Regional Express Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 7 April 2022, perhaps due to one other aircraft in the small B738 fleet being defective, although today it was 'ducks weather' x 100 in Sydney as was also the case yesterday - I've not researched - VH-PAG started out OK as the 0700 hours ZL9 from SYd down to MEL, arriving at 0825, 10 minutes early.

The rot then set in, with ZL42 (1000 MEL - SYD) taking off at 1206 hours for arrival at gate at 1319 hours, 109 minutes late.

The next flight was ZL540 at 1230 from SYD up to OOL, airborne at 1422 for a 1531 hours arrival, being 101 minutes tardy.

Back to SYD it was on the 1430 hours it was, up up and away at 1619 for offloading at the SYD gate at 1726 hours, 86 behind.

The final flight today was the 1700 hours SYd - MEL airborne at 1830 with blocks back on in the southern capital at 1940, 65 minutes down.

In contrast, eponymous VH-REX was on time or close to it all day but blotted its copybook on a late afternoon/very early evening flight, with ZL152, the 1700 hours taking off at 1831 for arrival in the sodden capital at 1952 hours, 82 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

With tomorrow Palm Sunday and thus less than a week until the peak travel period of Easter, and also today and tomorrow's Melbourne Grand Prix, there's a lot of late flights on Saturday 9 April morning out of SYD.

ZL6362, the 0910 hours SYD up to PQQ had not departed by 1005 hours.

ZL6416 (0900 hours SYD - CFS) is delayed to an expected departure at 1050 hours.

The 0825 hours SYD - ARM (ZL6954) is worse, with a new time of 1200 to be off chocks.

Maybe some of this unpunctuality is due to the overreach of various State Governments, such as in Victoria, where deemed 'close contacts' of those who catch the novel coronavirus must still isolate for a week. This must be affecting the availability of staff in service sectors like transport.
There's understandable pressure from businesses for these restrictions to be scrapped nationally, which would be sensible given the viruses are endemic.

Shortages of security staff and baggage handlers is also reportedly a problem, as publicised by media yesterday and today, with queues forming at SYD and MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

As an example of significant delays, on Wednesday 13 April 2022, ZL152 (B738 VH-PAG, the 1700 hours MEL - SYD) was in the sky at 2045. Arrival is estimated at 2205 hours, 215 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

AFFer Nisho (in the QF delays thread) due our attention to heavy fog in CBR this morning.

As a result, ZL1819 (the 1000 hours SYD - CBR, SAAB340B VH-RXN) was still only taxiing in SYD as at 1219 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

The shocking delays continue for ZL's 'mainline' flights, probably because at least one B738 is inoperable.

On Easter Sunday, 17 April 2022, VH-RYU, the 1400 hours CBR - MEL was in the sky at 1805 hours with estimated arrival 236 minutes late at 1906 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

After a wintry, rainy day in MEL, quite some late running well into the evening from ZL and competitors.

B738 VH-RYU is on ZL489, the 1945 hours MEL - ADL that looked to not have departed by 2120 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Oh dear. On Friday 22 April 2022, ZL621 (1400 hours CBR down to MEL, B738 VH-RQC) did not take off until 1946 hours so expected arrival is 2045 hours, 335 minutes behind schedule. I've not checked Regional Express' other Boeing 737-800 aircraft but presumably one has failed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 2 May 2022's ZL6622, the 1000 hours SYD - BHS (SAAB 340B VH-ZLR) was not airborne until 1127 hours so predicted arrival is 1159, 119 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL5632 is a very short flight from WTB to BNE on Sunday 8 May 2022 but that hasn't stopped it being very late.

This 1630 hours flight was in the sky at 2034 so shortly arrival will be at 2117 hours, 247 minutes behind schedule for SAAB 340B VH-ZRJ.

 

[Melburnian1]

'Herald Sun' online is reporting that MEL is in chaos during Wednesday 25 May early evening due to a complete power failure, throwing the airport into darkness.

There are photos of check-ins, with one appearing to show some emergency lighting operating (from a ceiling?)

The article says that up to 17000 passengers could be affected (but this must include inbound and outbound, and seems a lot for this time of the evening). Apparently up to 20000 nearby homes (suburbs such as Essendon) have been affected.

