Qantas Delays/Cancellations

Continuing with Sunday 8 September 2024, QF655 (1945 hours SYD-PER, A332 VH-EBG) was not airborne until 2114 with at gate arrival estimated as 2356 hours, 66 minutes late.

This sometimes not only means redeye QF654 (the 2355 hours from PER back to SYD) is delayed, but subsequently also a domestic such as QF643, the 0820 hours morning SYD-PER. The latter has arrived PER more than 15 minutes late on five of its last seven operating days.

Having experienced a redeye from PER to MEL years ago, I swore 'never again'.

Meanwhile, B789 VH-ZNK on QF5 from PER to FCO has arrived at gate at 1110 hours, 70 minutes late. The returning QF6 is optimitsically showing as pushing back at 1155: 1240 or later might be more accurate.
 
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QF6 now delayed almost 24 hours until 12.30pm tomorrow

B789 VH-ZNK has been further altered to depart at 1255 hours on Monday 9 September, Italian time with PER arrival suggested as 1030 hours on Tuesday 10, 1490 minutes late.

A388 VH-OQD on QF2, the Sunday 8 September 2045 hours LHR-SIN was in the sky at 2236 hours so arrival looks to be about 1838 Singapore time tonight, 73 minutes behind schedule.

B789 VH-ZNJ on 'the 10' from LHR down to PER should arrive at gate today half an hour behind at 1210 hours.
 
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A388 VH-OQD on QF2, the Sunday 8 September 2045 hours LHR-SIN was in the sky at 2236 hours so arrival looks to be about 1838 Singapore time tonight, 73 minutes behind schedule.
Official notification for SIN-SYD is that it's now 19:55 departure. Somehow don't think they made up that much time, but we'll see.
 
Official notification for SIN-SYD is that it's now 19:55 departure. Somehow don't think they made up that much time, but we'll see.

Yes, it normally takes at least an hour and 45 minutes from blocks on at the arrival gate to blocks/chocks off for taxiing. But we'll see if QFi can prove me incorrect.
 
In more on 9 September, QF93 (1155 hours MEL-LAX, A388 VH-OQA) was in the sky at 1314 hours with gate arrival suggested as 1002 hours, 52 minutes late.
 
Yes, it normally takes at least an hour and 45 minutes from blocks on at the arrival gate to blocks/chocks off for taxiing. But we'll see if QFi can prove me incorrect.
So QF2 just landed in SIN (18:34) and right now the lounges are still quiet so i don't know how they plan to push back at 19:55.

Edit: Officially changed to 20:10 departure. Lets see if thays accurate.
 
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The greater than 24 hours delayed QF6 (B789 VH-ZNK) is suddenly showing on FR24 as departing FCO at 1414 (2214 AEST) rather than what QF's flight status still maintains was '1255 hours'. It's the flight that originally to depart at 1200 'high noon' on Sunday 8 September.

I can't see on FR24 that QF6(D?) is yet 'live' so there's a good chance FR24 is correct. It's unclear why QFi doesn't promptly alter its flight status page.

If so, this will put the arrival time in PER (and, if it proceeds to SYD, there also) back further. Not helpful to future timely departures for the B789 roster given VH-ZNC remains in PER undergoing repairs, although according to at least one AFFer it should be back in service some time this week.

UPDATE: QF just altered proposed departure of QF6(D?) at FCO to '1430 hours', 1590 minutes late. PER arrival should be about 1205 AWST on Tuesday 10 September in the very early afternoon. FR24 says the changed departure from FCO will occur at '1443 hours' local time (2243 AEST).
 
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On Tuesday 10 September 2024, QF73 from SYD to SFO (the 2130 hours) is again to be cancelled. This is another result of B789 VH-ZNC being out of service, not helped by -ZNK running more than 24 hours late on the delayed QF6(D?) that has yet to depart FCO (Rome), let alone PER.
 
QF2 yet to start boarding. Lounge says they'll be starting in 5-10 mins. No chance of 20:10 departure.
 
QF2 yet to start boarding. Lounge says they'll be starting in 5-10 mins. No chance of 20:10 departure.
Pushed back just before 21:00. Love the pilots enthusiasm to try and get to SYD at 5:45am.

Pretty sure QF292 departs at 21:00 and gets to SYD at arpund 6:50.

Time for an interesting flight. Inoperative J seat.

Edit: interestingly we did get in at 5:50 and QF292 is a solid hour behind us despite departing roughly the same time. Didn't realise the a380 cruised that much faster.
 
