Regional Express Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with the many delays on Saturday 29 June due to earlier fog in Sydney, ZL662, the 0815 hours WGA - SYD took off at 0950 (VH-NRX) with arrival at 1052, 87 late the expectation.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3187 (1720 hours ABX - MEL airborne at 1808 with SAAB 340B VH-ZLJ) took off at 1808 so arrival is 1902, 42 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 5 July 2019, ZL3286 (1835 hours early evening MEL - WGA) is expected to depart at 1935. While not everyone is travelling CBD to CBD, all things considered it's little faster, far more expensive and a lot less comfortable than NSW TrainLink's XPT evening 1950 hours XPT train ex Southern Cross.

 

[Melburnian1]

There may have been fog in Albury this morning as the 0830 hours from it to SYD, ZL766 took off at 0950 with SAAB 340B VH-ZLJ. Arrival is showing as 1103, 73 late but this may be optimistic as at 1050, the aircraft remained in a hold with a slew of smaller aircraft near the Wombeyan Caves.

ZL662 (0815 WGA - SYD) was in the sky at 0936 and also had to hold en route. VH-SBA is expected to arrive at 1107, 102 minutes behind its schedule.

The Sydney area has had some fog but it was not calm (wind wise) at SYD so not sure if this is why flights are delayed. Someone who is at the airport may be able to advise.

 

[Melburnian1]

VH-RXS on ZL917, the 1025 hours BHQ across to SYD did not take off until 1418 so arrival is 260 minutes late at 1635 hours on Tuesday 9 July.

This is because on ZL852 this morning, this scheduled 0645 hours flight took off at 0818 (about 80 late) but held for an inordinate period approaching DBO, finally arriving at 1129 hours, 214 minutes late. Very unusual to lose 134 minutes - more than two hours - on a relatively short flight, but one assumes fog is to blame. The flight was then badly late to BHQ.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has investigated union and a former employee's concerns about alleged deficiencies in Rex's maintenance practices. It has no 'current concerns' but the release I read was a little ambiguous, as it had not completed all steps from what I could deduce.

 

[Melburnian1]

VH-RXS on ZL917, the 1025 hours BHQ across to SYD did not take off until 1418 so arrival is 260 minutes late at 1635 hours on Tuesday 9 July.

This is because on ZL852 this morning, this scheduled 0645 hours flight took off at 0818 (about 80 late) but held for an inordinate period approaching DBO, finally arriving at 1129 hours, 214 minutes late. Very unusual to lose 134 minutes - more than two hours - on a relatively short flight, but one assumes fog is to blame. The flight was then badly late to BHQ.

It is surprising that with a holding pattern of more than two hours the plane did not have to divert.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority has investigated union and a former employee's concerns about alleged deficiencies in Rex's maintenance practices. It has no 'current concerns' but the release I read was a little ambiguous, as it had not completed all steps from what I could deduce.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 10 July 2019 finds ZL953 from ARM to SYD, the 0630 hours, not airborne until 0740. VH-OLM is arriving 61 late at 0846.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a very windy Wednesday evening, 10 July 2019 in MEL, ZL3187 from ABX, the 1720 hours airborne at 1843 should arrive at 2008 hours, 108 late. Aircraft is SAAB340B VH-OLL.

It's down to a single runway at MEL (east-west 09/27 is closed) due to the strong winds.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3258, the Monday 5 August 0900 hours MEL up to WGA did not take off until 1009 hours so arrival is suggested as 1105, 55 late for VH-EKD.

The 0730 hours GFN to SYD ZL311 was not in the sky until 0926, so SAAB340B VH-ZXK is predicted to arrive at 1054 hours, 114 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 6 August 2019, ZL954, the 0830 hours SYD - ARM (VH-NRX) was in the sky at 0928 hours. Arrival should be at 1026 hours, 41 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 8 August 2019, ZL376, the 1550 hours SYD - NTL has been cancelled.

This route must be Australia's least necessary, as these aircraft take up valuable slots for a very short route along which passengers can easily drive or travel by at least hourly NSW TrainLink comfortable interurban trains. As a bonus the railway is one of Australia's more scenic.

ZL781 (1645 hours SYD - ABX) is also cancelled as is ZL677, the 10 minutes later scheduled SYD down to WGA.

 

[Melburnian1]

With SYD on Mode 13, the single runway (east-west) that causes delays, ZL774 on Thursday 8 August, the 1535 hours ABX - SYD airborne at 1639 (SAAB340B VH-RXE) is arriving at 1807, 72 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Probably reflecting an earlier cancellation of both a SYD - WGA and a SYD - ABX, ZL752 on Thursday 8 August took off from ABX at 1846, arriving WGA at 1914 hours. This is not a normal working. Aircraft is VH-KDV, a registration that harks back to the Kendall days.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 9 August 2019 sees some early morning Rex SYD-bound flights having to hold in the usual position west of SYD.

ZL517, the 0630 hours from PKE to SYD did not take off until 0719 with VH-PRX likely to arrive at 0814, 49 late.

ZL161 is from OAG and extremely similar with this also 0630 hours timetabled departure airborne at 0718 for estimated SYD arrival of 0806, 46 late.

 

[Silvia]

Continuing today, ZL376 NTL-SYD 15 30 hours service was cancelled. Similarly, ZL781 ABX-SYD 16 45 hours, ZL677 WGA-SYD 16 55 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 9 August 2019, ZL526 from SYD to PKE, the 1615 hours, took off at 1934. VH-RXE should arrive at 1923, 183 minutes behind the timetable.

ZL752 from ABX to SYD has again made an intermediate stop in WGA.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 10 August, ZL463, the 0830 hours SYD down to GFF did not take off until 1025 hours, so VH-ZLO is at least 95 minutes late.

From a quick look SYD may again be on single runway (east-west) ops. Disastrous for timekeeping, but maybe not so bad on Saturday afternoon, later, when airline traffic is less. Winds at 1030 hours were gusting to 54kmh.

SAAB 340B VH-PRX on ZL322, the 0845 hours SYD - LSY remained in SYD at 1035 so it will not be far shy of two hours late, if not more.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 12 August's ZL825 from DBO across to SYD, the 0945 hours, took off at 1051. VH-ZPA should arrive at 1151, 56 minutes behind the timetable.

ZL518 (0900 hours SYD - PKE) is worse, having not become airborne until 1103. VH-YRX will not be far off noon in arriving at a suggested 1153 hours, 108 minutes tardy.

The 0630 hours WGA - SYD is worst of the three, having pointed skywards at 1128 hours with SAAB 340B VH-KDQ. Arrival is forecast for 1230 hours, 350 late. WGA must have had fog this morning as QF is also badly delayed.

ZL3257 from WGA down to MEL is also adversely affected, with VH-KRX on this 0645 hours scheduled flight becoming airborne at 1132. Arrival looks to be 1241 hours, 281 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3657 (Tuesday 12 August, the 1020 hours morning MQL down to MEL in the sky at 1108 with SAAB 340B VH-ZLA) is arriving at 1223 hours, 43 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL14, the Wednesday 21 August 2019 scheduled 0850 hours fairly short hop to OAG took off at 0959. VH-PRX should arrive at 1039 hours, 59 minutes late.