Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF736, the 26 November lunchtime 1235 hours ADL across to SYD with B738 VH-VYE was in the sky at 1347, roughly an hour late. It had a brief holding pattern just south of Crookwell so at gate arrival is 1605, 65 late. This is a very small net loss of time (gate-to-gate) compared to many other flights from yesterday afternoon onwards. It shows how variable the timekeeping, and further lost time on a flight, can be. There's a 'lottery' element.

The 1500 hours SYD - WGA (QF2229, small Q300 VH-SBG) pointed skywards at 1525, only about 10 - 15 late, but arrival is not expected until 1642, 32 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Tuesday 26 November, QF1421, the 1430 hours SYD - CBR took off at 1501 with Q400 VH-QOX. It appeared to have a missed approach at CBR, did a circuit but presumably the captain had decided to return to Sydney, as it's heading northeast. If it doesn't travel back to CBR for a thrid attempt but continues to SYD, passengers will be hours late arriving in the national capital.

QF444 (1530 hours MEL - SYD that took off at 1548) has B738 VH-XZC and had to hold near Goulburn, so arrival in variable weather around Sydney should be at 1729, 34 late.

The 1435 hours BNE down to SYD (VH-VZK) pointed skywards at 1514, arriving SYD at 1753, 43 late.

QF453 (VH-VXJ) took off to the west at 1756 as the 1700 hours peak period SYD down to MEL. At gate arrival should be 1914 hours, 39 late.

The 1655 hours SYD - CBR (QF1517, VH-YQY, a B717) took off at 1758, about 45 - 50 late. QF2227, the 1630 hours from SYD further south to WGA was worse, doing so at 1758 hours with Q200 VH-TQS.

Confirmation would be great, but it appears that as at 1800 hours on Tuesday 26, SYD is down to single runway operations using the east-west.

 

[pjm99au]

I’ve also achieved a new personal best. This makes my 5th consecutive flight each with a delay of over 1.5hrs

Now 6 from 6 delayed more than 1.5hrs. QF 563 BNE SYD the 18.05 departure now leaving (hopefully) 19.40

 

[Silvia]

QF580 PER-SYD (A332 VH-EBF) has a suggested arrival at 19 56, 61 late; however due to the delays around SYD, I wouldn't be surprised that it will be a bit longer.

QF549 BNE-SYD 17 05 hours was cancelled

 

[penguino]

QF12 LAX-SYD (VH-OQK) has been delayed due to technical issues and won't be taking off tonight 25/11. Rescheduled for 10.30am departure tomorrow morning 26/11.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF12 LAX-SYD (VH-OQK) has been delayed due to technical issues and won't be taking off tonight 25/11. Rescheduled for 10.30am departure tomorrow morning 26/11.

...which means it should arrive SYD on Wednesday 27 November at 2000 hours, 685 minutes late.

This may mean that apart from the already publicised cancellation of QF7/QF8 tomorrow (Wed 27), at a guess QF1 to SIN and LHR may have to depart at say 2230 tomorrow night, or even be cancelled, as QF2's A388 VH-OQF is not departing SIN until tomorrow (having been stuck there since Sunday 24 night) and now 'the 12' is badly delayed.

penguino has kindly informed me that it looks like all passengers from the overnight delayed QF12 are staying on Monday night at Hilton Los Anageles, for which tonight's room rate on some hotel booking websites is just under A$200. QF would presumably eiether have a contract with Hilton at a lower rate, or be paying such lower rate even for a quick block booking like this.

Hoteliers love airline delays as the passengers (and crew!) fill otherwise perishable, vacant rooms and may mean further ancillary revenue.

Bad to worse...

 

[Melburnian1]

After departing very late at 2146 last night (Monday 25 November) from SYD, the 1755 hours B744 to SFO is on Tuesday 26 predicted to push back at 2130 for same day arrival at 1555 hours, 210 minutes behind schedule. B744 VH-OEG is the workhorse tonight.

Earlier on Tuesday, another B744, the 1245 hours SYD across to SCL (QF27) left at 1425 with same day arrival forecast for 1240 hours, 90 late. This will delay the returning QF28.

 

[Melburnian1]

Mid evening on 26 November, QF545 (B738 VH-VYL, the 1645 hours BNE - SYD airborne at 1941 is arriving at 2155 hours, 195 minutes behind schedule.

VH-VXK on QF490 (2000 hours from SYD south down to MEL) took off at 2059, so predicted at gate arrival has become 2204 hours, 39 minutes late.

 

[penguino]

QF12 LAX-SYD (VH-OQK) has been delayed due to technical issues and won't be taking off tonight 25/11. Rescheduled for 10.30am departure tomorrow morning 26/11.

