Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF9 on Thursday 21 July took off from MEL at 1915, far later than forecast, but became an A333 VH-QPJ (probably due to rosters being out of whack - see above). The A333 should arrive in PER at 2057, 222 minutes late. This A333 had arrived MEL at 1655, 45 late as QF156, the 1355 hours afternoon AKL down to MEL.

I assume VH-ZNK (B789) on the 33.5 hour delayed QF10 will terminate in PER and then run QF9 nonstop back to LHR. QF10 should arrive in PER at about 2020 local time tonight, so as I write it's about two and a half hours from that airfield. Let's hope it doesn't need any time consuming maintenance.

Pre-COVID in 2019 and before, occasionally QF9 would operate with an A333 (and perhaps more rarely, a B738) if there was a B789 problem but since the flight recently ditched DRW and resumed via PER, I can't recall similar.

 

[789nerd]

QF9 on Thursday 21 July took off from MEL at 1915, far later than forecast, but became an A333 VH-QPJ (probably due to rosters being out of whack - see above). The A333 should arrive in PER at 2057, 222 minutes late. This A333 had arrived MEL at 1655, 45 late as QF156, the 1355 hours afternoon AKL down to MEL.

I assume VH-ZNK (B789) on the 33.5 hour delayed QF10 will terminate in PER and then run QF9 nonstop back to LHR. QF10 should arrive in PER at about 2020 local time tonight, so as I write it's about two and a half hours from that airfield. Let's hope it doesn't need any time consuming maintenance.

Pre-COVID in 2019 and before, occasionally QF9 would operate with an A333 (and perhaps more rarely, a B738) if there was a B789 problem but since the flight recently ditched DRW and resumed via PER, I can't recall similar.

Assumptions correct, also the A333 (VH-QPJ) departed Perth for Melbourne at 22:58 AWT as the onward QF10 leg in place of VH-ZNK

 

[Melburnian1]

QF164 from WLG to SYD has been delayed overnight and is expected to arrive on Friday 22 July at 1330 in the early afternoon.

QF138, the 0735 hours early morning arrival from CHC into SYD was cancelled. If any solace, Air NZ is also experiencing cancellations and delays on TransTasman flights.

VH-QPJ as QF9 should arrive in LHR at its gate on Friday 22 July at 0809 hours, 184 minutes late.

Also on Friday, QF2 arrived SYD at 0722, 147 minutes behind schedule.

B789 VH-ZNI on QF10, the 1155 hours Thursday 21 ex LHR took off at 1303 so today, 1229 hours is the mooted PER arrival, 49 late. This will make it challenging to arrive in MEL less than 20 minutes late.

QF6 (FCO down to PER) should arrive today at 31 minutes late with B789 VH-ZND as it was airborne yesterday from FCO at 1149 hours, 59 minutes after timetabled gate departure.

Friday 22's B789 as QF9 MEL - PER - LHR is expected to depart the Victorian capital at 2030 hours mid evening, 315 minutes late, so depending on its operation, QF10 ex LHR on Saturday 23 may be at least slightly delayed (the 1155 hours).

 

[OATEK]

VH-QPJ as QF9 should arrive in LHR at its gate on Friday 22 July at 0809 hours, 184 minutes late.

According to FR24 VH-ZNK took over QF9 from PER to LHR.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

QF164 from WLG to SYD has been delayed overnight and is expected to arrive on Friday 22 July at 1330 in the early afternoon.

QF138, the 0735 hours early morning arrival from CHC into SYD was cancelled. If any solace, Air NZ is also experiencing cancellations and delays on TransTasman flights.

WLG airport was closed most of yesterday due to high winds (gusting over 110 kph at airport and over 150 kph at the nearby entrance to Wellington Harbour). This ha had knock-on impacts to flights today due to aircraft and crew (and pax from diverted or cancelled flights) being in the wrong place.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 22 July, QF10 from PER across to MEL should arrive at 1913 hours, 33 late with B789 VH-ZNI. This aircraft appears to be forming the 2110 hours QF93 to LAX, so in theory this example of standard current practice should see the latter depart on time (though not with much of a margin as two hours for long distance ex LHR to the same up to LAX isn't generous).

VH-ZNJ on the delayed QF94D ex LAX looks to be coming in to MEL at 1859 so logically (unless corrected by informative 789nerd!) it must be forming the badly late QF9 to PER and LHR, a mirror image of the tasks alloted to ZNI. Hard to see 'the 9' being off blocks at 2030 as advertised: 2100 or later is my guess.

The WLG - MEL QF172 on Friday night has B738 VH-XZK with suggested arrival to be 63 minutes late at 1908 hours.

QF102 from NAN down to SYD is similarly delayed with suggested at gate time becoming 1913, 53 behind for VH-XZG.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 22 July, VH-ZNI (B789) arrived MEL as the delayed QF94D at 1902 hours, and promptly 'turned around', pushing back at 2057 and taking off on QF9 at 2106, so snappy. Whether fair or not, one wonders at the standard of cleaning on board under such pressure.

