Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

B789 VH-ZNE that's been in SYD since 0607 hours on 4 September is the aircraft for the delayed 2030 hours SYD-YVR QF75.

It's now showing as a 2200 hours amended departure, not 2230.

 

[RSD]

It's in another AFF thread: a tyre tread (starboard side) ended up in a wing, so AFAIK the aircraft remains marooned in Perth WA:

VH-ZNC damaged upon landing in PER due to debris? QF6 PER - SYD cancelled

Just saw pictures of apparently VH-ZNC that performed FCO - PER and was damaged upon landing in PER. Comments say it may have been due to debris on the runway and fire trucks were dispatched. Anyone with proper information? Is this likely to further throw QFi into schedule chaos? How long to...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

QF staffer @TheInsider said it will take a long time to repair.

It's been in Perth since arriving on Saturday 24 August at about 1358 hours in the afternoon. Given @jb747 said or implied it would be safe to fly, I'm surprised it's not operated empty across to Sydney where Qantas has extensive hangar facilities whose staff could facilitate repairs.

I've asked a couple of times in this thread for further details but no one repled.

Ah OK - cheers! Its pretty clear that Qantas must be running their fleet very tightly - one small hiccup with an A380 and the A380 schedules fall over, same with the B787's

 

[Melburnian1]

Ah OK - cheers! Its pretty clear that Qantas must be running their fleet very tightly - one small hiccup with an A380 and the A380 schedules fall over, same with the B787's

Indeed. However if I remember correctly, the 'peak days' tend to be at the end of the week (assuming one regards Sunday as day 7 not day 1).

This thread shows QF7/8, QF21/22 and QF93/94 have been among flights adversely affected through cancellations or delays. There's evidence of incoming aircraft having to quickly turn around in Sydney in particular, probably more so than normal. This may make even minor maintenance more difficult, so delays can compound.

My hypothesis with QFi is the company is trying to service too many routes with too few aircraft, even when all are available: a number of destinations (not just with the B789s, but A333s as well) are not daily. A B789 example is Sydney to Santiago (de Chile) that at the moment is thrice weekly.

QFi might suggest this reflects the level of demand but a non-daily frequency inhibits bookings because prospective passengers can be worried if there's something wrong with an aircraft on the selected day, the perception is they'll be delayed for a minimum of two days (assuming QFi doesn't place passengers on a rival carrier). The other factor may be you want to leave on a Friday and return to Oz on Sunday morning but a route has no QFi flights on one of those days, so you choose another airline.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF75 departed SYD at 2154 (84 minutes late), so good that it wasn't even delayed until '2200' as forecast.

It was airborne at 2212. FR24 claims it will be at gate in YVR at 1836, 66 late; QF says '1858' that would be 88 late. Same day.

 

[RSD]

Indeed. However if I remember correctly, the 'peak days' tend to be at the end of the week (assuming one regards Sunday as day 7 not day 1).

This thread shows QF7/8, QF21/22 and QF93/94 have been among flights adversely affected through cancellations or delays. There's evidence of incoming aircraft having to quickly turn around in Sydney in particular, probably more so than normal. This may make even minor maintenance more difficult, so delays can compound.

My hypothesis with QFi is the company is trying to service too many routes with too few aircraft, even when all are available: a number of destinations (not just with the B789s, but A333s as well) are not daily. A B789 example is Sydney to Santiago (de Chile) that at the moment is thrice weekly.

QFi might suggest this reflects the level of demand but a non-daily frequency inhibits bookings because prospective passengers can be worried if there's something wrong with an aircraft on the selected day, the perception is they'll be delayed for a minimum of two days (assuming QFi doesn't place passengers on a rival carrier). The other factor may be you want to leave on a Friday and return to Oz on Sunday morning but a route has no QFi flights on one of those days, so you choose another airline.

They do seem to be trying to do too much with too little - and it keeps coming back to bite them in the ar.. tail

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 4 September's QF3 from SYD and AKL to JFK arrived at the latter at 1720 hours, an hour late. B789 VH-ZNA is suggested as departing on the return flight, QF4, half an hour late at 1950.

The delayed QF75 from last night (SYD-YVR) should arrive on 4 September at 1843 hours, 73 minutes tardy. VH-ZNE is the plane.

 

[elanshin]

QF35 delayed until 12:40 for now. Supposedly plane change. I just got into the lounge so I'll investigate.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Thursday 5 September 2024, QF69 (0930 hours MEL-DEL, A332 VH-EBV) was not in the air until 1232 this afternoon, so gate arrival should be about 2024 hours, 149 minutes behind the timetable. This will delay QF70 returning, as this 1955 hours departure has been officially put back to 2205 ex India tonight local time.

QF71 (A332 VH-EBJ) is on this 1210 hours timetabled flight from PER that pointed skywards at 1452, so arrival at gate looks to be 128 minutes late at 2008 mid evening. This will delay QF72's return to the West Oz capital.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF35 delayed until 12:40 for now. Supposedly plane change. I just got into the lounge so I'll investigate.

It took off at 1326 with A332 VH-EBK: arrival in SIN is suggested as 1904 hours, 49 late.

-EBK had arrived at the MEL QFd terminal at 1040 hours, 15 minutes late as QF425 from SYD so it was never going to be on time for 'the 35' given the aircraft had to switch terminals. That it was requisitioned strongly suggests an aircraft substitution, so @elanshin is likely to have been correctly informed.

