Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[tomlee1986]

@Melburnian1 i wonder what is happening to many of the A330 fleet - getting on with age? But the 295 is Finnair - so can’t be it… many delays on the A330 fleet lately!!!

 

[Melburnian1]

@Melburnian1 i wonder what is happening to many of the A330 fleet - getting on with age? But the 295 is Finnair - so can’t be it… many delays on the A330 fleet lately!!!

It can't be said that there's one single factor causing delays.

Maintenance required may be one, down from the occasional collision or accident (not an A333/332 but B789 VH-ZNC recently) to tiny areas such as pitot tubes. ATC-initiated delays may be another, such as Japanese airports not having an available slot if QFi services run badly late, as could be flight or cabin crew unavailability.

Disruptive passengers or delays with those connecting from unpunctual domestic flights to international departures might contribute. Weather such as lightning strikes doesn't help. Slow unloading or loading of catering/ULDs for baggage and freight/mail may be factors.

Medical incidents on board thankfully don't occur every trip, but a diversion can add three hours plus to a flight.

I've only scratched the surface.

However your general point is valid that it stands to reason as aircraft fleets age, maintenance becomes more time consuming or difficult. Gradually despite stocks once held, some spare parts may take longer to source if urgently required.

tomleee1986, I'm sure you've seen occasional social media posts showing various interiors of QFi/QFd planes held together with tape. There was one I saw that showed a (toilet?) door with tape.

 

[tomlee1986]

It can't be said that there's one single factor causing delays.

Maintenance required may be one, down from the occasional collision or accident (not an A333/332 but B789 VH-ZNC recently) to tiny areas such as pitot tubes. ATC-initiated delays may be another, such as Japanese airports not having an available slot if QFi services run badly late, as could be flight or cabin crew unavailability.

Disruptive passengers or delays with those connecting from unpunctual domestic flights to international departures might contribute. Weather such as lightning strikes doesn't help. Slow unloading or loading of catering/ULDs for baggage and freight/mail may be factors.

Medical incidents on board thankfully don't occur every trip, but a diversion can add three hours plus to a flight.

I've only scratched the surface.

However your general point is valid that it stands to reason as aircraft fleets age, maintenance becomes more time consuming or difficult. Gradually despite stocks once held, some spare parts may take longer to source if urgently required.

tomleee1986, I'm sure you've seen occasional social media posts showing various interiors of QFi/QFd planes held together with tape. There was one I saw that showed a (toilet?) door with tape.

That QF flight scared me when I read the news!! It’s downright insane seeing it let alone flying in it!

 

[Melburnian1]

B789 VH-ZNK on the badly delayed QF94D is arriving later than expected with it likely to pull in to its Friday 4 October gate at 2005 hours, 800 minutes late.

Assuming this aircraft is still forming the also tardy QF93 (the 1155 hours MEL-LAX), there's no way it will be departing at 2110 as had been indicated. Try at least 2135 if not later.

 

[RSD]

B789 VH-ZNK on the badly delayed QF94D is arriving later than expected with it likely to pull in to its Friday 4 October gate at 2005 hours, 800 minutes late.

Assuming this aircraft is still forming the also tardy QF93 (the 1155 hours MEL-LAX), there's no way it will be departing at 2110 as had been indicated. Try at least 2135 if not later.

it just never ends does it?

 

[Melburnian1]

it just never ends does it?

While probably due to poor weather in Auckland, the Wednesday 2 October ex JFK QF4 (B789 VH-ZNN) diverted to of all places NAN, arriving at 0442 hours today (Friday 4). It departed NAN at 1648 hours local time and ran "express" through AKL, arriving SYD at 1915 early this evening instead of the usual 0935 hours, so 580 minutes late.

ZNN is forming the badly delayed QF27 (1130 hours SYD-SCL) showing as a proposed 2030 departure that as usual is optimistic. 2045 or 2100 at least is more realistic.

Fortunately the QF27 to QF28 changeover in Santiago de Chile has 195 minutes scheduled on the tarmac, allowing QFi to pick up some time, but even so, FR24 is showing 'the 28' as departing from SCL at 0130 hours on Saturday 5 October, 665 minutes late. Due to the start of NSW/Vic etc. daylight saving time, the aircraft should arrive after 0600 on Sunday 6 Ocitober in SYD, avoiding the need to request an exemption from the delegate of the Federal Minister for Transport.

