Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 21 August's QF19 from SYD to MNL arrived at 0349 hours, 539 minutes late. A333 VH-QPG as the returning QF20 should arrive in SYD this afternoon at about 1557 hours, 557 minutes behind schedule. It looks to be forming QF41, the 1355 hours SYD-CGK, showing as departing at 1710. This seems optimistic: 1730 or beyond may be more realistic.

 

[jb747]

You disappeared for almost exactly a year. What happened?

 

[Foreigner]

I wonder how badly flights may get affected by industrial action at SYD tomorrow

Ampol's Sydney Airport refuellers set to strike tomorrow - Travel Weekly

More than 50 Sydney Airport refuellers will hold 12-hour strikes tomorrow as a battle between airport staff and Ampol Aviation continues.

www.travelweekly.com.au

 

[Melburnian1]

You disappeared for almost exactly a year. What happened?

I decided to give it a rest, and pursued travel and other interests. Thank you for your concern, and hope you are enjoying your retirement. I thought my absence was longer than a year but haven't researched it.

On Thursday 22 August, B789 VH-ZNC arrived in SYD on the dot of 1900 hours, 15 early as QF6 from PER and before that, FCO. She 'formed her own' as in the QF5 that's timetabled to commence its trip at 1920. It's far from normal for a timetabled 1915 hours arrival to form a departure due out five minutes later, but this may have related to the very late operation of QF19 the day before and consequent hugely delayed arrival of QF20 from MNL.

QF5 took off at 2124 and should arrive FCO in Italy at about 1145 hours on Friday 23, 105 minutes late. This will delay the returning QF6.

 

[Quickstatus]

Welcome back @Melburnian1 !

 

[Melburnian1]

I wonder how badly flights may get affected by industrial action at SYD tomorrow

Happy to be corrected but there doesn't appear to have been (m?)any adverse effects. (I reserve the word 'impact' for 'collisions').

Presumably aircraft either carried more fuel from nearby ports such as Melbourne or perhaps used competitors to Ampol.

 

[Melburnian1]

B789 VH-ZNN has had an eventful day after arriving in PER at 0837 hours local time on Friday 23 operating QF34 from the recent Olympic city's CDG.

It then positioned empty ('ferry') to MEL, arriving at 1500 hours as QF6005. Subsequently it formed QF93, the 1155 hours to LAX that was airborne at 1716. Arrival same day is suggested as 1403 hours, 293 minutes behind the eight ball.

This is an expensive way to form 'the 93' as passengers from QF34 bound for SYD would have been accommodated on domestic flight(s), meaning those seats couldn't be sold to locals.

 

[Melburnian1]

In an all-too-familiar occurrence, the PER to SYD scheduled 1310 hours leg of QF6 from PER to SYD was cancelled on Saturday 24 August. A couple of hours ago, B789 VH-ZNN arrived in PER (ex FCO) at 1350 instead of 0940, so 250 minutes behind time. Hopefully the SYD-bound passengers are on a domestic.

A388 VH-OQD arrived LHR as QF1 at 0749 this morning, 74 minutes late as yesterday from Sydney, this 1445 hours timetabled mid afternoon departure was not airborne until 1655.

A333 VH-QPH arrived ex MNL as QF20 in SYD this morning at 0818 hours, 98 minutes tardy, and then formed QF87, the 1035 hours to ICN that wasn't wheels up (I dislike those two words!*) until 1326 with a two hour late Seoul arrival the expectation: 2225 hours local time tonight. This will delay the southbound QF88.

* 'wheels up' is constantly used by an individual who operates another aviation site.

 

[exLXCXFF]

In an all-too-familiar occurrence, the PER to SYD scheduled 1310 hours leg of QF6 from PER to SYD was cancelled on Saturday 24 August.

I think there might be a much bigger problem to that - see my post in the Qantas Main Forum and picture attached that apparently shows VH-ZNC in PER after landing today according to (unverified social media)

 

[Himeno]

I think there might be a much bigger problem to that - see my post in the Qantas Main Forum and picture attached that apparently shows VH-ZNC in PER after landing today according to (unverified social media)

ZNC has been doing the QF5/6 rotation all week since getting back on Monday night as QF28.

