Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Oh dear - not again.

Monday 23 January 2023's QF2, the mid evening 2040 hours from LHR to SIN and SYD looks to have been delayed overnight to 0900 this morning UK local time (2000 AEDT tonight). This means a 12 hour plus late arrival in Sydney on Wednesday 25 at 1820 or later. This flight should have been A388 VH-OQH that arrived LHR as QF1 on Monday at 0624 hours, only nine minutes late.

The next QF1, VH-OQG is predicted to arrive at its gate in London at 0643, 28 minutes late today so it may well quickly turn around and form the overnight delayed QF2.

Not all delays with these London flights are QFi's fault: it can't be helped if sometimes there's a medical diversion as we saw recently, but it's fair to say QFi has many other problems on this route. Notably, its major competitors such as SQ have far better timekeeping between Australia and London.

 

[789nerd]

Tuesday : the overnight QF17 LAX-SYD (B789 VH-ZNH) was delayed 2 hrs 16 minutes, for a 00:11 PST departure, and expected Sydney arrival of 18:45 AEDT this evening, 2 hours 5 minutes late.

Tuesday morning usually sees a B789 position from Melbourne to Sydney (as QF6002) around 06:00 AEDT. This morning B789 VH-ZND operated QF430 85 minutes late, with a revised Sydney arrival of 12:14 AEDT. Not good if travelling to a late morning/lunch time Sydney appointment.

 

[789nerd]

Not all delays with these London flights are QFi's fault: it can't be helped if sometimes there's a medical diversion as we saw recently, but it's fair to say QFi has many other problems on this route. Notably, its major competitors such as SQ have far better timekeeping between Australia and London.

Regarding the departures, it's not just QF2. QF10 seems to to have fairly frequent departure delays, although many are eliminated enroute - not so Sunday (see above).
Fortunately for QFi, a route without direct competitors.

 

[789nerd]

The Sunday return QF94 has been delayed 2 hours 10 minutes for a Los Angeles departure of 23:15 PST & Melbourne arrival Tuesday of 09:05 AEDT, 65 minutes late.

This is now showing a flow on effect, with today's QF93 currently delayed by 90 minutes for a 12:30 AEDT Melbourne departure.

Edit : looking back, this departure is 30 minutes later than the original delay on Sunday !?

 

[Melburnian1]

Regarding the departures, it's not just QF2. QF10 seems to to have fairly frequent departure delays, although many are eliminated enroute - not so Sunday (see above).
Fortunately for QFi, a route without direct competitors.

QF10 though was once (via elsewhere) an Airbus A380, so it's had its seating capacity cut in half. QFi overall has cut seats to and from London by 25 per cent in each direction compared to say 2019 timetables. Arguably strong competition from the likes of SQ and numerous others have reduced QFi's market share on the so-called Kangaroo Route.

Interestingly total domestic and international passenger numbers at London Hetahrow were down almost the same - by a quarter - in 2022.

 

[789nerd]

Tuesday morning usually sees a B789 position from Melbourne to Sydney (as QF6002) around 06:00 AEDT. This morning B789 VH-ZND operated QF430 85 minutes late, with a revised Sydney arrival of 12:14 AEDT. Not good if travelling to a late morning/lunch time Sydney appointment.

Seems I missed the QF6002 - which was operated this morning by B789 VH-ZNC.

Meanwhile B789 VH-ZND is now operating QF441 SYD-MEL, 79 minutes late departing Sydney, with revised Melbourne arrival of 14:45 AEDT, 70 minutes late.

 

[789nerd]

Definitely slept in this morning, as the B789 VH-ZND domestic 'saga' began with operating QF409 between Sydney & Melbourne, 73 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Storms have been adversely affecting MEL during Tuesday 24 January's afternoon.

QF454, the 1500 hours MEL-SYD was not in the sky until 1725, so expected at gate arrival becomes 1835 hours, 130 minutes late for B789 VH-ZND, a rare beast on this short sector.

The 1615 hours MEL-ADL, QF689, was airborne at 1728. B738 VH-VXI should be at its gate an hour behind at 1805.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 24 January, QF1 has been delayed from 1705 to a suggested 1845 hours in its Sydney pushback. Earlier this afternoon, it was displaying as on time.

QF19 (1225 hours SYD-MNL) took off at 1330 so expected arrival is half an hour late at 1800. Aircraft is A333 VH-QPI that had arrived in SYD at 1034 hours, 44 late as QF26 ex HND.

 

[789nerd]

QF454, the 1500 hours MEL-SYD was not in the sky until 1725, so expected at gate arrival becomes 1835 hours, 130 minutes late for B789 VH-ZND, a rare beast on this short sector.

ZND's 4th Domestic sector today - all late. Possibly cabin Crew training - perhaps in how to deal with a plane load of delayed passengers ?

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 24 January, QF1 (A388 VH-OQB) was in the SYD sky from 1925 so expected SIN Wednesday 25 early morning arrival becomes 2358 hours, 108 minutes late.

