Qantas to increase fleet utilisation

[Ade]

Cancelled flight also means a full refund if you want it

Agreed. However, in the example of someone flying the golden triangle for work, they not be able to take the cancellation ... they'd have to be in that city, that day, to do that work ... so they'd have to suck it up and fly on the next service (or an earlier service) ... they may choose another airline to fly, but quite frankly, it is easier to just move the meetings or appointments .. this is my personal view though.

We'd also have to take into account those that might not have the financial flexibility to book a last minute ticket on the competition because the airline they were booked in originally, cancelled on them ... If it was work travel, I'd leave my work travel team to deal with the cancellation, but, imagine those that are on personal/leisure travel, with other things (tours, accommodation, transfers etc) booked and paid for, they might not have the funds to cover a *new* (and expensive as it is booked on the day of travel) booking ...

On top of all that (regardless of work/leisure travel), the stress that is added to the pax ... For instance, my VA out of CBR last night was delayed by 45 mins. 15 mins into the delay, I started looking other options, as it was work travel. But there were quite a few folks with families, kids, elderly pax who simply won't be able to whip out the company card and pay for an expensive alternative. Luckily VA was able to fix the issue and we were on our way shortly after.

All above are personal views/experiences.

 

[RealtimeY]

I’m already noticing a lot of cancellations back on the syd mel route with the uptick in capacity. My last 3 flights have been impacted and had to fly later frustratingly.

Do they present you with any other options when it happens?

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

The app automatically updates with new details which I presume are the next best alternative. I called the P1 line to try move ahead but no seats despite EF showing some which was a little frustrating compounded by this being the 3rd interruption. I can’t complain though as I kept the original fare class and a fellow colleague got downgraded as no available seats in that fare class for the rest of the day.

 

[TheInsider]

Yes, noticed a cancel on the board on SYD<>MEL from the SYD QP yesterday, and this was early in the day.

There is a lot of staffing issues with ATC, which is the reason for cancellations on that route.

 

[Must...Fly!]

When do A320/321 and A220 begin arriving? Late 2023 I thought? Perhaps some fanciful predictions relating to turn times for them combined with reducing F100 and B717 numbers which sit idle for quite some time (though paradoxically probably make the most money)

 

[Princess Fiona]

All recent VA v QF discussion deleted as off topic.

Please stick to the topic which is QF fleet utilization.

Thank you

 

[1022]

There is a lot of staffing issues with ATC, which is the reason for cancellations on that route.

So just sheer, peculiar coincidence that in all of my recently cancelled and rescheduled golden triangle flights I was looking at very light loads on seat maps and high availability on EF an hour or two before the flight. Then looked at other flights either side and saw equally light loads. Pure coincidence that ATC was having issues on numerous recent cancellation experiences MEL-SYD-MEL....

 

[Quickstatus]

So the self allocation enhancement will be curtailed.?

 

[justinbrett]

So just sheer, peculiar coincidence that in all of my recently cancelled and rescheduled golden triangle flights I was looking at very light loads on seat maps and high availability on EF an hour or two before the flight. Then looked at other flights either side and saw equally light loads. Pure coincidence that ATC was having issues on numerous recent cancellation experiences MEL-SYD-MEL....

ATC don't care which flights get cancelled, they just have to bring down moves per hour to match available staffing. It's up to the airlines as to how they achieve that.

It's precisely because SYD/MEL had the most ability to reaccommodate people as to why those were the ones cancelled. They're not going to cancel a full SYD/DRW flight that operates once a day. If they can get everybody rebooked same day, or even just within a few hours delay, that's much less hurt overall than changing less frequent, higher load flights.

 

[TheInsider]

So just sheer, peculiar coincidence that in all of my recently cancelled and rescheduled golden triangle flights I was looking at very light loads on seat maps and high availability on EF an hour or two before the flight. Then looked at other flights either side and saw equally light loads. Pure coincidence that ATC was having issues on numerous recent cancellation experiences MEL-SYD-MEL....

As it's been stated, it's a lot easier and convenient to cancel those flights, then it is for flights with only a couple of services.
There are major issues with Air Services Australia.

 

[Melburnian1]

As it's been stated, it's a lot easier and convenient to cancel those flights, then it is for flights with only a couple of services.
There are major issues with Air Services Australia.

In 2022, each employee at Airservices Australia took 20 days (shifts) of 'unplanned leave' against 14 days as the median in 2019.

That's almost a 50 per cent increase in 'sickies', presumably fully paid.

Some unions (CFMMEU is one) have been notorious over the years for organising such rorts so that overtime is maximised.

Unfortunately, whether it's container rates being handled at ports drop;ping or in this case flights being cancelled, it's consumers or travellers who suffer.

 

[justinbrett]

In 2022, each employee at Airservices Australia took 20 days (shifts) of 'unplanned leave' against 14 days as the median in 2019.

That's almost a 50 per cent increase in 'sickies', presumably fully paid.

Some unions (CFMMEU is one) have been notorious over the years for organising such rorts so that overtime is maximised.

Unfortunately, whether it's container rates being handled at ports drop;ping or in this case flights being cancelled, it's consumers or travellers who suffer.

