Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Quickstatus]

it was the 630 JQ flight

Ah that's the normal modus operandi

 

[justinbrett]

I appreciate ATC don’t choose, the airline does - I guess my point is the relative number of QF cancellations yesterday for purported reasons, compared to VA (at a similar frequency of flights) yesterday not having an equivalent number of cancellations ex-MEL yesterday suggests it Is less capacity limitation imposed by ATC/runway works, and more to do with direct QF capacity management (Not “required” by ATC/other non-QF restrictions).


It’s frustrating as a traveller to make a booking on an offered flight time that suitsand then have to last-minute re-juggle it all (at own nuisance/expense) whereas if you want to change (especially at short notice), the airline typically charges royally for the pleasure.

FWIW I wasn’t affected at all (other than a “shadow” being filled next to me - no biggie.)

The hurt is not split directly evenly as you suggest.

I would assume (but not certain) VA is operating well below its allocated slots since the demise of VA1. Then there's the specific timings of the slots - it's not a daily total. If QF are bunched up more than VA in peak hours, it will be more affected.

 

[docjames]

515 cancelled

Flow forward ended - 3, 330, 4, 430, 5 all going out 100% full.

 

[789nerd]

In the 1st major delay for a B789 since Monday, this afternoon's QF7 SYD-DFW (VH-ZNK) is delayed 2 hours 40 minutes for a revised Sydney departure of 19:55 AEDT, and revised Dallas arrival of 18:40 CST (same delay).

 

[789nerd]

In the 1st major delay for a B789 since Monday, this afternoon's QF7 SYD-DFW (VH-ZNK) is delayed 2 hours 40 minutes for a revised Sydney departure of 19:55 AEDT, and revised Dallas arrival of 18:40 CST (same delay).

This flight eventually arrived in Dallas at 19:19 CST, however that leaves more than 2 hours before the return QF8, so unlikely to be delayed.

Friday sees today's QF27 SYD-SCL (B789 VH-ZNA) delayed by 75 minutes for a projected 13:50 AEDT Sydney departure, with a similar delay into Santiago at 12:10 CLST. Makes the departure of the return QF28 at 13:40 CLST, just 90 minutes later unlikely if the Sydney departure is further delayed.

 

[789nerd]

Friday sees today's QF27 SYD-SCL (B789 VH-ZNA) delayed by 75 minutes for a projected 13:50 AEDT Sydney departure, with a similar delay into Santiago at 12:10 CLST. Makes the departure of the return QF28 at 13:40 CLST, just 90 minutes later unlikely if the Sydney departure is further delayed.

While QF27 was pretty close to revised times, the return QF28 was still delayed 30 minutes, and is currently losing more time on its westwards journey, with an ETA into Sydney of 18:37 AEDT this (Saturday) evening, 47 minutes late.

 

[789nerd]

Saturday.
I note that today's QF93/QF94 was withdrawn from the schedule some time ago, in order for an overnight Antartica Flights "Southern Lights" B789 charter ex Melbourne this evening.
It appears that a similar charter last night from Sydney did not take place, although B789 VH-ZND was notionally available i.e. I don't know its operational status.

Edit : on reviewing the current on-line charter schedules, it appears the Sydney flight has been postponed to 26th, and the Melbourne one 24 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 19 March 2023, what may be the first Australia-mainland communist China QFi passenger flight for a long time has been badly delayed.

A332 VH-EBM, the 1055 hours latish morning SYD-PVG (Shanghai) did not take off until 1808 hours so predicted arrival becomes 0136 hours on Monday 20, 426 minutes late. QF130 back (the redeye) will be badly tardy as a result: this 2005 hours is claimed to depart at an impossible 0220 hours, which would more realistically be stated as '0310' ex Shanghai. The aircraft had arrived this morning in Sydney 50 minutes late as QF20 from MNL, pulling into its allocated gate at 0705 hours. QF19/QF20 frequently run badly late, with today's '19' taking off with VH-EBP at 1400 hours, so arrival in the Philippine capital should be roughly 1834, 64 behind schedule.

 

[789nerd]

Saturday.
I note that today's QF93/QF94 was withdrawn from the schedule some time ago, in order for an overnight Antartica Flights "Southern Lights" B789 charter ex Melbourne this evening.
It appears that a similar charter last night from Sydney did not take place, although B789 VH-ZND was notionally available i.e. I don't know its operational status.

