Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Bali's Mt Agung is again active:

Bali flights cancelled as Mount Agung stirs again

Mount Agung, Bali’s active volcano, has erupted again, spewing ash and hot lava that ran down 3 km from the crater, causing authorities to cancel flights in and out of Denpasar. Indonesia’s Center of Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) says the eruption was recorded at 19:30...

thethaiger.com

 

[Melburnian1]

The badly delayed QF29 (see above) arrived HKG at 0532 hours on Sunday 26 May with QF98, the scheduled 2015 hours Saturday 25 May HKG - BNE redeye, departing at 0645 - minimum turnaround - on Sunday. BNE arrival is projected as 1700 this afternoon, 600 minutes late.

Sunday's QF23 departed SYD at 1025, 35 late with BKK arrival estimated as 1720, 40 late. Aircraft A333 VH-QPA had arrived late as QF34 from KIX, at 0840 (90 down).

The longer distance QF11 (SYD - LAX) was off blocks 26 late at 1001 with predicted arrival 0709, 49 late. This may slightly delay the B789 (QF11 second sector) across the USA to JFK.

QF129, the 0930 hours mid morning from SYD up to PVG is forecast to depart 135 minutes late at 1145 hours with at gate arrival 2040 tonight, also 135 late. This will similarly delay the redeye QF130 back down to SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

While it was previously displaying as punctual, Sunday 26 May's QF81 from SYD up to SIN is now estimated to push back 90 late at 1140 with arrival 1810 hours, 80 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Oh dear. QF129 from SYD to PVG has been delayed further to a predicted 1330 hours ex SYD (240 minutes late), a time that has already passed. It'll be a lengthy wait in Shanghai tonight for returnees on QF130.

'The 81' is also suffering an identical suggested delay, with SYD pushback now also 1330 by QF's estimate. This will delay users of QF82 tonight, the redeye back from SIN to SYD.

The 1210 hours SYD - MNL, QF19, had been displaying as on time but it pushed back 46 late with forecast arrival tonight 1925, 55 late. This will mean QF20 departing at around 2040, 40 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF129 on 26 May has A332 VH-EBG and was airborne at 1359 hours so arrival should be at roughly 2245 tonight, 260 late. Strangely the QF software has not updated its website but the scheduled 1950 hours southbound QF130, the redeye, should be able to push back at about midnight if all goes well. This would be 250 minutes late.

The 1010 hours SYD - SIN, QF81 does not appear to have yet departed as at 1436 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPH ended up departing on the 26 May QF81 from SYD at 1442, 272 late, so arrival is estimated as 2015 tonight, 205 minutes behind schedule. The aircraft had spent overnight in Sydney so the cause of the delay is not obvious.

QF82, the 2110 hours SIN - SYD redeye tonight however is predicted to push back at 0210 on Monday 27, 300 late with SYD arrival at 1205, 305 late.

Earlier on Sunday 26, the B744 on QF27 pushed back at 1311, 36 late with SCL arrival (ex SYD) estimated as 40 late at 1145 hours. This may slightly delay the Sunday QF28 from SCL across to SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 26 May, QF73, the 1740 hours SYD - SFO and the return QF74 Sunday from SFO back to SYD B744 have been cancelled. As I'd not looked this flight up previously, I don't know if it's a sudden cancellation ex Sydney.

If any AFFers were booked on these flights, please let us know about rerouting, any STPC (QF complimentary) hotel stays, transfers, meal arrangements and how it was handled.

There is a B789 operating tonight's QF49, the 2055 hours MEL to SFO so if there were spare seats and QF could also find seats on a suitable connecting flight from SYD down to MEL, that might be one option to minimise delays to travellers.

HA452, the 2140 hours SYD - HNL connecting to HA12 from HNL to SFO would give a 2130 hours arrival in the latter. These flights are A332s.

One problem is that most USA-bound flights depart Oz in the morning (or in the case of QF7, lunchtime) so there aren't a huge number of choices at say 1600 or 1700 of an afternoon ex SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Sunday 26 May, QF580 (A332 VH-EBK, the 1245 hours lunchtime PER - SYD in the sky at 1404) looks to be arriving at 1951 hours tonight, 61 late.

 

[NM]

On Sunday 26 May, QF73, the 1740 hours SYD - SFO and the return QF74 Sunday from SFO back to SYD B744 have been cancelled. As I'd not looked this flight up previously, I don't know if it's a sudden cancellation ex Sydney.