The PER stop is estimated from 2244 to midnight (maybe a tad optimistic) with LHR arrival becoming 1015 hours on Saturday 23, 310 minutes behind schedule. Based on recent performance, the flight might spend excess time on the ground in Perth but pick up at least 20 minutes net on the flight to LHR.

QF10 (the 1155 hours) isn't displaying as delayed on Saturday 23 from London, but watch this space as too early to be definitive.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF72 is normally reliable and punctual on its relatively short international SIN down to PER flight, but on Friday 22 July, although A332 VH-EBK only arrived in SIN 14 minutes late at 1734, the return flight is expected to depart at 1950 hours, not 1840, so PER arrival should be some time after the 2350 hours schedule.

Amusingly, the badly delayed QF9 is tracking (at a higher flight level) just behind QF763, the 1935 hours MEL - PER on Friday 22 July that took off at 2102, four minutes ahead of QF9. The latter is estimated to beat QF763 (A332 VH-EBE) so the A332 should be 70 late arriving at its PER gate at 2250.

 

[789nerd]

Continuing with Friday 22 July, VH-ZNI (B789) arrived MEL as the delayed QF94D at 1902 hours, and promptly 'turned around', pushing back at 2057 and taking off on QF9 at 2106, so snappy. Whether fair or not, one wonders at the standard of cleaning on board under such pressure.

The PER stop is estimated from 2244 to midnight (maybe a tad optimistic) with LHR arrival becoming 1015 hours on Saturday 23, 310 minutes behind schedule. Based on recent performance, the flight might spend excess time on the ground in Perth but pick up at least 20 minutes net on the flight to LHR.

QF10 (the 1155 hours) isn't displaying as delayed on Saturday 23 from London, but watch this space as too early to be definitive.

The PER stop for QF9 was from 22:36, having made up 8 minutes from MEL, to pushback at 00:15 hrs local, and take off at 00:28 hrs local. As I write this, Qantas Flight Status still shows "delayed" with 00:15 depart, it also now shows a 10:20 hrs BST arrival i.e. 315 minutes late. The return QF10 should however be relatively on-time, if one allows for the stated 40min to 1 hour average delay at LHR.

 

[Melburnian1]

The PER stop for QF9 was from 22:36, having made up 8 minutes from MEL, to pushback at 00:15 hrs local, and take off at 00:28 hrs local. As I write this, Qantas Flight Status still shows "delayed" with 00:15 depart, it also now shows a 10:20 hrs BST arrival i.e. 315 minutes late. The return QF10 should however be relatively on-time, if one allows for the stated 40min to 1 hour average delay at LHR.

Great information, but as I write, FR24 is even more optimistic, suggesting (allowing my usual five minutes for taxiing) B789 VH-ZNJ will arrive LHR at gate at 0951 hours, 286 minutes late. This would give the aircraft 124 minutes for a timely departure as QF10 back down to PER and eventually MEL. Still, not much of a margin: no allowance for any holding pattern into LHR, nor can there be time for proper cleaning.

A333 VH-QPI on QF20, the MNL down to SYD redeye arrived on Saturday 23 July 34 minutes tardy at 0704 hours.

'The 72' (SIN to PER, A332 VH-EBK) was at its arrival gate this morning 66 minutes behind its timetable, at 0106 hours.

QF123 (0700 Saturday early morning SYD - ZQN) has B738 VH-VZY that did not become airborne until 0821 hours. Mooted arrival is 39 late at 1239 hours local time.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPF arrived on Friday 22 July in SYD at 1942, 17 late as QF476 ex MEL (the 1800 hours).

However on Saturday 23, its first flight, the infamous timekeeping-wise QF143 for AKL was not expected to push back until 1028.

UPDATE: 'the 143' took off at 1101 hours, arriving 62 minutes tardy at 1537.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 23 July's QF9 has B789 VH-ZNB. It pushed back an hour late at 1615, becoming airborne quickly at 1625, despite having been in MEL since arrival this morning at 0811 hours (11 minutes ahead of schedule) on QF96 from LAX. Is slow luggage loading into ULDs, or tardy security screening, to blame?

The PER stop is estimated as 1800 to 1930 with Sunday 24 LHR at gate arrival 0550, 45 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The badly delayed QF9 (B789 VH-ZNI) arrived LHR on Saturday 23 July at 1017 hours, 312 minutes late. When it departed PER this morning at 0013 local time, it was 323 late so a minimal 'gain' of nine minutes start to stop.

The pressure will be on to get 'the 10' out of LHR not too late. In theory: achievable. Often it forms QF93 (2110 hours MEL - LAX) the next night, which doesn't give it enormous leeway if it's late on blocks in the southern east coast capital.

A388 VH-OQD (1555 hours SYD-SIN-LHR QF1) was initially airborne at 1721, so Lion City gate arrival looks about 2313 late tonight, 58 minutes behind the eight ball.

These London flights are experiencing a lot of difficulty running punctually, a bad look when most competitors are able to achieve this the majority of the time.

QF141, the far shorter distance SYD - AKL due out at 1915 hours is predicted to do that 35 minutes behind schedule.

