Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Updating a previous post, A388 VH-OQD on Monday 8 May's QF1 from Sydney arrived in Singapore at 2139, nine minutes late and then took off this morning at 0455 hours with LHR at gate arrival suggested as 1151 hours, 316 minutes late.

Enhancing Flyerqf's post, QF10 with B789 VH-ZNG took off from LHR at 1410 on Monday 8 so PER arrival is showing as 1329 today, Tuesday 9.

B789 VH-ZNK arrived as QF8 from DFW in SYD this morning (9 May) at 0654 hours, 39 minutes past its timetable.

The 1855 hours evening SYD-CHC B738 is often late, and one to avoid if a businessman has an 0900 hours meeting in the South Island next morning. Last night, VH-VZT was not airborne until 2003 hours, arriving this morning at 0044, 45 late. On 4 May, it arrived at 0111 hours, on 6 May 0113 hours and on 8 May 0131 hours.

'The 52' from SIN down to BNE is more often than not, on time arriving but yesterday it came in to the sunny capital at 0805, 85 behind with this morning's (A332 VH-EBQ) suggested as pulling in at 0826 hours, 106 behind.

A388 VH-OQG on 'the 12' from LAX to SYD is arriving this morning at an estimated 0852 hours, 67 minutes tardy.

B789 VH-ZNE is on the long distance QF64, JNB across to SYD that should be at its gate this afternoon at 1408 hours, 43 minutes behind its schedule.

Yesterday, A333 VH-QPA on QF19 arrived MNL at 1847, three minutes early but the redeye return (2035 hours ex MNL as QF20) didn't take off until 2230 so an 0744 hours arrival this morning, 64 late is the outcome.

 

[789nerd]

Tuesday : today's QF27 SYD-SCL has been delayed 3 ½ hours for a revised Sydney departure of 16:05 AEST, with similar delay into Santiago. As that is after the return QF28 is scheduled to depart, that flight will also be delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Tuesday 9 May, QF119 from BNE to AKL (the 0910 hours) is the fourth consecutive badly late flight for A332 VH-EBQ. It took off this morning at 1050 with arrival at gate a short time ago at 1532, 72 minutes behind.

QF35 from MEL up to SIN is normally punctual but today E+BN took off on this 1200 'high noon' scheduled flight at 1336 hours, so arrival isn't predicted until about 1912 hours, 72 behind.

 

[789nerd]

Saturday’s QF10 (operated by VH-ZNG) from LHR to PER will depart at 1400 on Monday (in around 2 hours from now). It will arrive in PER at 1320 tomorrow (Tuesday). It will turnaround in PER to operate Tuesday’s QF9 (the MEL-PER sector operated by an A332).

The much delayed Melbourne bound passengers from QF10D LHR-PER now in Perth, face a further 5 hour layover/delay, as the A332 operating QF9 MEL-PER VH-EBP (just left Melbourne) will turn around to operate QF10D PER-MEL departing Perth at 16:35 AWST this afternoon.

 

[789nerd]

Tuesday : today's QF27 SYD-SCL has been delayed 3 ½ hours for a revised Sydney departure of 16:05 AEST, with similar delay into Santiago. As that is after the return QF28 is scheduled to depart, that flight will also be delayed.

This flight has now been delayed a further hour to an estimated 17:05 AEST departure. As yet there is no change to the return QF28 timing.

Edit : B789 VH-ZNC finally got away at 17:49 AEST, 314 minutes late. Still no update on the return QF28.

 

[Melburnian1]

Edit : B789 VH-ZNC finally got away at 17:49 AEST, 314 minutes late. Still no update on the return QF28.

QF27 arrived SCL on Tuesday 9 May at 1632 hours, 327 minutes tardy. QF28 is predicted to shortly depart at 1830 hours Chilean time (0830 AEST Tuesday 10).

 

[Melburnian1]

QF2 arrived SYD yesterday (9 May) at 0833 hours, 203 minutes late. Today (Wednesday 10), QF2 (A388 VH-OQD) is suggested as arriving SIN at 1800 hours, half an hour late, as on Tuesday 9 this 2055 hours ex LHR did not become airborne until 2209 hours.

OQB was on the LAX-SYD QF12 that arrived SYD this morning 34 late at 0819 hours.