 

[Wing Nut]

METAR YSSY 280000Z 25023G33KT 9999 FEW045 SCT130 12/01 Q1017 RF00.0/000.0=

Can you please translate for a non-flyer?

 

[Melburnian1]

I think there might be a much bigger problem to that - see my post in the Qantas Main Forum and picture attached that apparently shows VH-ZNC in PER after landing today according to (unverified social media)

Goodness.

QF93, the 1155 hours Sunday 25 August 2024 MEL-LAX and its return as QF94 have been cancelled, no doubt as a result of the trouble besetting B789 VH-ZNC.

Claimed QF staff member TheInsider suggests this will take 'weeks' to repair and will punch a 'big hole' in QFi's timetables.

 

[opusman]

will punch a 'big hole' in QFi's timetables

I wonder how this bodes for the final week of QF5/6 for the season.

 

[Melburnian1]

I wonder how this bodes for the final week of QF5/6 for the season.

I am not in QFi's operations department, but operating QF5/6, QF9/10 and QF33/34 between Perth and their destination/origin rather than SYD or MEL "saves" a frame or two each day.

If we assume more flights need to be cancelled, it'll be fascinating to see which ones. There must be many number of factors for planners to consider, but flights such as QF63/64 SYD-JNB and return could be among the last ones to be cancelled if there was a choice due to the relative paucity of direct/one stop alternative carriers that don't involve a huge deviation.

In theory, no such problem exists for the USA routes. (I am assuming QFi, DL, AA, UA and HL have spare seats at this time of year given it's not school holidays/Christmas/Easter).

 

[Silvia]

QF465 (VH-VXH) is on hold as Melbourne going through quite a storm. Currently 12 2000 ft and aircraft has been airborne for 1hr50m so far

 

[Melburnian1]

QF465 (VH-VXH) is on hold as Melbourne going through quite a storm. Currently 12 2000 ft and aircraft has been airborne for 1hr50m so far

Yes, many aircraft are losing time with some SYD-MEL trips taking above two hours from pushback to gate arrival. Aircraft are sometimes taking most unusual routings.

QF1893 (E190 VH-XVP, the 1630 hours NTL down to MEL) was pointing skywards only seven minutes after timetabled departure, so early. However it is arriving its MEL gate at about 1858 hours, 43 minutes late after a roundabout trip that saw it flying slightly west of Omeo and then Bairnsdale, Victoria, then via Wraburton, Tallarook and a hold above Pyalong and then slightly east of the Melbourne western suburb of Tarneit. Quite the tour.

A storm at this time on a busy Sunday night is not welcomed as it could see passengers and even airline crews 'out of position' given it can mean cancellations.

QF482, the 1830 hours MEL-SYD is one such cancellation.

 

[Princess Fiona]

QF465 (VH-VXH) is on hold as Melbourne going through quite a storm. Currently 12 2000 ft and aircraft has been airborne for 1hr50m so far

The airport has been closed twice in the last 2 hours due to storms.
Quite the lightning show from the J lounge

 

[Melburnian1]

The airport has been closed twice in the last 2 hours due to storms.
Quite the lightning show from the J lounge

As at 2040 AEST, MEL appears to be only using the east-west runway, creating further delays.

Yes, it was the most lightning I can ever recall seeing in Melbourne (but we have short memories).

 

[exLXCXFF]

If we assume more flights need to be cancelled, it'll be fascinating to see which ones. There must be many number of factors for planners to consider

- Do they have an A330 spare who could to the Honolulu run? Or cancel honolulu?
- all Dreamliner seem to be up in the air except VH-ZNC (damaged in Perth), VH-ZNL (to run QF73 tonight), and where is VH-ZNN? It was supposed to fly to Perth on 23 Aug but FR24 has not recorded a flight.

 

[Flyerqf]

- Do they have an A330 spare who could to the Honolulu run? Or cancel honolulu?
- all Dreamliner seem to be up in the air except VH-ZNC (damaged in Perth), VH-ZNL (to run QF73 tonight), and where is VH-ZNN? It was supposed to fly to Perth on 23 Aug but FR24 has not recorded a flight.

ZNN is at LAX where there is always a spare over the weekend while the A380 operates QF93/94.

HNL is the obvious route to change to a A330 if they can free up capacity in that fleet.