Edit : on reviewing the current on-line charter schedules, it appears the Sydney flight has been postponed to 26th, and the Melbourne one 24 hours.

Well, the Melbourne flight didn't eventuate, with an extra flight added to the charter schedules in November ! I can no longer find the postponed Sydney flight, nor one scheduled for Brisbane on 24th - perhaps Qantas have at last seen sense ?!

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 21 March, QF1 (1705 hours late afternoon SYD-SIN-LHR flagship) has A388 VH-OQH and took off at 1826 hours. SIN arrival at its gate should be about 2305 hours, 55 behind, making anything close to on time in LHR tomorrow morning BST most unlikely.

VH-OQJ is on 'the 12' from LAX to SYD that should arrive tomorrow morning at 0920 AEDT, 45 minutes tardy.

A333 VH-QPD is on perennial late runner, the HNL down to SYD QF104, predicted as tonight having gate arrival at 2019 hours, 99 late. There is not a scheduled QF103 northbound tonight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Were it a sentinent being, B738 VH-VZY might well like to quietly forget about yesterday and today's tours of duty.

Yesterday (Tuesday 21) it commenced in MEL as QF412 to SYD, the scheduled 0725 (unusual: normally 0700/15/30 etc.) departure that became airborne at 0817, arriving at gate at 0938, 48 minutes tardy.

It then formed the 0930 hours SYD-CNS (QF922) not in the sky until 1052, which then diverted to TSV. I didn't look it up yesterday but CNS must have had shocking tropical weather as it had 69.6mm of rain - almost three inches in the old scale - to 0900 this morning. The aircraft was in TSV for a lengthy period, not taking off until 1414, and then being held off the coast, perhaps due to flooding at CNS airport or heavy rain as the winds indicated on the BOM site don't seem excessive. It arrived CNS 153 minutes tardy at 1558.

Naturally it then formed QF923, the timetabled 1230- hours lunchtime ex CNS airborne at 1704 for a 2038 hours mid evening Sydney at gate arrival, 253 minutes behind sche4dule. Its final run last night was the 2105 hours SYD-BNE in the sky at 2159 as QF552, arriving at 2213, 38 minutes late.

This morning (22 March) it formed QF501, the early morning 0500 hours from BNE down to SYD, arriving 17 late at 0752, but then transferred to the international terminal to operate QF143, the midmorning 0945 hours SYD-AKL up up and away at a very late 1143 hours. At gate arrival in the North island's largest 'harbour city' should be at around 1629, 94 minutes late.

 

[789nerd]

Missed a couple of B789 delays on Tuesday ...

QF27 SYD-SCL (VH-ZNK) was 57 minutes late pushing back in Sydney, resulting in arrival in Santiago 52 minutes late. The overnight return QF28 is however on time.

QF7 SYD-DFW (VH-ZNA) was 2 hrs 29 minutes late pushing back in Sydney, resulting in arrival in Dallas 2hrs 18 minutes late. With 4+ hours left on the Dallas layover, the return flight is unlikely to be delayed.

Meanwhile for unknown operational reasons, VH-ZND & VH-ZNI have swapped between Sydney & Melbourne this (Wednesday) morning as QF6003 & QF6002 respectively.

 

[789nerd]

Meanwhile for unknown operational reasons, VH-ZND & VH-ZNI have swapped between Sydney & Melbourne this (Wednesday) morning as QF6003 & QF6002 respectively.

On review, the ZNI move is a weekly one with no QF93 on Wednesdays, thus ZND has gone to Melbourne for maintenance.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 23 March 2023, while perhaps brief by Sydney and especially FNQ standards, MEL and environs has had thunderstorms at about 0845 AEDT.

Initially, delays for inbounds were not huge, but depending on the number of aircraft around, they tend to compound. As a micro example, Q300 VH-TQZ on QF2077 (0645 hours MQL down to MEL) took off at 0750 hours, about 55 late, but had to suddenly hold over Wallan in an attractive-looking pattern (see FR24), and hence is arriving at about 0909 hours, 64 minutes tardy.