In the other direction, the ex-LHR overnight delayed QF2(D) was meant to depart at 0900 hours but this has become a proposed 0940, two minutes ago as I write. It isn't visible on FR24, sometimes not a good sign. The second sector (SIN-SYD) shows mythical times but past observation indicates QF doesn't usually alter these times (that were based upon an expected 0900 departure from London) until it knows the likely time of arrival in SIN ex LHR.

A333 VH-QPC on QF104 ex HNL arrived in SYD tonight at 1935 hours, 55 minutes late. QF103 back to HNL is expected to depart 40 late at 2120 mid evening.

UPDATE: A388 VH-OQG as QF2D pushed back at LHR at 0959 hours, 799 minutes late.

 

[Flyerqf]

Tuesday : the overnight QF17 LAX-SYD (B789 VH-ZNH) was delayed 2 hrs 16 minutes, for a 00:11 PST departure, and expected Sydney arrival of 18:45 AEDT this evening, 2 hours 5 minutes late.

This was actually SYD-LAX. A departure that late after curfew is unusual.

 

[Melburnian1]

While Wednesday 25 January's QF1 from SYD (A388 VH-OQJ) was airborne at 1723, on time, and should arrive SIN at 2254, 16 minute srealy, the good news ceases there. The onward sector to LHR is not expected to depart until 0720 hours on Thursday, 445 minutes late with LHR arrival becoming 1345 hours on Ausrralia Day, 26 January, 425 minutes behind schedule.

What happens to passengers? Do they just sit in a lounge in SIN if so entitled, or the general waiting area if not, for around seven hours if travelling from Sydney or another Oz city to London? It isn't quite long enough to have much sleep even if QFi gave passengers an hotel for a few hours, with the usual conservative super early bus pickup times back to the airport in the morning.

Today, VH-OQB on the same flight a day earlier should be in LHR at the designated gate at 0723, 68 behind.

The delay northwest bound in SIN to 'the 1' is due to the overnight delayed QF2 not estimated to arrive SYD with VH-OQG until 1949 mid evening tonight, 819 minutes behind its normal morning 0610 arrival.

The next QF2 (2040 hours timetabled from London on Tuesday 24 January) took off at 2312 so on 25 January, the SIN stop should commence from 1957 hours, 147 minutes past what the timetable states. This will mean SYD arrival some time after 0830 on Australia Day.

The SYD-LHR-SYD route via SIN continues to be way too unpredictable re punctuality and reliability. Not good for QFi when by and large numerous rivals can do way better, even if it means one doesn't travel on the same aircraft throughout. And QF9/QF10 Tuesdays to Thursdays has apparently turned into somewhat of a circus with a different aircraft on the domestic sector MEL-PER-MEL.

A332 VH-EBS on QF67, the 0920 hours SYD to India's BLR was not in the sky until 1149 hours this morning, so gate arrival becomes a predicted 1731 hours, 116 minute sbehind time. QF68 returning will be similarly delayed.

'The 69' from DEL overnight to MEL had sister aircraft EBM, arriving 63 late at 1308 this afternoon. The A332 then changed terminals and formed QF773, the 1435 hours MEL across to PER in the sky at 1622 for suggested gate arrival at 1706 hours, 91 late.

B789 VH-ZNC arrived SYD on Wednesday 25 at 1821 hours, 31 late (just a few minute sago) and unusually is to operate QF7, the 1755 hours SYD-DFW long flight that has nominally and optimistically been put back to a proposed 1935 hours departure. My bet is it'll be after 2010 hours. This super quick turnaround may indicate the original B789 is unavailable.

 

[Quickstatus]

The SYD-LHR-SYD route via SIN continues to be way too unpredictable re punctuality and reliability.

Some time back (preRona) there was talk that LHR was going to impose fines on QF or potentially take away their landing slot(s) for continuing delayed arrivals and subsequent departures. It got so bad that QF was among the worst for punctuality at LHR.

At the time QF was operating into 2 of the worlds busiest airports - LHR and DXB both can compound punctuality issues notwithstanding at the same time the executive decided to operate the international fleet at a higher tempo with a short turnaround.

I wonder if that stick is still hovering over QF's head.

 

[Melburnian1]

Some time back (preRona) there was talk that LHR was going to impose fines or potentially lose their landing slot(s) for continuing delayed arrivals and subsequent departures. It got so bad that QF was among the worst for punctuality at LHR.

At the time QF was operating into 2 of the worlds busiest airports - LHR and DXB both can compound punctuality issues notwithstanding at the same time the executive decided to operate the international fleet at a higher tempo with a short turnaround.

I wonder if that stick is still hovering over QF's head.

I don't know but at the time it received publicity that QF representatives had to meet with LHR managers to explain why it was so often late into and out of this busy airport.

Sure, we cannot blame QF for every delay - the medical episode was a case of this - but at other times, it is its responsibility.

