91 (B738 VH-XZE, the 0740 hours SYD - NOU early morning 'points plane' as it may soon become) took off at 0852, arriving at 1227, 57 minutes tardy. The day before, this flight arrived 40 late while on 3 July it was 124 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[OATEK]

Don't get too excited. Miracles are rare, and as the Catholic Church correctly suggests, have a lot of requirements before acceptance.

Perhaps proving my point, QF1 on Sunday 10 July 2022 (the 1555 hours mid afternoon SYD - SIN - LHR) is altered to depart at 2100 hours mid evening (although FR24 suggests '2000 hours'). Let's hope for passengers booked that this doesn't translate into an unexpected overnight stay in Sydney. A388 VH-OQJ arrrived this morning in SYD at 0607, 57 late as QF2 ex SIN and before that LHR, so I don't know why tonight's return (should be the same aircraft) is delayed.

A332 VH-EBQ arrived on Saturday 9 in DEL (QF69) at 1850 hours, 50 late, so the return working QF70, the redeye, should be back in MEL this afternoon at 1403 hours, 63 minutes behind schedule.

When checking early this morning, fog in Melbourne wasn't causing any noticeable delays, but QF151 (0710 hours MEL - AKL, B738 VH-VZW) was not airborne until 0759, suggesting at gate arrival of 1316 hours, 31 minutes tardy.

OQJ was parked in the usual spot behind the hangers near QANTAS Drive this morning, with no obvious activity around it.

 

[Melburnian1]

OQJ was parked in the usual spot behind the hangers near QANTAS Drive this morning, with no obvious activity around it.

Thank you OATEK. Does this suggest a crewing 'rest' issue? With the punctuality having so terrible until about Thursday of this week, perhaps pilots/first officers and so on are so tired, or insufficiently rested? Perhaps though, it's merely staff shortages given the influenza season is active as is COVID-19.

How much of a toll does late running takes on people in such occupations? If one was meant to originally continue with a 'tour of duty' in 12 hours but it'd now be 24 or 28 hours before crewing resumed on an aircraft, sleep could well be fitful and jetlag even worse. But I'm no sleep psychologist.