Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[antycbr]

But while depreciated, these A388s are not 'cost-free' to maintain every day, so when was the 'extra one' scheduled to re-enter revenue passenger service?

Good question but the Aussies stuck in GYD is top of the news right now so the cost of not sending the rescue flight is immense.

 

[789nerd]

This is a pretty good recovery by QF. Luckily OQG had just returned from storage and they had an extra at SYD, they could use to send a recovery flight.

Unlikely to have had an 'extra', as OQG operated QF11 on Friday (albeit delayed) in place of a B789, and is currently on turnaround at LAX, prior to bringing the previously B789 operated return QF12 back. Checking the timetables, this A380 instead of a B789 on Friday's QF11/QF12 is a permanent change.

 

[Flyerqf]

Unlikely to have had an 'extra', as OQG operated QF11 on Friday (albeit delayed) in place of a B789, and is currently on turnaround at LAX, prior to bringing the previously B789 operated return QF12 back. Checking the timetables, this A380 instead of a B789 on Friday's QF11/QF12 is a permanent change.

The extra A380 is actually because all 6 are operational at the moment. OQG coming out of storage has allowed QF11/12 to go more days 388, and not having ant frames in maintenance at the moment (wing spar checks) created the extra.

The A388 gradually returns to 6 weekly 388 over coming weeks (excluding Thursdays, which is to rotate the 787 through the LAX mx facility)

 

[Melburnian1]

Still on Saturday 24 December, QF67, the 0930 hours SYD-BLR took off at 1106 with A332 VH-EBS, so gate arrival at 1701, 76 late is anticipated. This will delay QF68's return.

A388 VH-OQK on 'the 11' was up up and away at 1301 this afternoon, so same day morning arrival in LAX (ex SYD) should be at about 0656 hours, 51 minutes tardy.

B738 VH-XZD as QF102 from NAN down to SYD, the 1435 hours was in the sky 65 minutes later so arrival becomes 1902, 47 behind.

The A333 from SYD to HNL at 2040 mid evening is estimated to depart 75 late at 2155 as QF104, the arrival on the reverse route is estimated to be at its SYD gate at 2051 hours tonight, 131 minutes tardy.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is QF holding spares across not only for the A380 but across the rest of the fleet?.

 

[jpp42]

This flight along with QF87/88 to/from ICN and QF19/20 to and from MNL has to be one of the worst performers, though some TransTasman flights also suffer numerous delays.

I think this is because these flights can in theory be operated with just two airframes shuttling back and forth on a ~10hr flight with 2h turnaround, but there are too many problems that crop up, and there's no way to make up time until the airframe is replaced with one out of maintenance.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPB arrived SYD on Friday 23 December 2022 at 2139 hours, 109 minutes late as QF148 ex AKL. As noted above, the SYD-MNL for Saturday 24 was delayed from 1225 in pushback to a predicted 1900, with QPB forming it, so the aircraft must have needed attention in Sydney. It took off at 1923 tonight with MNL arrival estimated as 0013 hours on Christmas Day, 403 minutes late.

QF20 back to SYD will be unable to depart until at least 0050 hours local time (0350 AEDT).

A388 VH-OQG on QF12 from LAX should arrive SYD on 25 December at about 0909 hours, 34 late.

OQJ is on 'the 1' this evening, becoming airborne from SYD at 1822 with estimated SIN arrival 2301, 51 late. This flight does not have a great timekeeping record.

VH-OQB, another A388, arrived LHR as QF1 on 24 December at 0714 hours, 59 minutes late. The scheduled 23 December QF2 (2040 hours) has been further put back to an estimated 1030 hours departure from London today, 830 minutes late. This will use OQB.

 

[Flyerqf]

Is QF holding spares across not only for the A380 but across the rest of the fleet?

Yes. There are 2 787s in SYD not operating today and would have been 1 380 spare if the QF1 recovery wasn’t required. There are also 2 A330. Qantas has publicly stated they are holding spares to improve operational performance.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 'ferry' flight QF6025 (A388 VH-OQD) arrived at GYD at 2120 hours local time (0420 AEDT Christmas Day) on Saturday 24 December 2022.

By 0004 local time on Christmas Day (0704 AEDT), it had yet to depart. It may have to wait until the semi-official ban on (most) night flights lifts at Heathrow from 0600 hours, and may also be departing at a more civilised hour.

VH-OQB on the overnight delayed QF2 was meant to depart LHR (as amended) at 0930 hours on 24 December but this became takeoff at 1030. SIN arrival looks to be 0711 hours, 821 minutes late.

A332 VH-EBO on the redeye from DEL down to MEL should arrive on 25 December at 1236 hours, 31 minutes behind.

'The 19' arrived MNL last night at 2357 hours, 387 minutes late with A333 VH-QPI then as usual forming QF20, the scheduled 1920 hours MNL-SYD that was up up and away at 0142 hours on Christmas Day. Expected SYD at gate arrival becomes 1217 hours, 362 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yes. There are 2 787s in SYD not operating today and would have been 1 380 spare if the QF1 recovery wasn’t required. There are also 2 A330. Qantas has publicly stated they are holding spares to improve operational performance.