The delayed QF12 that was meant to depart on 25/11 has now been rescheduled to depart LAX 12.30 26/11 with arrival in Sydney 21:55 Wed 27/11

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF12 that was meant to depart on 25/11 has now been rescheduled to depart LAX 12.30 26/11 with arrival in Sydney 21:55 Wed 27/11

If my maths is correct, that's a total gate-to-gate time of 14 hours 30 minutes if we add five minutes to the 2155 hours landing time QFi shows.

However in flight time alone - not including taxiing at each end - the trip has recently been taking around that time. Perhaps they can shave more time off, but if it's over optimistic then it's fairly close to the dreaded 2300 hours SYD curfew for arrival.

 

[Melburnian1]

Not sure why, but overnight, this badly late QF2 (A388 VH-OQF) that departed LHR on Saturday evening 23 November was further 'deferred' to a projected 1000 hours ex SIN on Wednesday 27 November for estimated arrival in SYD tonight at 2040 hours. This will be 3750 minutes late (2 days 14.5 hours). Presumably passengers have "enjoyed" two nights' Singapore hotel accommodation, although some may well have been rebooked onto QFi, EK or other flights.

Subject to advice from the redoubtable AFFer milehighclub, QFi should not have to cancel any A388 flights today (apart from QF8 that on Monday - the Wednesday morning arrival back in SYD - already got the gong) as on Tuesdays QF7/QF8 are not timetabled to run. Therefore, only nine of the 12 in the fleet are needed on Tuesdays at present.

This means no QF7 or QF8 between Sunday 24 and Wednesday 27, quite a gap.

Publicly, all three A388s ex SYD on Wednesday 27 are showing as punctual, but one may either not operate or be late due to the QF2 huge delay.

UPDATE: For the second time this week, QF7 and QF8 have been cancelled on Wednesday 27 November. Another day, QF7 was more than 90 minutes late arriving Dallas-Fort Worth airport.

A388 VH-OQF that has been stuck in SIN on QF2 since Sunday night, 24 November 2019 is further delayed to depart Lion City at 2200 hours late in the evening of Wednesday 27 November for expected arrival at 0840 hours on Thursday 28 (instead of 0610 hours on Monday 25), an incredible 4530 minutes late.

Given this is a 'technical' problem, it's a very long delay. One would think by now most passengers (if not all) would have been rebooked on QFi or EK flights to travel back to SYD or other Oz destinations.

Flagship QF1, the 1700 hours Wednesday 27 SYD - SIN and on to LHR is to depart SYD at 0630 hours on Thursday 28 (830 minutes behind schedule) with its SIN stop anticipated from 1125 to 1250 and LHR eventual arrival on Thursday at 1905, 810 minutes late.

Even if these times are realistic, there will be at least some departure delay to the Thursday 27 scheduled 2035 hours ex LHR, QF2.

While as AFFer milehighclub has advised, the two 'refurbishment/maintenance' aircraft in DRS and AUH should be back to passenger duties on respectively 7 and 10 December, as we approach Advent, bookings will start to be heavier so it's far from optimal that the QFi A380 fleet is having significant problems. It doesn't take long for a few thousand passengers to be adversely affected with these cancellations and lengthy delays.

Of the three timetabled A388 QFi departures from SYD today (Wednesday), one is cancelled, one is delayed overnight and the third (QF11 to LAX) should operate normally.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF568, the Tuesday 26 November 2300 hours PER across to SYD redeye (A332 VH-EBF) was in the sky at 2359 hours, so Wednesday 27 arrival is 0659 hours, 49 minutes late. Yesterday, this aircraft's three previous flights - starting with QF409, the 0700 hours SYD - MEL - were all more than 45 late so it was unable to recover much time in 24 hours.

On Tuesday, QF19 (A332 VH-EBN), the 1225 hours SYD - MNL unexceptionally departed just 12 minutes late but did not take off until 1316, a very long taxi. Arrival was at 1837, 67 minutes behind schedule. QF20, the 1900 hours redeye ex MNL departed at 2029 and was in the sky at 2057, so Wednesday 27 at gate arrival is predicted for 0725 hours, 65 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed QF12 that was meant to depart on 25/11 has now been rescheduled to depart LAX 12.30 26/11 with arrival in Sydney 21:55 Wed 27/11

This overnight delayed QF12 (A388 VH-OQG) pushed back in LAX at 1344 hours on Tuesday 26 November so SYD arrival should be 2300 hours tonight, Wednesday 27. Talk about running close to curfew! OQG was previously on QF11 from SYD on 26 November, so it was only in LAX from 0559, a minute early until 1344.

Meanwhile refurbished A388 VH-OQK remains in LAX so it looks to have had something requiring repair. It may form QF12 ex LAX late on Tuesday night (2230 hours) local time.