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On Monday 9 September 2024, the hugely tardy QF6 took off from FCO at 1518 hours so Tuesday 10 PER arrival at gate should be at around 1253 hours, 1633 minutes late. The second sector to SYD is displaying as a proposed 1405 hours pushback: unlikely.

A388 VH-OQD on elanshin's QF2 was airborne at 2111 hours, arriving SYD at 0555 this morning, 45 late.
 
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Continuing with Tuesday 10, B789 VH-ZNI arrived in MEL at 0452 hours, 33 minutes early, as QF22 from distant DFW. It is now travelling between MEL and SYD as empty flight QF6002, nominally an 0725 hours airborne at 0814 with arrival said to be 0920 hours, 57 minutes late.
 
Pushed back just before 21:00. Love the pilots enthusiasm to try and get to SYD at 5:45am.

Pretty sure QF292 departs at 21:00 and gets to SYD at arpund 6:50.

Time for an interesting flight. Inoperative J seat.

Edit: interestingly we did get in at 5:50 and QF292 is a solid hour behind us despite departing roughly the same time. Didn't realise the a380 cruised that much faster.
May be a number of factors in that equation (one for the pilots).
- A380 may generally faster cruise than A330 ( i dont actually know usual cruise speed differences but i’m sure that info is readily available)
- A380 relatively lighter loaded (7hr sector vs capability of 14hr sector) may be a factor in cruise speed, especially climb earlier in flight as % of max vs A330
- company cost index for the trip (spend more money by cruising faster to make up time and make customers happy, plus aircraft may be needed for a relatively tightly scheduled onward flight so cost saving by not delaying another departure as well)
- QF2 potentially subject to UK/EU passenger laws meaning significant compensation if late (vs QF292) - although noting it probably would have fallen under threshold for this anyway.


So there may be a number of reasons beyond just usual cruise speed.

Still, quite the difference!
 
May be a number of factors in that equation (one for the pilots).
- A380 may generally faster cruise than A330 ( i dont actually know usual cruise speed differences but i’m sure that info is readily available)
- A380 relatively lighter loaded (7hr sector vs capability of 14hr sector) may be a factor in cruise speed, especially climb earlier in flight as % of max vs A330
- company cost index for the trip (spend more money by cruising faster to make up time and make customers happy, plus aircraft may be needed for a relatively tightly scheduled onward flight so cost saving by not delaying another departure as well)
- QF2 potentially subject to UK/EU passenger laws meaning significant compensation if late (vs QF292) - although noting it probably would have fallen under threshold for this anyway.


So there may be a number of reasons beyond just usual cruise speed.

Still, quite the difference!

FR24 states that QF292's Finnair A333 wet leased to QFi had time in the air of seven hours and nine minutes, while the A388 operating 'the 2' had six hours and 40 minutes in the air.
 
In more on Tuesday 10, QF19, the 1225 hours SYD-MNL with A333 VH-QPA, the class leader, is expected to push back half an hour late at 1255 hours.

Last night, QF15 from BNE to LAX (A332 VH-EBO) was delayed in taking off until 0035 on Tuesday, so LAX arrival on Monday 9 should be 124 minutes late at 2034 mid evening. This will delay QF16 to BNE from its scheduled 2115 by a predicted 50 minutes in pushback.
 
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Last night's QF15 was about 2 hours late leaving.

Todays QF35 showing at least a 2 hour delay
 
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FR24 states that QF292's Finnair A333 wet leased to QFi had time in the air of seven hours and nine minutes, while the A388 operating 'the 2' had six hours and 40 minutes in the air.

A few things at play here:

- Both routes last night are within a few nm of each other (~3530nm), with overall wind component differing by just a couple of knots (~P40) ; however
- A380 normally cruises slightly faster at M084-M085 vs M081-M082 for the A333
- If QF2 can arrive before curfew end (6am) this is generally preferable as it wouldn't need to be sequenced. Additionally, arriving before curfew end also means shortcuts if coming from the west (over Royal National Park towards the IAF, sometimes from 200+ nm out), and often cancelled speed restrictions on descent. QF2 got both of these last night
- QF292 arrives at a busy time in the morning, so often has to slow and/or fly extra track miles to fit into the sequence. With the runway config this morning being 16 direction and AC33, DL41, UA863, UA839 all coming in via BOREE (ie from the north).. this pushed QF292 down the order slightly
 
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