B789 VH-ZNH on QF8 from DFW to SYD pulled in to its gate at 0658 hours, 43 late, although earlier, QF7 to DFW has been 31 minutes arriving.

This morning QF139 (1855 hours evening flight from SYD up to CHC) had another late arrival: 0103 hours, 64 late for B738 VH-XZC.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Wednesday 10 May 2023, QF67 (A332 VH-EBR, the 0905 hours morning SYD-BLR) took off at 0958 with expected at gate arrival becoming 1710, 50 minutes behind.

QF29 (B789 VH-ZNC) was airborne from distant SCL at 1848 hours on Tuesday 9, so on Wednesday 10 should beat curfew in arriving SYD at 2238 hours, 278 minutes behind schedule. A week ago, QF28 formed QF75 in SYD, the 2025 hours to YVR, which is unlikely to be the case tonight given the earliest it could depart with ZNC would be about 0020 hours on Thursday, normally not permitted.

A332 VH-EBP is operating QF35, 1200 'high noon' MEL-SIN that was airborne at 1241, so arrival at gate is predicted as half an hour behind: 1830 hours.

'The 51' (1030 BNE up to SIN, EBN) is similar, having taken off at 1131 for arrival at 1721, 31 behind. A333 VH-QPE is on QF81 (1150 hours SYD-SIN) airborne at 1252 for at gate arrival at around the 1902 hours mark, 49 minutes behind schedule.

B738 VH-XZA was on the 0850 hours SYD-AKL, QF143, that took off at 0951 hours, arriving 56 minutes late at 1451.

 

[Ade]

QF68 BLR-SYD delayed by 20 mins so far. In the 3rd party lounge at BLR, so no airlines updates re the why the delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 11 May 2023, QF1, the 1510 hours SYD-SIN-LHR took off at 1629 hours with A388 VH-OQD, so at gate arrival at the intermediate stop should be at approximately 2209 hours, 39 minutes late, making arrival in London tomorrow morning BST extremely unlikely.

OQD on 'the 2' this morning from LHR and SIN to SYD arrived at 0622 hours, 72 minutes behind schedule.

The almost perennially late QF104 from HNL to SYD has A333 VH-QPC that should pull in to its gate at 1917, 37 behind. This is 'early' for it, as often it's more than an hour late due to delays on the ground in Honolulu.

B738 VH-XZF was on this morning's QF151 (MEL-AKL, the 0920 hours) that uneventfully arrived AKL's gate at 1457, two minutes late, but the return working to SYD not MEL, 'the 146', is the 16054 hours not airborne until 1836 so estimated at gate time in the Oz mainland harbour capital is roughly 1945 hours, 115 minutes tardy.

It looks like this will in turn delay QF139 (1855 hours SYD-CHC) that's been altered to depart at 2030 hours, meaning a probable post-0100 hours arrival in Christchurch.

What was the 1035 hours midmorning A388 schedule from SYD up to HKG (QF127) has a new 1015 hours scheduled pushback and a five minutes later arrival at 1755, making extra time of 25 minutes for the smaller aircraft. Today, class leader QPA did not take off until 1315 so estimated at gate arrival becomes 2010 hours mid evening, 135 minutes late. The A333 had arrived in Sydney this morning 16 early at 0609 hours on redeye QF82 from SIN, so not sure why the delay. QF128 tonight (timetabled as 1930 hours ex Hong Kong) is predicted to depart 125 minutes late at 2135 local time, but may pick up some of the deficit en route.

 

[Ade]

QF1510 MEL-CBR 0605 departure - boarding on hold because of fog in CBR and the captain is awaiting landing approval. Luckily boarding not commenced, so all pax are at Gate 30.

Update 1 : departure delayed to 0635 silver lining is I was able to change my 3E seat to 9C, without having to ask the staff to do it. The staff are obviously busy so didn’t want to disturb them.

Update 2 : boarding on hold until 0635, meaning we are not departing at 0635 as previously thought the ops team at SYD are assessing the fog situation at CBR.

Update 3 : at 0640 the captain has got an approval for a 0700 departure to CBR.

 

[Melburnian1]

Update 3 : at 0640 the captain has got an approval for a 0700 departure to CBR.

B717 VH-NXO took off at 0705, and is about to arrive at the CBR gate at 0752 hours, 47 minutes late.