If any AFFers were booked on these flights, please let us know about rerouting, any STPC (QF complimentary) hotel stays, transfers, meal arrangements and how it was handled.

There is a B789 operating tonight's QF49, the 2055 hours MEL to SFO so if there were spare seats and QF could also find seats on a suitable connecting flight from SYD down to MEL, that might be one option to minimise delays to travellers.

HA452, the 2140 hours SYD - HNL connecting to HA12 from HNL to SFO would give a 2130 hours arrival in the latter. These flights are A332s.

One problem is that most USA-bound flights depart Oz in the morning (or in the case of QF7, lunchtime) so there aren't a huge number of choices at say 1600 or 1700 of an afternoon ex SYD.

My son was to fly QF73 today. It was cancelled about 4:40pm while he was at SYD (commenced journey from BNE). His end destination is Kelowna (YWL) in BC, Canada. Original routing was BNE-SYD-SFO-SEA-YLW with an overnight stop in SEA. His new routing is SYD-LAX-SEA-YLW with no need for overnight stop, flying AA SYD-LAX, and AS LAX-SEA-YWL. He is at the Novotel in Sydney now with $50 for dinner/breakfast.

Unfortunately the cancellation was too late to refund the IHG points for his overnight stay in SEA. But can't complain too much. He gets a night in SYD instead of SEA and arrives int YWL about 4 hours later than the original itinerary.

Took several hours at SYD to get through the queue for rebooking and accommodation arrangements.

 

[wenglock.mok]

QF82, the 2110 hours SIN - SYD redeye tonight however is predicted to push back at 0210 on Monday 27, 300 late with SYD arrival at 1205, 305 late.

There appears to be a couple of disruptions of the A330 fleet today. QF82 is being operated by the delayed QF51 ex-BNE, which only departed after 6pm as it arrived very late from HKG on QF98 (which itself was massively late because QPF had to return to MEL yesterday afternoon operating QF29).

QF107 SYD-PEK, which was supposed to be operated by VH-EBV, does not appear to have departed at all and seems to have been cancelled entirely. QF108 PEK-SYD has subsequently been cancelled as well. QF129/130 (SYD-PVG-SYD) is also operating four hours behind schedule.

I am guessing at least a few aircraft are now out of position and there may be further rolling disruptions to come.

 

[Melburnian1]

There appears to be a couple of disruptions of the A330 fleet today..... QF129/130 (SYD-PVG-SYD) is also operating four hours behind schedule.

I am guessing at least a few aircraft are now out of position and there may be further rolling disruptions to come.

Thanks for adding to the information. If you read the contributions above, I had covered the QF129/QF130 situation plus QF81.

Yes, it seems QF107 (1210 hours SYD - PEK) was indeed cancelled (as will be QF108 returning ex PEK to SYD tonight). The QF107 Qantas website display has '1315' against it. This usually indicates that it was cancelled at that time, so I assume it was unplanned. It was one I forgot to monitor early today so can't be definitive.

To some extent QF can swap aircraft around but A333 VH-QPF that I noted a few posts back on Saturday 25 May diverted back to MEL after departing same on QF29 remains inoperable.

QF51 is estimated to arrive in SIN (ex BNE) at 0105 hours on Monday 27 May, 410 minutes late, but QF82 from SIN to SYD may not be off blocks at 0210 as QF estimates: more like 0220 at minimum.

Unfortunately when these sorts of multiple disruptions occur, it isn't long before 2,000 plus travellers are adversely affected. It'll be interesting to see how 'recovery' occurs.

We'd love reports from men or women AFFers 'on the spot' if you've been delayed. Information about how it was handled, freebies like hotel accommodation and so on is always valuable.

 

[Melburnian1]

My son was to fly QF73 today. It was cancelled about 4:40pm while he was at SYD (commenced journey from BNE)...Took several hours at SYD to get through the queue for rebooking and accommodation arrangements...

Actually NM, while I would change my mind if I was in such a queue, to have it cancelled at about 1640 hours and be in an hotel before 2030 is not as bad as I'd expect given the hordes to be processed. Thank you by the way for the terrific information including rerouting: fascinating. Like Portland, Seattle is an interesting USA city (with sky high hotel rates!) so if he's not been there, commiserations for missing out on an overnight.

Hotels would have contracts with airlines with latter not paying what 'normal' guests do, but nonetheless major city hotels must "love" airline disruptions, especially given it's a Sunday night, usually in many cities worldwide (definitely in Oz) the night with the lowest occupancy rate.