 

[789nerd]

The badly delayed QF9 (B789 VH-ZNI) arrived LHR on Saturday 23 July at 1017 hours, 312 minutes late. When it departed PER this morning at 0013 local time, it was 323 late so a minimal 'gain' of nine minutes start to stop.

The pressure will be on to get 'the 10' out of LHR not too late. In theory: achievable. Often it forms QF93 (2110 hours MEL - LAX) the next night, which doesn't give it enormous leeway if it's late on blocks in the southern east coast capital.

The above mentioned QF93 has been dropped from the Timetable, rather than cancelled, as has the return half of the rotation : QF94.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 23 July saw the delayed QF9 form a late QF10 ex LHR, with B789 VH-ZNJ taking off at 1316 for estimated Sunday 24 PER arrival at gate at 1231, 51 minutes behind schedule.

QF9 yesterday was in PER from 1800 to when it became airborne at 2018, so Sunday LHR arrival should be about 0607, 62 behind for ZNB

A388 VH-OQD was in SIN from 2321 (66 behind) to 0134 this morning, so QF1 ought be in LHR at around 0752, 77 minutes tardy.

A332 VH-EBR on the MEL-ADL-DEL QF69 arrived yesterday 38 minutes past its timetable at 1838, but the return QF70 is only an estimated 14 late into MEL this afternoon. This is a nonstop on the return.

QF103 (1925 hours lengthy flight SYD up to HNL) is expected to depart an hour late on Sunday 24.

 

[Melburnian1]

In theory it's a good idea (subject to maintenance requirements) to engage an aircraft on the same flights on multiple consecutive days.

QF103-QF104 SYD-HNL and return seems ideal: northbound, flight time is around nine hours and 15 minutes, and southbound often less than ten and a half hours, so that allows around two hours at each end to turn around. Manageable if nothing goes wrong.

However A333 VH-QPC started such a rotation on Friday night 22 July and has steadily lost time.

On Thursday 21 after arriving from HNL at 1726 hours, a whole one minute late, the aircraft overnighted in SYD before taking out 'the 103 the next night (Friday 22 July), becoming airborne at 1945, so on time. However it didn't arrive HNL until 0958, 48 minutes late. QF104 (the 1055 hours) was in the sky at 1229, arriving Sydney on Saturday 23 at 1824 hours, 59 minutes tardy.

QPC then again ventured northwards, pointing skywards at 2056 and with the significant International Date Line time difference arriving at 1019 hours, 69 late. Returning, it was in the sky at 1228 (remarkably similar to the previous day), arriving SYD on Sunday 24 at 1851 hours, 86 minutes delayed.

Tonight, QF103 with its favourite jet was airborne bang on 2100 hours mid evening. Suggested arrival is 1018 hours, 68 minutes late, making it all but impossible for the 1055 hours southbound to be anything close to time.

Give 'the bird' a rest tomorrow night!

 

[flydoc]

Exact events as yet unverified but the B738 that operated QF728 SYD-AYQ today has positioned to ASP as QF6161, with QF729 AYQ-SYD cancelled. QF791 departure ASP-SYD is delayed approx 3 hrs to 1630-ish. Potentially the B738 that operated QF790 SYD-ASP is unserviceable for the return leg.

Almost 4 weeks since the above, another set of flight shuffling involving irrops at AYQ.

Started with the cancellation of today’s QF722/723, which was to be the final B738-operated ADL-ASP flight pairing, with the QQ E190 service resuming tomorrow

Some ADL-bound pax who moved to the later ASP-MEL QF797 then got a further unexpected scenic. That aircraft operated via AYQ, to transport the ASP QF engineer to inspect VH-XZD which had a bird strike.operating the inbound QF728 ex SYD.

XZD then operated AYQ-ASP, presumably with pax, then ASP-SYD: potentially moving the last of the earlier ADL-bound pax unable to be accommodated on 797 or on earlier flights via BNE or SYD

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 25 July 2022, B789 VH-ZNE on QF12 from LAX to SYD has diverted into and out of BNE, having a(refuelling?) stop from 0545 to takeoff at 0703 hours, with suggested arrival in Sydney becoming 0824, 89 minutes late, so not hugely late in such circumstances.

This B789 looks to be forming QF63, the 0935 hours SYD - JNB so expect it to be off blocks at least 45 minutes late. In turn, if 'the 63' is delayed more, so will 'the 64' back from JNB today overnight to old Sydney town.

 

[sqrt()]

QF151 MEL-AKL 0710 A330 service delayed ~1h this morning because of:

1. Late tow over from T1
2. No ground/baggage team available
3. Catering delay

Bags only going on now.

On the bright side, crew taking advantage of delay to get engineers to reboot the entire IFE system because some are currently non-functional.

 

[Melburnian1]

I have to say, sqrtO, what a terrific photo! (In)action packed.

FR24 claims QF151 will be commencing its taxiing at 0800 (i.e. 'off blocks' or pushback then). Looks unlikely. This flight is an A332 today, as it seems to be three days a week, the other four days reverting to a smaller B738.