Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

In more on Saturday 11 January, QF63 has A388 VH-OQK. This scheduled 0930 hours departure is expected to occur at 1000.

Overnight, QF139, the 1850 hours 10 January SYD-CHC arrived at 0146 hours, 111 minutes late. In the past week, this flight has twice arrived CHC at 0239 and 0302 hours respectively. These evening departures from Australia to NZ are to be avoided if you want to avoid feeling sleepy at 0800 in the morning. A disaster for business travellers after an uncomfortable journey on a B738.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Saturday 11 January, B789 VH-ZNE arrived in SYD at 0904 hours, 149 minutes late as QF8 from distant DFW. As a result, the often punctual QF3 - one of QFi's most reliable frequencies - is predicted to push back at 1100 hours. This should also delay the second leg of AKL to New York's JFK.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF63 on 11 January was said by QF to have departed at 1007 (scheduled 0930) but it has only just taken off at 1055 hours. I don't know why this took so long: it wasn't visible on FR24 for a lengthy period. Perhaps it had to return briefly to the aerobridge?

JNB gate arrival is estimated as 75 minutes late at 1600 hours so once more, QF64 back to SYD will be tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 11 January 2025, QF1 from LHR down to SIN (A388 VH-OQB) is suggested as arriving in the early evening at 1821 hours, 41 minutes tardy.

While QF3 had been forecast to depart at 1100, it didn't become airborne until 1216 hours. AKL arrival (ex SYD) for B789 VH-ZNE is estimated as 1657 hours, 122 minutes late. This may be a rare occasion when the return QF4 runs badly late all the way to Sydney, even though it may pick up some time.

A333 VH-QPF on QF127, the 1115 hours late morning scheduled SYD up to HKG took off at 1332 hours. Arrival at gate should be about 1936 hours, 106 minutes behind the timetable.

Sister plane QPC arrived SYD at 1059 this morning (QF68 ex BLR) and was given the impossible task of forming a punctual QF59, the 1200 hours 'high noon' SYD up to Japan's HND. The latter was in the sky at 1339 so suggested gate arrival becomes 2108 hours, 68 behind. This is the fifth time in eight days this flight has been badly late. Given the Japanese record for punctuality in all spheres of society including transportation, they must wonder how an airline like QFi can be so often delayed.

A333 VH-QPG arrived in MEL (QF30 ex HKG) at 1002 hours, 137 minutes past the allotted, and has formed its own, returning as QF29 that took off at 1321 hours. HKG gate arrival should approximately be 1912 hours, 97 minutes behind the schedule.

QF27 on 11 January has B789 VH-ZNC. This 1220 hours SYD-SCL was airborne at 1328 hours, so South American arrival should be 1137 hours, 52 minutes late.

 

[tomlee1986]

Back to the A333 HKG services - Again 1320-1330 (2 hr delay) for BOTH 29 from MEL & 127 from SYD

29 on QPG took off 1321, scheduled to arrive at 1907 (90 mins late)

127 on QPF departed at 1332 - scheduled to arrive at 1929 (100 mins late) - which you quoted

Both HKG departures will be late again as the original schedule departure from HKG is 1930!!! Absolutely IMPOSSIBLE!!! I expect another 2 hr delay out of HKG!!!

@Melburnian1 this is the same out of HKG - will they even scrap these A333?!

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Saturday 11 January 2025, QF35 (A332 VH-EBN, the 1205 hours MEL-SIN) took off at 1347 with arrival at a suggested 1817 hours, 72 late.

QF8, the Friday 10 January 2025 hours DFW to SYD (B789 VH-ZNH) was pointing skywards at 2243 hours. Sunday 12 should see it arriving at gate at around the 0810 hours mark, 95 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In another Saturday 11 January delay, QF11, the 1725 hours SYD-LAX has been altered to depart mid evening at 2100 hours. Perhaps A388 VH-OQA to operate this flights: it's arriving from JNB (QF64) at a suggested 1843 hours, 268 minutes late.