I can't comment on your numbers but it definitely happens - I do challenge that the union has anything to do with it or that it is a rort. That's a baseless allegation.

What is not included in that AFR story (which I assume is the one you are quoting) is the base staffing levels have dropped below what is sustainable. They cannot recruit enough controllers, and workplace morale is pretty low.

In particular, morale at SYD is rock bottom as the TCU (departure/approach control) is closing and moving to MEL to operate remotely. Most staff refuse to move so will be out of a job. What's more, they can't hire & train enough new controllers to take over in MEL.

I'm not normally a Guardian (or a union) fan but this article is much closer to the mark:

Air traffic control union warns overtime and shortages are compromising agency. Their quote from AsA that "there is no shortage" is a downright lie.

 

[Must...Fly!]

What is not included in that AFR story (which I assume is the one you are quoting) is the base staffing levels have dropped below what is sustainable. They cannot recruit enough controllers, and workplace morale is pretty low.

This is entirely true, and from what I have heard personally, I agree with the claim that morale is low as well.

 

[Mattg]

As it's been stated, it's a lot easier and convenient to cancel those flights, then it is for flights with only a couple of services.
There are major issues with Air Services Australia.

If this is indeed the case, then even if Qantas' own operations have improved measurably, wouldn't third-party issues such as these prevent QF from increasing its fleet utilisation as planned?

 

[Rabs97]

When do A320/321 and A220 begin arriving? Late 2023 I thought? Perhaps some fanciful predictions relating to turn times for them combined with reducing F100 and B717 numbers which sit idle for quite some time (though paradoxically probably make the most money)

A220 later this year, A321XLR sometime in 2025 pending any further Airbus delays.

Problems with utilisation:

A lot of the fleet is older, requiring more maintenance. Supply chain issues re Covid and China disruptions are still in effect and will take months to be back to 2019 standards. Added to this many AME/LAMEs took VR and recruitment and training to replace them has only just started.

Fleet age - everything from 738 to 330 to regional jets to Q400 to eventually the 380 will have to be replaced within 10 years. That's an enormous amount of capital expenditure for the upcoming new management team.

Deliveries - Manufacturers delayed and backlogged over deliveries. QF could probably do with an extra 12 787s, 20 A321s and 10 A350s in their fleet today plus whatever they've got on order but manufacturers can't deliver new frames for years.

Turnover of pilots - in QF branded group airlines (Eastern/Sunstate Q300/Q400, NJS 717/A220, Network F100/A320, Alliance E190 plus the Jetconnect NZ based pilots who fly 738) are suffering from a large turnover of crew, global pilot market is seeing lucrative contracts in the ME and Asia return plus opportunities like US Freight carriers also competing for labor. Plus the desire for many group pilots to eventually join mainline QF (which is 737, 787, 330, 380 and future 350 and 321) due better T&Cs keeps the ability for expansion in the other group airlines limited.

Turnover of cabin crew, recent attempts to hire casualised flight attendants have not been fruitful, and the company has asked recently retired F/As to return.

Slot restraints and capacity - major airports aren't building any more terminals (except for PER) soon and SWZ looks to only fill a niche role for Sydney. It's still years away assuming no delays. They would probably increase services and utilisation from a common Domestic/International terminal in Perth except that 3-4 years away at the earliest.

Airservices and other agency staffing shortages. Lack of ATC causes cancelled flights, lack of ABF staff has delayed introduction of further services, global training resources for pilots and engineers are full.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I’m already noticing a lot of cancellations back on the syd mel route with the uptick in capacity. My last 3 flights have been impacted and had to fly later frustratingly.

It's all about unwinding those pesky 'productivity inefficiencies!

 

[TheInsider]

If this is indeed the case, then even if Qantas' own operations have improved measurably, wouldn't third-party issues such as these prevent QF from increasing its fleet utilisation as planned?

No, becuase the cancellations which stem from ATC are given on the day or night before. It's not up to QF to plan ATCs workload or ATFM rates. QF and other airlines plan what they can do based on their theoretical maximum or limits.
QF and other airlines just have to work with what they are given on the day.

 

[flydoc]

No, becuase the cancellations which stem from ATC are given on the day or night before. It's not up to QF to plan ATCs workload or ATFM rates. QF and other airlines plan what they can do based on their theoretical maximum or limits.
QF and other airlines just have to work with what they are given on the day.

If current ASA/ATC constraints are known knowns, might planning a little less than theoretical max fleet utilisation be pragmatic and likely result in a better overall outcome and experience (less cancellations)?

 

[justinbrett]

If current ASA/ATC constraints are known knowns, might planning a little less than theoretical max fleet utilisation be pragmatic and likely result in a better overall outcome and experience (less cancellations)?

It's a completely different metric - moves per hour at a specific airport vs average fleet block hours. One does not necessarily influence the other.

The constraints aren't known knowns anyway, they're sporadic and unpredictable. Besides, if airlines don't plan to the full extent they wish to operate, ATC will adjust rosters to the new normal levels of traffic and they'll be stuck in this position forever.

You can bet every flight cancelled due to ATC shortage is being reported to the Minister.

 

[Sprucegoose]

known knowns,

Let's take a lesson from the Master....