Qantas Delays/Cancellations

On Monday 6 March, QF11 (VH-OQH, the 1120 hours SYD-LAX) did not depart until 1250 hours, but was then airborne promptly at 1303. QF suggests same day gate arrival at 0655 hours, 50 late.

What has become a frequent late runner, QF19 (lunchtime 1225 hours SYD up to populous MNL) is expected to shortly push back at 1310. It may gain a few minutes en route depending on the queue to enter often congested NAIA. For the second consecutive day, it's operated by class leader A333 VH-QPA.
 
In more on 6 March, the 1250 hours MEL-SIN (QF35) is not predicted to depart until 1615 hours, 205 minutes late with arrival at 2115 hours tonight, 210 late. It's showing on FR24 as still an A333: the only one in MEL seems VH-QPD that arrived eight minutes late this morning ironically as QF36 ex SIN.

QF11 is later than suggested above, with estimated gate arrival in LAX at 0722 hours.

QF19 was off blocks at 1310, meaning likely MNL arrival at gate of 1807, 37 behind.
 
Continuing with 6 March 2023, A388 VH-OQK had been in Sydney since this morning at 0841 hours, arriving at gate six minutes late as QF12 from LAX, but still managed to not take off on the 1705 hours late afternoon QF1 (SYD_SIN-LHR) until 1824 hours. Intermediate stop gate arrival should be at around the 2258 hours mark, 48 minutes late. No chance arriving LHR tomorrow morning UK time within 15 minutes of the timetable.

The A333 operating the 1920 hours SIN-BNE QF52 is suggested as pushing back tonight at 2135 hours, 135 minutes behind schedule. This flight is often punctual.

A sister on QF103 should depart tonight at 2115 hours, 35 late from SYD for the lengthy trip up to HNL.
 
On Monday 6 March, QF20 from MNL to SYD (A333 VH-QPA, the Sunday 5 1920 hours that took off at 2040) should arrive at about 0715 hours, an hour late. Surprising as QF19 last night arrived MNL only six minutes late at 1736 hours.

I was on QF145 today and there were quite a few passengers on board who were connecting from QF20 through to AKL and were supposed to be on QF141 this morning. Obviously they missed that connection. They were mostly sitting in middle seats (including a family sitting near me that was even split up into middle seats across different rows) as that was probably all that was available at the last minute. QF145 went out 100% full.
 
A333 VH-QPJ on 'the 25' (2135 hours mid evening redeye SYD-HND) was expected to depart at 2212 hours. This is its second consecutive QF25, so it's been in Sydney for 12 hours, yet still can't punctually depart. This flight however often picks up time en route.
 
I was on QF145 today and there were quite a few passengers on board who were connecting from QF20 through to AKL and were supposed to be on QF141 this morning. Obviously they missed that connection.

Doesn't overly surprise as competitor PR used to have a flight about 3x/weekly MNL-BNE-AKL or at another time IIRC MNL-AKL nonstop, but since COVID-19 these have yet to resume. One doubts PR with its small fleet has the aircraft even if it wanted to again ply such routes.
 
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QF2262, the 1120 SYD-LDH (Q200 VH-TQS) was airborne at 1145 AEDT on Tuesday 7 March but is diverting back to SYD. Expected at gate arrival is about 1520 mid afternoon.

The BOM uses 'settled' to describe today's weather on Lord Howe Island so is this some engine or other problem affecting the aircraft, or a medical emergency? Given Lord Howe attracts many retirees for holidays (limit of 400 tourists on the island at any one time IIRC), the median passenger age must be high.
 
A333 VH-QPF is on its fourth round trip SYD-HNL-SYD that is rare: usually an A333 does three before proceeding to maintenance or travelling on another route.

QF104 from HNL should arrive at its SYD gate on Tuesday 7 March at about 1922, 42 late. Last night's arrival was "only" 25 minutes late: it's common for this flight to be more than an hour late.
 
A388 VH-OQK arrived LHR on Tuesday 7 March as QF1 at 0744 hours, 89 minutes late.

Earlier, B789 VH-ZNJ was at its LHR gate (ex PER) at around 0544 hours, 39 minutes tardy.
 
On Wednesday 8 March 2023 with the proposed TWU members' who work for subcontractor Rivet walking off the job from 0400 hours, so far (as of Tuesday night) the only cancelled domestic departures (QFd) are:

QF677 1015 hours to ADL
QF626 1550 hours to BNE
QF476 1745 hours to SYD
 
Wednesday 8 March 2023 sees QF128 from HKG to SYD (A332 VH-EBM, the 1820 hours Tuesday early evening that took off at 1941) arriving at a suggested 0723 hours, 43 minutes tardy.
 