Domestically, QF409 (A332 VH-EBF, the 0700 hours Wednesday SYD - MEL that took off at 0833 hours) should have an at gate arrival of 0950 hours, 75 minutes tardy. The aircraft is next rostered on QF485, the 0935 hours MEL - PER that has been altered to depart 65 minutes late at 1040.

QF472, the 0615 hours MEL - SYD was cancelled as was QF610, the 0910 hours MEL - BNE.

The 0930 hours QF420 from MEL up to SYD should push back half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

It is rare for QF80, the 1920 hours NRT down to MEL redeye to be an A332 but that was the case on Tuesday 26 November when VH-EBQ departed MEL at 1300 hours, 220 minutes late on QF79, arriving NRT at 2104 mid evening, 204 minutes late. As QF80, the aircraft departed bang on three hours late from Tokyo at 2220 hours with Wednesday 27 arrival likely at 1042 hours, 167 minutes behind schedule. It should then form another delayed '79', departing MEL at 1150 - 150 minutes tardy - for suggested NRT arrival of 2000 tonight, 140 minutes behind the eight ball.

Either QF80 to MEL or QF62 to BNE will then be delayed departing Japan tonight.

 

[thepumpkin]

It appears QF7 cancelled again today

 

[Melburnian1]

It appears QF7 cancelled again today

Thank you, you are correct, but this was already noted at post #11466 and one prior to that. It can be tiring on the eyes reading through previous posts, but it can pay to check these.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 27 November's delayed QF79 (0920 hours MEL up to NRT) was meant to depart at 1150 hours (150 late) but did so at 1237. NRT arrival is predicted to become 2035 mid evening, 175 minutes behind schedule. Although last night when 'the 79' was late it was QF80 back down to MEL that was delayed, tonight it is QF62's turn - the scheduled 1930 hours redeye to BNE that is altered to push back at 2130 - with arrival in the Sunshine State capital, at aerobridge, projected as 0730 hours, 110 behind on Thursday 28.

UPDATE: On Wednesday night, QF62 departed NRT at 2150 hours (140 late) with BNE Thursday arrival likely at 0747 hours, 127 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 26 November's QF28 B744 departed SCL at 1455 hours, 80 minutes behind the schedule, arriving in SYD at gate at 1834, 44 down.

QF37, the 1720 hours Wednesday late afternoon MEL - SIN should instead depart at 2230 hours, arriving Lion City at an estimated 0315 hours, exactly five hours late and many travellers' least favourite time to arrive at any destination. Small hours but big problems. As 'the 1' is delayed overnight ex SYD until a claimed 0630 hours (though as noted above it may depart SYD later) and won't reach SIN until at least 1125 tomorrow morning, there's no missed connection from QF37 to QF1, but instead a shocking c. almost 10 hour wait for 'the 1' to depart for LHR.

UPDATE: QF37 pushed back in MEL at 2211 hours, meaning forecast SIN arrival at 0322, 307 minutes late on Thursday 28 November. Redeye QF38, the 2340 hours should depart (with minimum turnaround time) at 0430. Its at gate MEL arrival will be 1445, 275 minutes behind the schedule.

FURTHER UPDATE: QF37 arrived at its SIN gate at 0322. QF38 pushed back at 0431 hours and is estimated to arrive in MEL at 1440, 270 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQF that has been stuck in SIN on QF2 since Sunday night, 24 November 2019 is further delayed to depart Lion City at 2200 hours late in the evening of Wednesday 27 November for expected arrival at 0840 hours on Thursday 28 (instead of 0610 hours on Monday 25), an incredible 4530 minutes late.

Given this is a 'technical' problem, it's a very long delay. One would think by now most passengers (if not all) would have been rebooked on QFi or EK flights to travel back to SYD or other Oz destinations...

Oh dear. This extremely late QF2 SIN - SYD that should depart at 2200 hours local time on Wednesday 27 November has now been cancelled. Looks like VH-OQF (A388) is still marooned in SIN:

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"F" for "failure." Advice as to what's preventing it from departing the Lion City would be great, as the departure was twice amended before the cancellation of this final QF2 sector was notified.

The extensive delay (from Sunday night) is surprising in one sense as there's no suggestion there was an 'accident', 'collision with catering truck' or similar, and many problems afflicting aircraft at intermediate stops or terminii away from their home base (in OQF's case SYD) can be fixed within the day or maximum 36 hours.

This will mean even more cancellations as Thursday to Monday, even during offpeak periods like late November, is generally when 10 of the 12 QFi A388s are needed to run all timetabled trips.

The overnight delayed QF1 (Wednesday scheduled pushback ex SYD) may now be cancelled, but this is yet to publicly display.

 

[milehighclub]

OQF requires an engine change. Looks like it could be there till at least 1st Dec.