QF415 (B738 VH-VZP) is the 0730 hours SYD-MEL that was in the sky about 25 minute slate at 0812 hours: by 0906 hours, it was holding in the oft-favoured position above Mt Buller, with nominal at gate arrival suggested as 0938 hours, 33 minutes late.

I wonder if ATC controller 'shortages' are also playing their part in the late takeoff from Sydney?

 

[Melburnian1]

Given rain is around Sydney as well as earlier in MEL and soon again (probably 1135 AEDT) at Tullamrine, delays have been building, as I implied above they might.

QF426, the 0900 hours MEL-SYD did not take off until 1021, with arrival for B738 VH-VXI likely at about 1134 hours, 69 minutes behind schedule.

QF430, the strangely timed 0925 hours on the same northbound route was airborne at 1028 with VH-VZX suggested as a gate arrival of 1136, 46 minutes tardy.

VH-VZP, also a B738 is on the 1000 hours MEL-SYD QF432 in the sky at 1126 for a presumed gate arrival at 1236 hours, 71 minutes tardy.

It depends on turnaround times (and how many movements are occurring in SYD per hour, and every 15 minutes), but delays may well continue into the afternoon/early evening peak if aircraft have been through either major city, although as always, highly variable.

In rainy, even thundery, conditions, high speed rail worldwide, as many have found numerous times in Europe and Asia, normally operates well. (Only in high winds is it typically affected). Sadly, our political class is too dense to realise how we need this for the Brisbane-Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne area. Qantas and Virgin Oz lobby against it.

 

[789nerd]

Unlikely to directly be a weather delay, QF 63 SYD-JNB, usually away around 9:35 AEDT, has had multiple delays, now scheduled for a 15:00 AEDT Sydney departure. The return QF64 will therefore also be delayed, however the various sites have yet to catch up, with Qantas advising the plane will depart Jo'burg 30 minutes before it arrives.

Meanwhile the overnight QF64 JNB-SYD is on a timely final approach into Sydney, having done a short dog-leg delay around Canberra (see FR24).

 

[789nerd]

Unlikely to directly be a weather delay, QF 63 SYD-JNB, usually away around 9:35 AEDT, has had multiple delays, now scheduled for a 15:00 AEDT Sydney departure. The return QF64 will therefore also be delayed, however the various sites have yet to catch up, with Qantas advising the plane will depart Jo'burg 30 minutes before it arrives.

Friday : QF64 (VH-ZNA) finally departed at 22:06 SAST, 5 hrs 31 minutes late, and arrived in Sydney at 19:01 AEDT, 5 hrs 36 minutes late.

This delay flowed on to today's QF7 (SYD-DFW) which pushed back at 21:05 AEDT, 4 hrs 10 minutes late. The estimated arrival in Dallas is 19:53 CDT, 3 hrs 53 minutes late - this is over 2 hours before the return QF8 is due to depart, thus should not be delayed.

 

[789nerd]

Saturday. Friday's QF28 SCL-SYD (B789 VH-ZNK), while taking off on time, is currently running 40 minutes late for a revised Sydney arrival at 18:30 AEDT.

Melbourne B789 changes :
QF93 : VH-ZNG is operating the final morning departure, with services reverting to early evening departures from Sunday, and also returning to seven days a week.
Also reverting to seven days a week, is the full QF9/QF10 MEL-PER-LHR service, with small time changes due to the beginning of UK BST tonight, and next week's end to AEDT.

Sydney B789 changes :
A one hour change from Sunday or Monday for arrival of QF8, & departures of QF27 & QF63. From the following Sunday, QF8 will change back, while the QF64 arrival time into Sydney will be one hour earlier. While one might expect that QF21/QF22 times wouldn't change, with Chile also coming off DST on 2nd April, QF22 will depart Santiago & arrive Sydney one hour later from that date.

 

[Silvia]

Sunday 26th of March sees QF774 PER-MEL (B738 VH-VZJ) divert back to Perth

 

[flydoc]

B717 VH-YQX was due to operate QF1500, the 1140 CBR-SYD. Departure delayed following an engine issue - initially cleared after an engine run and pax boarded c.1400, but then further delayed.

2 gates away the fully boarded, modestly loaded 1455 QF1533 CBR-MEL has been held at ETD to prioritise pax from the SYD flight with international connections to travel via MEL