 

[elanshin]

It took off at 1326 with A332 VH-EBK: arrival in SIN is suggested as 1904 hours, 49 late.

-EBK had arrived at the MEL QFd terminal at 1040 hours, 15 minutes late as QF425 from SYD so it was never going to be on time for 'the 35' given the aircraft had to switch terminals. That it was requisitioned strongly suggests an aircraft substitution, so @elanshin is likely to have been correctly informed.

Yes we had a gate change as well from gate 16 to 5 and I watched them tow EBK over from gate 23.

 

[xt_20]

QF71 (A332 VH-EBJ) is on this 1210 hours timetabled flight from PER that pointed skywards at 1452, so arrival at gate looks to be 128 minutes late at 2008 mid evening. This will delay QF72's return to the West Oz capital.

QF72 doesn't always use the same aircraft as QF71. It is usually the case, but not always. QF have 4 A332 flights from MEL, SYD, BNE and PER into SIN at roughly the same time, and they can switch the aircraft around departing SIN.

Today, EBL from MEL is operating QF72 while EBJ is operating QF52 to BNE, which is 1hr delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

B789 VH-ZNJ on QF5 from PER to FCO was airborne at 0108 hours on Friday 6 September, about 50-55 minutes late, with gate arrival in Rome said to be about 1041 hours, 41 minutes late. The returning QF6 is timetabled to depart on the dot of 1200 'high noon' but is expected to do so at 1245 hours.

The A333 on QF35 from MEL to SIN today is forecast to push back at 1400 hours this afternoon, two hours late.

B789 VH-ZNI on QF34 from CDG in France to PER should arrive today at 1025 hours, 90 minutes late as this scheduled 5 September 1025 hours departure from Paris did not become airborne until 1122. Rather optimistically, the second sector from PER to SYD is said to be pushing back at 1145 hours WA time, 80 minutes behind schedule.

QF69 (MEL-DEL) last night arrived at 2025, 150 minutes behind the timetable, so A332 VH-EBV took off on the 1955 hours red eye at 2311, meaning QF70 will arrive in MEL on Friday 6 at about 1542 hours, 162 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 6 September, B789 VH-ZNG had overnighted in SYD before working down empty as QF6001 to MEL, becoming airborne at 0821 and arriving at 0957 hours. It still managed to get away late on 'the 21' to USA's DFW, taking off at 1355 with anticipated at gate arrival - same day - becoming 1421, 31 behind.

QF1 from SIN up to LHR has A388 VH-OQJ with Friday arrival local time suggested as 0711 hours, 36 late.

The delayed QF35 (see above) with A333 VH-QPC) was in the sky at 1433 with ex-MEL SIN arrival likely at 2014 hours, 119 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[exLXCXFF]

Looks like that QF10 LHR - PER made an non-scheduled stop in Bengaluru (medical?).

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 7 September 2024, QF93, the 1155 hours MEL-LAX (A388 VH-OQI) is expected to depart 35 minutes late at 1230 hours.

Post automatically merged: Sep 7, 2024

Looks like that QF10 LHR - PER made an non-scheduled stop in Bengaluru (medical?).

The aircraft is B789 VH-ZNM that took off from BLR this morning at 0710 hours local time with PER arrival estimated as 1741 hours, 151 minutes behind schedule.

A333 OH-LTS on the 0950 hours SYD up to BKK, QF295, was airborne on Saturday at 1210 hours. Forecast at gate arrival becomes 1827 hours, 107 minutes tardy.

Another A333 but this time a QFi one, VH-QPH is operating the 0925 hours MEL-NRT QF79 that was in the sky at 1136, so forecast arrival is 2029 mid evening, 89 minutes behind schedule.

B789 VH-ZNJ is on QF6, the 1200 'high noon' Friday 6 September from FCO down to PER airborne at 1353 hours. Arrival in the West Australian capital at gate is predicted as 1106 hours, 86 minutes behind the timetable. The second sector from PER to SYD has been cancelled, not for the first time. I assume passengers are rebooked on a domestic flight, adding extra hour(s) to their already lengthy journey.

 

[ksksks]

Looks like that QF10 LHR - PER made an non-scheduled stop in Bengaluru (medical?).

ZNM is heading to Changi now. Looking at the time on the ground in Bangalore, crew would be out of hours if they were to continue to Perth, even with extension applied.

 

[Comoman]

ZNM is heading to Changi now. Looking at the time on the ground in Bangalore, crew would be out of hours if they were to continue to Perth, even with extension applied.

Assume standby 787 crews available in Singapore? Otherwise it’s going to be a long wait.

 

[jrfsp]

Assume standby 787 crews available in Singapore? Otherwise it’s going to be a long wait.

there will be more ground support in SIN and lots of rebooking options at least, shouldn’t be too bad

 

[ksksks]

Assume standby 787 crews available in Singapore? Otherwise it’s going to be a long wait.

Singapore is not a B787 base and isn't currently an airport the Dreamliner operates into. For tech crew, the fastest option would be to fly a new crew in. If I've calculated correctly, the earliest the current crew could start a new FDP would be just before 9pm tomorrow (Singapore time), or 11pm if not previously acclimitised.
Cabin crew can sometimes be scavenged from within Asia, but only if the flight were to continue.

Singapore has plenty of alternate rebooking options for ongoing passengers btw.

 

[ABC1]

QF10 is dead person into Bengalaru. Crew then flew SIN and timed out. Pax put on other QF and other carriers