By the way, this aircraft is 21.5 years old, and another example of QFd's (and those it uses) having rapidly ageing fleets that have not been replaced when this should have already occurred. Hope there were not too many rattles!

 

[Ade]

B717 VH-NXD took off at 0705, and is about to arrive at the CBR gate at 0752 hours, 47 minutes late.

Yea, landed at 0750 .. waiting to disembark .. very very light load on the flight .. pax were moved around the cabin for weight distribution ..

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Friday 12, 'the 1' from SYD and SIN has A388 VH-OQD with LHR arrival suggested as 0750 hours, 75 minutes behind schedule.

B789 VH-ZNE from DFW to SYD arrived 59 late at 0714 hours. QF8 was the flight.

Last night, A333 VH-QPC came in late - as is the norm - on QF104 from HNL to SYD, arriving at gate at 1930, 50 behind. It then formed QF25, the 2020 hours SYD-HND that took off at 2140, arriving HND this morning at 0604 hours, 39 late. What a contrast to typical Japanese punctuality.

 

[Melburnian1]

Other airlines using A380s can typically turn them around efficiently in Oz for return to their home nation, but QFi has difficulty.

On Friday 12 May 2023, QF2 arrived in SYD from SIN and LHR with A388 CVH-OQG at 0525 hours, 15 minutes late. It has formed QF11, with this 1020 hours flight airborne at 1216 hours. An 0818 hours arrival (same day) is expected, which would be 73 minutes late.

A332 VH-EBO on the 1200 'high noon' MEL-SIN, QF35, is expected to depart 45 minutes tardy.

A333 VH-QPJ is running the 1150 hours SYD-SIN (QF81) that should depart an hour late, so similar to its MEL-origin sister.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 12 May, QF9, the 1505 hours MEL-PER-LHR B789 is not having a good afternoon as expected pushback is delayed until 1730 hours. This may be B789 VH-ZNF that's been in Melbourne since this morning at 0548 hours when it arrived on QF22 23 minutes late, ex DFW.

QF8 (DFW-SYD) has B789 VH-ZND with arrival on Saturday 13 expected at about 0657, 42 late even though it took off on 11 May at 2315, only 45 minutes after scheduled departure.

 

[789nerd]

Continuing with 12 May, QF9, the 1505 hours MEL-PER-LHR B789 is not having a good afternoon as expected pushback is delayed until 1730 hours. This may be B789 VH-ZNF that's been in Melbourne since this morning at 0548 hours when it arrived on QF22 23 minutes late, ex DFW.

QF9 has been further delayed with departure put back to 20:10 AEST, so now 5 hours 5 minutes late. The Perth arrival has also been adjusted to 21:50 AWST, 4 hours 35 minutes late. This delay currently holds for both the Perth departure (23:20 AWST) and Heathrow arrival (9:40 BST Saturday).
The only other aircraft option is brand new VH-ZNL, which has already had 11 days in pre-service checks (compared to 4 or 5 days for the last 4 B789 deliveries) - possibly a loss of trained staff for the work involved ?

 

[Melburnian1]

The only other aircraft option is brand new VH-ZNL, which has already had 11 days in pre-service checks (compared to 4 or 5 days for the last 4 B789 deliveries) - possibly a loss of trained staff for the work involved ?

Yes, I had incorrectly assumed this new aircraft would be in Sydney, but you're correct: to my surprise, it's in Melbourne.

Like you, having had a quick squiz at all the B789s, only one other is in MEL.

 

[789nerd]

Yes, I had incorrectly assumed this new aircraft would be in Sydney, but you're correct: to my surprise, it's in Melbourne.

Like you, having had a quick squiz at all the B789s, only one other is in MEL.

Looking a bit deeper, one other alternative would be to swap ZNB (just arrived with QF10) from QF93 MEL-LAX, which is due out at 20:25, however that flight is not showing any delay.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF9 is further delayed to an expected pushback from Melbourne of 2045 hours on 12 May 2023, 340 minutes behind schedule. This probably means that 'the 10' ex LHR on Saturday 13 (schedule is 1155 hours ex LHR) will be delayed, but whether it's only half an hour or much longer remains to be seen.

The A333 on QF25 (2020 hours SYD up to HND) should depart an hour late. It can't be due to a tardy HNL-SYD QF104 as that was not timetabled yesterday morning from Hawaii.