Regional Express Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

ZL678 (Tuesday 21 August 2018, the timetabled 1830 hours WGA - SYD with SAAB340B VH-ZLV) took off at 1944 hours. Expected arrival is 2040, an hour late.

ZL869 (the 1830 hours DBO across to DSYD with VH-RXQ) was in the air at 1941, so arrival is 2044, 64 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 24 August's ZL3772 took off at 1644, only nine minutes after scheduled 1635 departure and has VH-ZLW. However, unusually it was in a fairly lengthy holding pattern above Penshurst. Arrival should be at 1850, 35 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 27 August 2018, ZL115, the 0810 hours SYD down to MYA was in the sky at 0928. Arrival for SAAB340B VH-ZXS should be at 1011 hours, 71 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL872, the 1800 hours SYD - BHQ took off at 1850 on Wednesday 29 August with arrival suggested as 2038, 38 late. VH-ZLX is the aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 6 September 2018 finds ZL3683 from MQL down to MEL (VH-RXX) that took off at 1929 hours arriving at 2041, 51 minutes tardy.

ZL782 from ABX up to SYD is worse, with SAAB340B VH-ZLQ not estimated to arrive until 2123 tonight, 93 minutes past the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

SYD operations have been badly affected by the threat of lightning strikes on the afternoon and early evening of Friday 7 September 2018 with aircraft held. ZL472, the 1640 hours GFF to SYD took off at 1723 with SAAB340B VH-ZXK. Arrival is likely at about 1821, 81 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 8 September has ZL454, the 0650 hours GFF up to SYD not having taken off until 0833, so VH-ZRJ should arrive at 0943, 93 minutes tardy.

ZL3767 from MEL to MGB, the 0945 hours, took off at 1039 with VH-KDQ. Estimated arrival is 1113, 48 minutes behind schedule.

A second flight from GFF, ZL462, the 0810 hours was in the sky at 1013 with VH-ZLQ. Sydney arrival is predicted as 1122, 112 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 8 September, ZL853, the early morning 0630 hours BHQ to SYD is arriving at about 1245 hours, 205 late. VH-SBA is the SAAB340B.

This is because ZL852, the 1800 hours early evening SYD - BHQ yesterday did not take off until 2126, so the flight crew and hostess required mandated rest before the plane could undertake its morning eastbound sector.

 

[Melburnian1]

SAAB340B VH-ZRJ is having a bad case of Mondayitis on 10 September 2018 with ZL316 (0700 hours SYD - GFN) still queueing at 0852 for takeoff, so it will be at least 90 minutes late arriving in the northern rivers airfield.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3653 (0630 hours MQL down to MEL) did not take off until 0715 hours so arrival on Tuesday 18 September of VH-ZJS should be at 0835, 45 late.

The 0645 hours WGA down to MEL, ZL3257, took off at 0741 so with VH-ZLK is arriving at 0856, 56 late.

This may be a 'controlled departure' to minimise or eliminate holds as many departures from SYD are also delayed down to MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL211 (VH-ZRC, the 0630 hours early morning BNK down to SYD that was in the sky at 0711 hours) is arriving at roughly 0850, half an hour late on Thursday 27 September.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 28 September, ZL629 operating the relatively short BHS - SYD flight (VH-OLL) should arrive in the early evening at 1820 hours, 35 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 12 November 2018 has ZL359, the 1015 hours NTL down to SYD (VH-ZLV) not having taken off until 1110. Arrival should be at 1153 hours, 53 late.

This would have to be the most unnecessary air route operated in Australia. Short distance, competing modes rail and road have good links (and especially rail is very scenic) while this small plane takes up a valuable slot at SYD. Sure, those using it may be connecting overseas, inter or intrastate but why can't they use a surface mode for this (approximate) 170km distance?

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL166, the timetabled 0850 hours Saturday 17 November 2018 SYD across to OAG is not exactly covering itself in glory with SAAB340B VH-KRX taking off at 1018, so arrival will be at least 75 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 22 November 2018 sees dust storms in and around Sydney while WNW winds gusting up to 57kmh at the airport mean most aircraft are using runway 25.

ZL116, the 0930 hours midmorning MYA up to SYD did not take off until 1228 hours with arrival of SAAB340B VH-ORX at 1339 hours, 169 minutes late.

The lunchtime 1240 hours SYD - OAG, ZL174 (VH-NRX) looked as if it should take off at about 1342 so will be 45 minutes or more late.

ZL133 (1420 hours SYD down to MIM) was in the sky at 1555 hours with VH-RXQ so it should arrive at 1656 hours, 86 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 22 November 2018, ZL629 from BHS to SYD has VH=ZLG and should arrive at 1830, 45 late.

ZL781 (VH-VNA, the scheduled 1645 hours SYd down to ABX was pointing skywards at 1809 so predicted arrival is 74 minutes tardy at 1924.

 

[Melburnian1]

The GFF up to SYD ZL472 (VH-ZLJ) is arriving on 22 November at 2004 hours, 124 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the predicted very heavy rain having started to pelt down at SYD from around 0600 hours (though not as much yet - as in other parts of SYD such as the 'Sydney' rain gauge) on Wednesday 28 November, ZL353, the 0630 hours from NTL down to SYD took off at 0707 and is arriving at 0749, 34 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 29 November 2018 sees ZL114 (VH-TRX, the 0715 hours MYA up to SYD that did not take off until 0956 hours) suggested as arriving at 1049, 154 minutes late. The delay is because of extensive late running yesterday (the very wet day in SYD) that saw ZL139, the SYD - MYA - MIM flight arrive the latter at 2212 last night, 117 minutes late. The crew would have not got to accommodation prior to 2245 so they needed a decent night's (mandated) rest. The flight departed MIM at about 0854. This is the sixth consecutive sector on which this plane has been significantly late.

ZL821, the 0630 hours from DBO to SYD took off at 0940 hours (SAAB340B VH-ZXG) and is arriving at a mooted 1043 hours, 183 minutes late. It had departd SYD on Wednesday 28 at about 2130, some two and a half hours late as ZL836 to DBO so this is another case of the crew requiring sufficient rest in a motel overnight prior to operating this morning's flight.

There will be numerous reasons but at face value it's surprising Regional Express does not base pilots in a large rural city such as Dubbo from which it has daily flights. This might minimise these sorts of delays.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 29 November, ZL359 (VH-ZLJ) from NTL down to SYD is arriving at 1134 hours, 34 minutes tardy.

ZL115, the morning 0810 hours SYD down to MYA took off at 1107 with VH-SBA so arrival is 1150, 170 late.