Obviously the accountants ran the ruler before QFi made the decision to operate QF9 via PER with a half size B789 on the MEL-LHR run, and others suggest most QF9/10 pax originate or finish their journey in PER (so impliedly not many MEL-LHR via PER users). I find this hard to believe given Melbourne is almost as big a city population-wise as Sydney. SQ for instance can have four MEL-SIN flights a day and not much trouble filling same: while it carries many pax to and from India and quite a lot to/from other SE Asian cities like MNL, it beggars belief that many on board aren't travelling to and from a city with the pulling power business-wise and especially for leisure travellers of London.

What these different aircraft in and out of London has meant is reduced flexibility for QFi to swap aircraft/crews if operations go awry.. Bogans might say it's a decision that's come back to bite it on the posterior, although presumably the MEL-LHR route with an A388 was making significant losses. Supposedly yields tend to be higher out of and into SYD compared to MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPC is on its third consecutive round trip SYD-HNL-SYD QF103/104. Let's call it the yo-yo.

On Tuesday 24 it arrived back in SYD 55 late at 1935 but QF103 (the 2040 hours mid evening) didn't take off until 2308 past curfew, arriving HNL that morning at 1150 hours, 145 late. QF104 (the 1110 hours) was airborne three hours later so SYD arrival was not long ago at 2047 hours, 127 minutes behind schedule.

VH-QPE that's stabled in Sydney all day after coming in at 0729 hours on QF24 from Bangkok has the honours tonight, but was showing as a 20 minute late departure at 2100 hours. By 2116, it had not become airborne.

In theory doing the y0-yo these c.9.5 hour flights ought be constantly punctual: a couple of hours at each end, and c.19-20 hours in the air daily. In practice, the route has major problems keeping anything close to time.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'd predicted that the Australia Day arrival of QF2 would be 'some time after 0830': turns out it should be about 0920 hours. VH-OQH is the A388.

The 25 January QF2 ex London should be on time or close to it into SIN but its normal 1915 hours deparure for SYD has been put back to an estimated 2050 tonight, presumably due to previous late running and hence crew needing their mandated rest period. VH-OQB is this one.

Last night's QF75 (B789 VH-ZNG), the 2025 hours SYD-YVR took off at 2134 despite the plane having been in SYD from 1334 in the early afternoon after operating QF64 from distant JNB. YVR arrival on 25 should be at 1607 hours, 42 minutes behind schedule.

A332 VH-EBS on QF68, the ex-BLR redeye, should arrive SYD at around 1219 hours today, 99 late as QF67 yesterday was tardy.

QF12 from LAX to SYD is often punctual but this morning (26 January) it's arriving at an estimated 0933 hours, 58 late with A388 VH-OQD.

 

[OATEK]

While Wednesday 25 January's QF1 from SYD (A388 VH-OQJ) was airborne at 1723, on time, and should arrive SIN at 2254, 16 minute srealy, the good news ceases there. The onward sector to LHR is not expected to depart until 0720 hours on Thursday, 445 minutes late with LHR arrival becoming 1345 hours on Ausrralia Day, 26 January, 425 minutes behind schedule.

.....

Does this reflect the fact that QF is short on crews for the A380s, and hamstrung by crew rest requirements. I have mentioned before, a friends brother-in-law moved from the A380s to the 787, thinking like many of us that the future of the A380 post-Covid was bleak.

 

[Melburnian1]

Does this reflect the fact that QF is short on crews for the A380s, and hamstrung by crew rest requirements. I have mentioned before, a friends brother-in-law moved from the A380s to the 787, thinking like many of us that the future of the A380 post-Covid was bleak.

This one I suspect is relevant to the latter (because crew rest comes into play when a previous flight is late, as 'sometimes' there may only be a 24 hour stop as part of what airlines call the 'tour of duty).' Your comment about 'QF being hamstring' is totally accurate.

It's the intermediate stop, so I reckon crew shortages don't come into it, because the flight that got the staff there to rest (albeit late) obviously operated.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Australia Day, 26 January 2023, QF87, the morning 0935 hours SYD-ICN (A333 VH-QPD) took off at 1107 hours with arrival suggested as 1917 hours, 67 late. Since introduction this flight has been punctual on many days, although lately it's had occasional tardiness. The irony is that some A333 flights ex Oz with a longer turnaround seem to run late more often, such as QF19 SYD-MNL.

'The 23' (1030 hours SYD-BKK) is another with quite good punctuality but today was not so, with this flight (the 1030 hours) airborne at 1145 for a predicted 1645 hours arrival (35 late). VH-QPF is the taskmaster.

Today QF19 (1225 hours) is an A332, VH-EBS. It took off from Sydney at 1439 having arrived at gate from BLR at 1225 hours, 105 minute slate. Manila arrival at gate should be 1919 hours, 109 late. Redeye QF20 back down to SYD will be similarly late.

B789 VH-ZND is on QF28, the long SCL-SYD flight that should arrive tonight at about 1824, 34 behind. QF27 had arrived 35 late in Santiago so remarkably similar.