With the Rivet (subcontractor to ExxonMobil) refuellers' striking from 0400 AEDT in Melbourne on Wednesday 8 March, in addition to the three cancellations noted above, QF410 (meant to be an A333) was also cancelled. This is the peak period 0700 hours MEL-SYD.

QF1596, the 0620 hours MEL-NTL: did not take off until 0713, so arrival for B717 VH-NXN is suggested as 0829 hours, 39 minutes late.
 
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Continuing with the strike day of 8 March 2023, QF771, the early afternoon 1325 hours MEL-PER has been added to the list of cancellations.

Earlier, the 0815 hours MEL-BWT (QF2087) got the gong.

QF767, the 0935 hours midmorning MEL-PER (B738 VH-VZI) was expected to depart at 1035 hours, an hour late, despite it having been in MEL since 0803 this morning when it arrived from CHC as QF132, only three minutes late. It had to transfer between terminals.

UPDATE: 'the 767' was airborne at 1046 hours so PER arrival should be about 1136 hours at its allocated gate, 61 minutes tardy.
 
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QF67, the 0930 hours SYD up to BLR (A332 VH-EBM) was in the sky at 1033 hours so expected at gate arrival becomes 38 minutes late at 1623 hours.

Yesterday, B789 VH-ZNJ on 'the 10' was airborne form LHR at 1302 hours so the 8 March PER gate arrival should be at around 1255, half an hour behind schedule.

VH-EBV isd on QF70, the DEL-MEL redeye suggested as arriving on 8 March at 1243, 38 late.

QF645 (A332 VH-EBK, the 1025 hours SYD-PER) was in the sky at 1117 hours so predicted gate arrival becomes 33 late at 1248 hours. This aircraft commenced its day in MEL, arriving SYD at 0943 hours, 18 late as QF418.
 
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In more on 8 March, QF11 (1120 hours SYD-LAX, A388 VH-OQD was airborne at 1424 hours so is likely to be more than two hours late in its same day arrival.
 
With the Rivet (subcontractor to ExxonMobil) refuellers' striking from 0400 AEDT in Melbourne on Wednesday 8 March, ...
News reports say Qantas flew a fully fuelled A380 (VH-OQL) from Sydney late yesterday (QF6032) to provide fuel for some aircraft today. Not sure of the veracity of those reports - certainly VH-OQL is now in Melbourne.
 
Continuing with Wednesday 8 March 2023, QF462 (1600 hours afternoon peak period MEL-SYD) is another cancelled flight.

QF474, the 1730 hours MEL-SYD is predicted to push back 80 minutes late.

QF884 (B738 VH-VZO, the 0935 hours PER across to ADL) was airborne at 1045 so expected arrival becomes 1550 hours, 55 minutes tardy. This morning, presumably due to the refuellers' strike in MEL, it had to divert to ADL when operating QF765, the 0735 hours scheduled ex MEL airborne at 0754. It then took off from ADL at 0906 hours, arriving at its PER gate at 0934, 59 late.

QF779, the 1610 hours MEL-PER is predicted to depart at 1700 hours, presumably due to refuelling delays.

UPDATE: QF779 took off at

A332 VH-EBA, the 1500 hours SYD-MEL (QF455) was not airborne until 1658 hours, with arrival at gate claimed as 1813 hours, 98 minutes late. The widebodies seem more affected by delays on this MEL refuellers' strike day.
 
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Thursday : After arriving on time with QF63, B789 VH-ZND is currently delayed 85 minutes for an estimated 18:00 SAST Jo'burg departure, with a similar delay into Sydney at 14:50 AEDT Friday. There doesn't appear to be a flow-on delay to the only afternoon B789 Sydney departure QF7.

The thrice weekly QF27 SYD-SCL service has had regular delays for the last couple of weeks departing Sydney - averaging 55 minutes. However with an eastwards flight path, arrival into Santiago has been around 30 minutes late. The return QF28s while mostly departing on time, lost time on their westwards tracks, with yesterday's VH-ZNH having the longest delay, arriving in Sydney this (Thursday) evening at 18:29 AEDT, 39 minutes late.
 
Thursday : After arriving on time with QF63, B789 VH-ZND is currently delayed 85 minutes for an estimated 18:00 SAST Jo'burg departure, with a similar delay into Sydney at 14:50 AEDT Friday. There doesn't appear to be a flow-on delay to the only afternoon B789 Sydney departure QF7.
This flight has been delayed a further hour to 19:00 SAST (01:00 AWST/04:00 AEDT), still no flow on, however the gap to QF7 departure is down to 120 minutes.
 

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