Regional Express Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 26 June 2020, ZL3322, the 1330 early afternoon flight from MEL to ABX and then on to WGA is delayed by an expected half an hour in pushback.

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit us, Rex has fairly often been combining Albury and Wagga Wagga passengers into one flight. AFF writer Mattg commented in his recent review of a Sydney to Cooma flight that he had only three revenue passengers (plus three Rex employees). No wonder it needs bucketloads from the Federal Govt!

 

[Melburnian1]

On the first full day of the 42 days of lockdown in Greater Melbourne and the Shire of Mitchell around Broadford, Wednesday 8 July 2020,l ZL3654, the 1200 'high noon' MEL - MQL was cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 17 July 2020, still during the pandemic, will see ZL3654, the first scheduled domestic flight of any operator for the day ex MEL as an 0700 hours to- MQL cancelled.

This means ZL will only operate two flights from MEL on Friday, neither of which go to Mildura.

 

[Melburnian1]

Much of Melbourne is foggy at 1000 hours on Thursday 16 July 2020.

ZL3655, the 0850 hours from MQL down to MEL was airborne early at 0854 but has been holding east of Bendigo for a considerable time, and at 1020 was still in this pattern.

UPDATE: As at 1106 hours, the flight remained holding east of Bendigo.

FURTHER UPDATE; it arrived MEL at 1138, 88 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

SAAB 340B VH-ZLA on ZL3753, the Tuesday 21 July 2020 scheduled 0710 hours MEL - MGB did not depart until 0819 but took off extremely promptly at 0825, with arrival at 0850 an hour late. The return flight (ZL3754), the 0840 hours, took off at 0922 with suggested arrival 1017, 27 late, showing how much time can be picked up with among other factors a quick turnaround of a turboprop.

The aircraft was not used on 17 to 19 July inclusive.

ZL661 (0845 hours SYD down to WGA) has been delayed until 1000. Fog?

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3322, the Thursday 23 July 1330 hours combined flight to ABX and WGA has been cancelled.

Pre-pandemic, ZL rarely operated flights conveying passengers to two destinations. It is also doing this on occasion down to Tasmania from Melbourne Airport.

ZL661, the 0845 hours from SYD down to WGA is estimated to shortly depart at 1130 hours. WGA may have had dense fog this morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3322, the 1330 hours late lunchtime Friday 24 July 2020 from MEL to ABX and then WGA has again been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL852, the Wednesday 29 July 2020 SYD to DBO and on to BHQ that was due to depart at 0645 hours did not take off until 1232 during lunchtime. DBO arriavl should be 1323 hours, 328 minutes late. Aircraft is SAAB 340B VH-YRX. Earlier, it operated ZL762, the 0630 hours ABX up to SYD that arrived at 0751 hours,l four minutes early, so it looks like the plane substituted for a failed sister.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL661, the pandemic time 0845 hours SYD down to WGA on Friday 31 July 2020 had SAAB 340B VH-ZLW but didn't become airborne until 1300 hours. Arrival was at 1357 hours, 237 minutes late.

The delay was because this morning ZL658, the 0630 hours WGA - SYD did not take off until 1138, arriving SYD at 1236, 296 late. It must have had a snappy turnaround in SYD.

From memory Rex has crews based in the NSW Riverina so that plus probable fog this morning may explain why the airline couldn't just substitute another aircraft (and crew) to operate the SYD to WGA flight closer to time.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3318, the Friday 7 August 2020 during coronavirus midmorning 1040 hours MEL to ABX and WGA (SAAB 340B VH-ZJS)took off at 1121 hours, but diverted to WGA 'running express' through ABX. It has been rainy in Albury for much of today.

The various flight tracking websites don't seem to provide further information. Nor can I find the return trip. This has happened somewhat more during the pandemic than pre-COVID19.

ZL has often been combining its MEL to WGA flight with the ABX 'local' since the pandemic hit Oz.