$50 for two meals is sufficient for me but some would complain I bet.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Sunday 26 May, QF29, the 0940 hours MEL - HKG departed at 0946, uneventfully.

However it has diverted to MNL, arriving at 1616. This flight normally arrives in HKG at 1720 hours. VH-QPE is the A333. FR24 is indicating it was meant to depart at 1700 hours (although it did not), implying it was likely to be a medical emergency.

It did not alter course until what seems fairly late. Is this an indication of a 'quick response' to a declared medical problem on board or nothing out of the usual in terms of the route (track) taken?

As at 1901, it was taxiing for departure from MNL.

UPDATE: QF29 was airborne from MNL at 1905 local time after departing at 1824. HKG arrival should be at 2049 hours, 209 minutes late.

This, by the way, is not the aircraft that yesterday diverted back to MEL when near ASP on Saturday 25's QF29, as that was VH-QPF.

But bad luck comes in threes, not twos...

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-EBO on QF19 is further delayed due to holding on approach to MNL. Arrival will be after 1940, so QF20 tonight is likely to not depart until at leaqst 2050, 50 late. The pilots could almost wave to QF29 that has not long departed MNL after its diversion.

Due to the QF29 diversion, QF98 from HKG to BNE is predicted to push back 80 late at 2135 hours with Monday 27 arrival becoming 0815 hours, 75 late.

 

[Quickstatus]

Remember folks that the Airbus 330-200 and -300 have very different operational range. The -300 is a larger aircraft but does not have as much fuel capacity as the -200 because it lacks the centre fuel tank.

QF107/108 SYD-PEK flight time is 2 hours longer than SYD-Japan and remains the longest A330 route on the QF international network. PVG is 1.5 hrs shorter.

For this reason I believe the QF107/108 is currently only operated by a -200. A -300 could do it but would need to not carry freight

 

[Melburnian1]

..For this reason I believe the QF107/108 is currently only operated by a -200. A -300 could do it but would need to not carry freight

Not disputing any of what you suggest, but at times QF107/QF108 SYD - PEK and v.v. have had an A333, but as you imply it's not common.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF474, the early morning 0640 hours ADL across to MEL (B738 VH-VYB) on Monday 27 May had a bad start, with takeoff not until 0743, about 50 late. Arrival is estimated at 0936, 66 late as there is quite a lot of 'traffic' and hence this flight may have been slowed down by ATC.

The 0715 hours BNE - MOV, QF2450 (Q400 VH-QOP) was in the sky at 0837 so forecast arrival is 1010 hours, 65 late.

 

[jb747]

However it has diverted to MNL, arriving at 1616. This flight normally arrives in HKG at 1720 hours. VH-QPE is the A333. FR24 is indicating it was meant to depart at 1700 hours (although it did not), implying it was likely to be a medical emergency.

It did not alter course until what seems fairly late. Is this an indication of a 'quick response' to a declared medical problem on board or nothing out of the usual in terms of the route (track) taken?

Many diversions will have a track like that. Or they may go past the diversion destination and then return. You don't fly directly there from a long way out.

Medical? Who knows. I suspect they're a lot less frequent than your guesses about them though. On the other hand, weather is always an issue. The HK weather for the day contained thunderstorms for most of the period.

This, by the way, is the aircraft that yesterday diverted back to MEL when near ASP on Saturday 25's QF29.

No. That return itself is interesting though.

But bad luck comes in threes, not twos...

Is that a fact?

 

[Melburnian1]

...
No. That return itself is interesting though....

Apologies. The Saturday QF29 diversion from east of ASP (due to a 'technical issue') involved A333 VH-QPF, not yesterday's QF29 that had QPE.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 27 May, the delayed QF51 ex BNE arrived SIN at 0106 hours, 411 minutes late.

It turned around extremely quickly - one of the fastest ever observed for an aircraft of this size - and pushed back on QF82 from SIN at 0212 (302 late) with projected SYD arrival 1135 instead of 0700 hours, so 275 late. Most impressive to complete a turnaround (and have ATC clearance to push back) in c.66 minutes for an A330.

Sunday 26's QF28 from SCL overnight to SYD was delayed due to the B744 being late arriving on 'the 27'. Pushback for QF28 was 44 late at 1414 hours with Monday 27 SYD arrival suggested as 1845, 55 late. As often occurs, the B744 (VH-OEI) is then proceeding to HND on QF25, the scheduled 2050 hours ex SYD this evening that in theory should depart close to time.