Airline delays appear to be building.

Most of us wouldn't normally pack a torch for a domestic trip, I'd hazard to suggest.

 

[Melburnian1]

I've not observed since daybreak this morning continually, but despite the shocking weather in Sydney, overall delays don't seem quite as bad as one would have thought, although highly variable.

On Sunday 3 July 2022 evening, ZL6527, the 1740 hours PKE across to SYD took off at 1827 with SAAB340B VH-EKX. As with many aircraft, it was held enroute but looks to be arriving at 2004 hours, 84 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

In another example of 3 July evening problems, ZL6783 (1810 hours SYD - ABX) had not departed by 2217 hours. Aircraft is SAAB340B VH-ZLJ.

This may mean a delay to the morning departure from ABX back to SYD given the crew will not be in their motel/hotel until midnight or after, assuming that's the roster/tour of duty.

 

[Melburnian1]

A mico example of Monday 4 July 2022 SYD delays is that ZL6782, the early evening 1830 hours ABX up to SYD was timely in its takeoff at 1844 hours but arrival for SAB 340B VH-KDV has become 2038 hours approximately, 48 minutes behind the timetable.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 5 July 2022, ZL18 (B738 VH-RQP, the 0700 hours MEL - SYD) has had a bad start to the day with takeoff at 0920 hours meaning suggested arrival is 1030, two hours late.

 

[Melburnian1]

With Greater Sydney experiencing adverse weather in the last few days, unpunctuality has been significant.

On Tuesday 5 July evening, ZL6836 (1905 hours SYD - DBO) had not taken off by 2126, so depending on their roster, the first flight of tomorrow morning may be delayed as crew won't have had sufficient mandated rest in their motel or hotel.

The CFS - SYD ZL6437 (SAAB 340B VH-NRX) is arriving at 2134, 219 minutes past its timetabled arrival of 1755 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 8 July 2022, ZL intrastate NSW flights look to be chaotic, perhaps due to recent adverse weather. Maybe influenza/COVID-19 absences are affecting, or industrial action that was briefly discussed in the media?

ZL6117, the 0905 hours from SYD down to MYA is estimated to depart this afternoon at 1315.

ZL6362 (0910 hours SYD up to PQQ) should depart 90 minutes late.

The 1010 hours SYD - GFF, ZL6467, should depart at 1135.

ZL6418 at 1225 hours from SYD up to CFS is predicted to be 55 minutes tardy.

UPDATE: As at 1135 hours on 8 July, SYD was only using the east-west runway, so delays were rising. ZL6824, the 0815 SYD - DBO should takeoff at about 1140 hours, so it's three hours or more late.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL6872 on Sunday 10 July (1800 hours SYD across to BHQ, SAAB 340B VH-KDV) looked at 2020 it was about to do the roll for takeoff, so it's more than two hours late. If the crew are rostered to fly the 0630 hours tomorrow morning ex BHQ, that flight may be delayed if insufficient rest has been obtained overnight.

ZKL6141 (1900 hours from SYD down to coastal MYA) was airborne at 2036 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

As discussed in the previous post, ZL6853 from BHQ to SYD, the 0630 hours, is delayed on Monday 11 July due to last night's inbound being two hours late. Expected departure for this morning's from Broken Hill is 0835 hours, 125 minutes late. It's not feasible for Rex to base crews in locations like Broken Hill, so unfortunately late running coming in may mean delayed departures back to SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 29 July 2022 sees ZL6662, the 0815 hours WGA to SYD taking off until 1234 so estimated arrival is 1327, 242 minutes behind schedule. Appropriately given the Kendall history, aircraft is VH-KDQ.

It had arrived in SYD this morning at 0927 hours as ZL6853 from BHQ, and then operated ZL6659 from SYD down to WGA, the 0640 hours in the sky at 1105 for arrival at 1208, so a very quick turnaround in Wagga Wagga.

Another SAAB340B must have failed.

Yesterday it also ran late on at least three sectors.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL2416 (SAAB340B VH-ZRV, the 0705 hours early morning from PER up to CRV) took off at 0916 hours so predicted arrival has become 1112 hours, 112 minutes late.