Even if many Melburnians (or non-boder residing Victorians) wanted to visit Albury or Wagga Wagga, we cannot due to state broder colsures that are discussed in other AFF sections.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thusrday 20 August 2020 has seen ZL3318, the 1040 hours morning MEL - ABX and WGA combined flight cancelled, as was ZL3472 to MIM at a timetabled departure of 1100 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 30 October 2020 saw ZL3318, a combined flight from MEL up to ABX and then WGA at a proposed departure of 1040 hours cancelled. This may have been at short notice. It was the only flight to these destinations timetabled today.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 14 December 2020 has ZL6316 (0700 hours from SYD up to GFN) taking off at 0822 with SAAB 340B VH-YRX. Arrival is estimated as 0935 hours, 70 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Yesterday (Wednesday 16 December 2020) - apologies for the late advice - ZL3472, the 1100 hours MEL across to MIM (SAAB 340B VH-RXX) took off at 1111, on time, but after circling above its destination for quite some time - the pattern is interesting on FR24 - it diverted back to MEL, arriving back probably after 1400 hours. Merimbula had 22mm in the 24 hours to 0900 this morning so the weather may have been the cause.

Today (Thursday 17), the same flight had VH-ZXF but was not airborne until 1229 hours, arrival occurring at 1339 hours, 79 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL6852, the 0645 hours early morning SYD across to BHQ on Tuesday 22 December 2020 has SAAB 340B VH-YRX. It took off at a delayed 0757, arriving at its intermediate stop of DBO at 0853 hours, 58 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 22 January 2021, ZL6783, the 1815 hours early dinnertime SYD down to ABX (SAAB340B VH-RXE) did not take off until 1920 hours so expected arrival is 2030, 50 late.

The delay is due to ZL6774, the combined ABX and WGA to SYD (due out of ABX at 1535 and WGA at 1620) arrived SYD at 1719, 79 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL5459 (1145 hours CNS across to NTN) took off at 1220 hours on Monday 1 February. SAAB 340B VH-ZLO should arrive half an hour late at 1345 hours. Years ago, I went to Normanton and among other activities travelled on Australia's most isolated government-run railway line, to the old gold mining 'town' of Croydon (Qld, not NSW, SA or Vic!)

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 5 February 2021 has seen ZL6459 (0730 hours SYD down to GFF, SAAB 340B VH-KRX) not taking off until 0845, resulting in arrival 61 minutes late at 1001 hours. The return ZL6460 from GFF the very short hop to NRA and then on to SYD arrived in the latter at 1226 hours, as luck would have it also 61 minutes behind the timetable. The aircraft has not subsequently operated any passenger flights.

 

[Melburnian1]

B738 VH-RQC earlier on Tuesday 2 March 2021 operated ZL18, the 0700 hours MEL - SYD that arrived 14 minutes late at 0844 hours (just below the 15 minutes benchmark considered 'late') and then ZL31, the 0930 hours back down to MELL, arriving at 1116, 11 minutes tardy, but is not as punctual on the first day for ZL102, the 1200 'high noon' MEL - SYD that did not take off until 1251, with expected arrival at 1412 hours, 42 minutes late.

Yesterday (1 March), this aircraft was only 19 minutes late arriving on the MEL - SYD ZL152 (the 1700 hours) at 1849 hours, but its last flight for the night, ZL161, the 1930 hours SYD - MEL did not become airborne until 2147 hours, arriving at 2301, 116 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 15 March 2021, ZL3915 (early morning 0730 hours from MEL down to BWT) took off at 0900 hours sharp, arriving at 1006 hours, 86 late with SAAB 340B VH-EKX.

Assuming FR24 is correct, the Melbourne Airport site is having problems correctly recording Rex's flights. Today it suggested that ZL132 (the 1500 hours MEL - SYD with B738 VH-RQC) did not become airborne until 1622, but FR24 suggests this occurred early at 1506 mid afternoon. There was a similar problem with ZL102, the 1200 'high noon' MEL - SYD.