 

[tomlee1986]

The return flights from HKG on Sunday 12/01/2025 - both delayed due to the earlier reported delay outbounds:

QF 128 to SYD on QPF took off at 2131 - 2 hrs late from 1925 - ETA is 0923 (almost 2 hrs late from 0730)

QF 30 to MEL on QPG took off at 2117 instead of 1930, arrived at 0900 - 75 min delay from 0745 scheduled.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 12 January, QF87 from SYD arrived ICN at 0108 hours, 283 minutes late as on Saturday 11 it hadn't taken off until 1700 hours: A333 VH-QPD. The returning QF88 (the 2210 hours) took off at 0336 this morning with SYD gate arrival suggested as 1546 hours, 306 late.

A388 VH-OQA formed the Saturday QF11 that was airborne from SYD at 2135 hours, arriving at LAX (same day) at 1524 hours, 194 late.

A333 OH-LTR is on QF291, the scheduled Sunday 12 wet leased from Finnair 1020 hours SYD-BKK estimated to depart 40 late at 1100.

B789 VH-ZNE on the 11 January QF3 from AKL up to JFK (the 1655 hours) was airborne at 1914, arriving at its 'Big Apple' gate at 1605 hours, 100 minutes late. QF4 from JFK back to AKL is suggested as departing 70 late at 1825 hours.

Sister ZNH on today's (Sunday 12) QF3 is estimated to depart SYD at 1045 hours, an hour behind schedule.

QF7, Sunday 12's 1150 hours SYD-DFW is not estimated to push back tonight until 1950 hours, making it at least 480 minutes late. Yesterday's had VH-ZNB, arriving Dallas-Fort Worth at 1129 hours, 99 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 12 January, QF70 from DEL to MEL should arrive with A332 VH-EBS at 1351 hours, 76 late.

B789 VH-ZND is operating QF93, the 1200 'high noon' MEL-LAX that was airborne at 1325. There was extremely heavy rain in the centre of Melbourne (in 13 minutes from 1217 to 1230, 17mm fell) but rain wasn't nearly as heavy at Tullamarine Airport, so not sure if the delay had anything to do with the weather. LAX arrival at gate should be 0809 hours, 49 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Sunday 12 January, QF103, the mid evening 2035 hours SYD-HNL (B789 VH-ZNI) has (fairly suddenly) been delayed until a forecast 2200 hours in its pushback.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 13 January 2025, QF4 from AKL to SYD arrived at gate at 0932 hours, 72 minutes late, as on its first sector it had taken off from JFK in the USA at 1921 compared to a scheduled (gate) departure time of 1715, so allowing for a 25 minute taxi at JFK, it was at that time about 100 minutes late.

The aircraft B789 VH-ZNE has 'formed her own', so is operating the QF3, the 0945 hours SYD-AKL-JFK airborne at 1222 hours. AKL arrival should be about 1659, 124 minutes late.

Sister ZNN is today's QF27, the scheduled 1220 hours lunchtime from SYD to SCL. It is forecast to depart at 1330. The aircraft had arrived this morning in Sydney at 0606 hours, 29 early as QF76 from distant YVR so not sure why the delay. Late connecting pax?

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 12 January, the scheduled 1150 hours QF7 from SYD to DFW did not take off until 20205, arriving in the USA at 1750 hours, eight hours late with B789 VH-ZNA. This meant its next flight, QF22 (1855 hours DFW-MEL) was not in the sky until 2017, so Tuesday 14 arrival should be 0634 hours, 54 minutes late.

Today's '7' is similar, with departure not expected until 2030 this evening.

The delayed QF3 (aircraft ZNF) should arrive New York's JFK at 1625 hours, two hours late.

UPDATE: QF7 has B789 VH-ZNB that had been in Sydney all day. It took off at 2105 hours with same day DFW arrival reckoned as 1841 hours, 531 minutes late.

 

[ABC1]

This could explain today’s almost 6 hour delay with the QF64. And other recent delays. From the Guardian.