 

[Melburnian1]

B789 VH-ZNN as QF27, the 1130 hours Friday 4 October SYD-SCL took off at 2108 hours. Gate arrival should be about 2018 hours same day, 548 minutes late.

Proposed pushback for the 1155 hours badly delayed QF93 (MEL-LAX) has been further put back to 2130 mid evening.

 

[Melburnian1]

B789 VH-ZNK as QF93D departed MEL for LAX at about 2145 hours, 590 minutes late on Friday 4 October.

It was in the sky promptly at 2153 with same day LAX arrival suggested as 1841 hours, 571 late.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Todays QF12 is delayed by 2 hours - inbound flight has already landed, so possibly an engineering issue? I'll have a long transit... arrive in LAX from SFO at around 7 local time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Saturday 5 October, A333 VH-QPC arrived in SYD at 0733 hours, 222 minutes early as QF84 from SIN. It has then worked empty from SYD down to MEL as QF6006, due to arrive 44 minutes late at 1047 hours. It will then form the 1020 hours MEL-HKG QF29 at an amended, 1200 'high noon' departure. This however seems optimistic: a 73 minute turnaround would be very fast.

 

[tomlee1986]

Also on Saturday 5 October, A333 VH-QPC arrived in SYD at 0733 hours, 222 minutes early as QF84 from SIN. It has then worked empty from SYD down to MEL as QF6006, due to arrive 44 minutes late at 1047 hours. It will then form the 1020 hours MEL-HKG QF29 at an amended, 1200 'high noon' departure. This however seems optimistic: a 73 minute turnaround would be very fast.

High noon departure is definitely very optimistic!!! My pure assumption is 1230??

Update - actual take off at 1257, scheduled to arrive at 1958! @Melburnian1

 

[Flyerqf]

ZNF is returning to service as QF94 4/10 and OQJ is returning to service as QF1 5/10.

 

[tomlee1986]

Also another HKG delay today - QF127 from SYD on QPF took off at 1136 - 76 mins late and expected to arrive at 1845 - 50 mins late! Hence definitely BOTH HKG departure WILL be late tonight on 128 to SYD @ 1930 or QF30 to MEL @ 2000…

 

[exLXCXFF]

Where will QF get the planes from for the Larnaca - Beyrouth evacuation flights that were announced in the media earlier today?

 

[tomlee1986]

Where will QF get the planes from for the Larnaca - Beyrouth evacuation flights that were announced in the media earlier today?

One must assume it’s the PER LHR or CDG services

 

[RSD]

High noon departure is definitely very optimistic!!! My pure assumption is 1230??

Update - actual take off at 1257, scheduled to arrive at 1958! @Melburnian1

Everyone's CX connecting flights into China will be missed again! Qantas really need to make sure that QF29 leaves on time every time now that they have pulled out of flying into China mainland!

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Saturday 5 October, despite having been in SYD since arriving 31 minutes late at 0711 hours as QF20 from MNL, A333 VH-QPG on QF19 back to MNL did not take off until 1321 hours this afternoon. Arrival should also be 31 late at 1921 hours this evening.

 

[tomlee1986]

Continuing with Saturday 5 October, despite having been in SYD since arriving 31 minutes late at 0711 hours as QF20 from MNL, A333 VH-QPG on QF19 back to MNL did not take off until 1321 hours this afternoon. Arrival should also be 31 late at 1921 hours this evening.

This issue of A330 delays is getting more rampant than before… I remember you said there could be multiple reasons for delays but this A330 delay is not just one aircraft but this issue is more widespread than other fleet type in the Qantas Fleet!!

 

[tomlee1986]

Everyone's CX connecting flights into China will be missed again! Qantas really need to make sure that QF29 leaves on time every time now that they have pulled out of flying into China mainland!

Also actually the Chinese flights is not the issue for these passengers as the Chinese flights aren’t the most departed flights after 1800 HKT, EU and UK ones are!!!