In the specific thread regarding the A388 that had to divert to Baku, AFFers remarked that pre-Christmas didn't seem overly busy, and that "only" 356 passengers on that A388 (when because it's peak time, you'd expect it to be full or almost full) may indicate the predicted consumer downturn is already biting.

QFi's extremely high fares may not help it to fill planes, so maybe bookings haven't been as good as expected - hence easier to have 'spare' planes and claim it's only to aid punctuality and minimise cancellations. The latter may be part of the reason, but not the complete story?

If there are/were two A330s 'spare', why then was QF19 to MNL yesterday forced to wait all day for VH-QPI to become available, with pushback delayed from the scheduled 1225 hours to c.1900 hours?

 

[Melburnian1]

24 December's QF1 ex SYD (A388 VH-OQJ) is estimated to arrive LHR on Christmas Day at 0705 hours, 50 minutes behind as it was airborne from Singapore at 017 hours compared to the 2355 hours timetabled pushback. 'The 1' and 'the 2' regularly overstay their timetabled allowance in Singapore, even though the airport is a most efficient operation.

This is showing as forming a delayed QF2 that hopefully will push back at 0930 hours, 810 minutes late. However the same situation yesterday saw arrival at 0714 hours and takeoff (not pushback) on the dot of 1030 hours, so turnaround may take a bit longer than QFi estimates.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF67, a 2022 newbie that's flying SYD-BLR for the first time for any passenger airline, on Sunday 25 December 2022 took off at 1027 hours so A332 VH-EBR should arrive at its gate at about 1625, 40 minutes tardy.

A333 VH-QPH (1030 hours SYD-BKK QF23) was to depart at 1045 but this was further delayed until at least 1110 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1D from GYD to LHR on the Christmas Day relief flight (A388 VH-OQD) took off at 0627 with suggested arrival 0740 instead of the hoped for special timetable of 0635 hours.

 

[Quickstatus]

QF1D

An excellent recovery. No doubt having an operational spare assisted. Additionally quickwork behind the scenes to get the flight approved. And a “QF rep” on the ground. I wonder who that person was emoloyed by.

The 4 pilots and 2 CC no doubt will be able to have a very interesting Christmas in Baku.

Q: Is having a spare in LHR a good idea?

 

[Quickstatus]

forced to wait all day for VH-OQB to become available

It may have come down to when they pressed the “use the spare” button. And it would certainly not be 1minute past the scheduled departure. I recall one of the aviators here saying there are different levels of being on call in terms of how close one needs to be to the aircraft door. Certainly, it would not be like the military - where the pilots are all dressed and scrambled within seconds.

Speculating:
Let’s say they pressed the button 1 hr after sched departure. Then allow say 1 hr for standby crew to arrive. Then get the standby aircraft to the stand 1hr. Then crew briefing, aircraft loading including pax, fuelling say 2hrs. That would be easily 5hrs.

 

[Melburnian1]

It may have come down to when they pressed the “use the spare” button. And it would certainly not be 1minute past the scheduled departure. I recall one of the aviators here saying there are different levels of being on call in terms of how close one needs to be to the aircraft door. Certainly, it would not be like the military - where the pilots are all dressed and scrambled within seconds.

Speculating:
Let’s say they pressed the button 1 hr after sched departure. Then allow say 1 hr for standby crew to arrive. Then get the standby aircraft to the stand 1hr. Then crew briefing, aircraft loading including pax, fuelling say 2hrs. That would be easily 5hrs.

That above comment of mine re QF19 should read A333 VH-QPI, not 'OQB'. Too many recitations of A388 registrations given the Baku diversion, that's my excuse.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQB on the overnight delayed 23 December 2022 scheduled QF2 ex LHR took off from SIN at 0933 hours on Christmas Day, so SYD arrival tonight looks to be 1945 hours, 815 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Another A388, VH-OQJ is about to touch down at 0725 hours on Christmas Day in LHR as QF1 ex SIN/SYD, so with the arbitrary five minutes to get to its gate, it'll be 75 late.

The expected pushback for QF2, last night's 2040 hours ex LHR has been further put back to 0955 hours, which gives 155 minutes for the aircraft's passengers to alight and eventually a new complement board, plus all the usual tasks of unloading and loading luggage, catering and freight, refuelling, emptying the loos and cleaning the aircraft internally. And how could I omit the crew changover?

Many international airlines have relatively quick turnarounds at termini but one wonders at the standard of cleaning. No wonder occasionally I find surfaces to be a bit dusty, or small items of rubbish left by a previous passenger.

 

[Quickstatus]

standard of cleaning

It is impossible to clean an aircraft other than a cursory once through. Each cleaning crew do not have all the turnaround time to clean an aircraft. In this case they don’t have 155min because they have several other aircraft to do. Maybe 30min?

Recent QF customer complaint via FB

 

[Flyerqf]

VH-OQG left SYD gate for QF1 but has since returned to gate and is significantly delayed. Same plane as the return to gate QF11 on Friday.

EDIT: new ETA 2130

Post automatically merged: Dec 25, 2022

That above comment of mine re QF19 should read A333 VH-QPI, not 'OQB'.

Spares were 332 not 333, plus I think the spares were in BNE. May have also come down to crewing.