Qantas says it has been forced to delay several of its flights to South Africa at the last minute due to warnings of falling debris from Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets re-entering Earth.

Ben Holland, the head of Qantas’s operations centre, said there was often little advance notice of where the rockets would fall over the southern Indian Ocean – the re-entry zone chosen by the space company due to its remoteness – causing the airline to delay flights on its Sydney-Johannesburg route.

“Over the past few weeks we’ve had to delay several flights between Johannesburg and Sydney due to advice received from the US Government regarding the re-entry of SpaceX rockets over an extensive area of the Southern Indian Ocean,” Holland said.

“While we try to make any changes to our schedule in advance, the timing of recent launches have moved around at late notice which has meant we’ve had to delay some flights just prior to departure. Our teams notify customers of changes to their flight as soon as we know it will be impacted.”

The airline receives warnings specifying geographical coordinates and timing of re-entry but these can change at short notice, sometimes right up until the time of departure.

“Customers generally understand this is outside of airlines’ control and that we can’t fly in the area when the rocket re-entry is taking place,” Holland said.

“We’re in contact with SpaceX to see if they can refine the areas and time windows for the rocket re-entries to minimise future disruption to our passengers on the route.”

The Guardian understands South African Airways flights are also affected by SpaceX’s operations.

 

[wenglock.mok]

It looks like there is a massive delay on the QF35 today (VH-QPG), which was scheduled to have left MEL for SIN at 12.05, and has been progressively rescheduled till 23.00 tonight. It is now 23.05 and there is no sign of the aircraft pinging on FR24.

This is going to affect the QF52 this evening from SIN-BNE, which is tentatively re-scheduled for 01.50 tomorrow morning but will likely end up being much later as QF35 will now not be arriving into SIN until 02.00 at the earliest.

Update: QF35 finally departed at 23.45 and has an ETA of 04.15 into SIN tomorrow although none of the systems reflect this yet. This means QF52 will probably leave SIN at 05.30 tomorrow at the earliest. Pity the poor passengers who don’t have many alternatives as most flights into and out of Australia are chockers.

 

[tomlee1986]

It looks like there is a massive delay on the QF35 today (VH-QPG), which was scheduled to have left MEL for SIN at 12.05, and has been progressively rescheduled till 23.00 tonight. It is now 23.05 and there is no sign of the aircraft pinging on FR24.

This is going to affect the QF52 this evening from SIN-BNE, which is tentatively re-scheduled for 01.50 tomorrow morning but will likely end up being much later as QF35 will now not be arriving into SIN until 02.00 at the earliest.

Update: QF35 finally departed at 23.45 and has an ETA of 04.15 into SIN tomorrow although none of the systems reflect this yet. This means QF52 will probably leave SIN at 05.30 tomorrow at the earliest. Pity the poor passengers who don’t have many alternatives as most flights into and out of Australia are chockers.

This aircraft VH-QPG (A333) had suffered multiple extreme delays from HKG last few days until 13/01 but this is happening again!!

@Melburnian1 this looks like the fleet needs urgent overhaul!!

 

[ABC1]

QF2 SIN-SYD 14/1 now leaving 15/1 .. 16 hours late!

Today’s QF1 on 15/1 is scheduled to leave on time, but then has a 7 hour delay ex SIN-LHR.

Today’s QF11 is scheduled to leave 5 hours late.

OQH is in SYD while OQB arrived as QF12 this morning.

The QF2 is now due 10 minutes after the QF11 departs, so there must be another 380 in SYD.

UPDATE. Today’s QF11 15/1 delayed until 1300 16/1.

UPDATE to the UPDATE. It would seem the late arrival of today’s QF2 stems from the fact Monday’s QF2 ex LHR left 17 hours late departing Tuesday 14/1 at 13:18. That would explain the 7 hour delay on the QF1 ex SIN on the 15/1 until 0600 on the 16/1. It would be minimal FA crew rest for the LHR based crew.