SYD tops in world for delays...for one day

[Melburnian1]

With 150 millimetres of rain falling at Sydney Airport in the 36 hours to 2100 hours, Sunday 5 June, it is understandable that many delays (and a few cancellations) of flights would result.

At 1940 hours AEST on Sunday 5 June, SYD airport had the most delays of any worldwide airport measured by the FlightRadar24 website. Melbourne was number five.

It is most unusual for SYD and MEL to be both in the top five for delays, while for either to feature is fairly rare given the thousands of other airports worldwide with commercial flights.

Delays in SYD on 5 June were a typical two hours but at least four flights were around the four hour late mark, although I would have missed other examples.

 

[eminere]

At 1940 hours AEST on Sunday 3 June, SYD airport had the most delays of any worldwide airport measured by the FlightRadar24 website. Melbourne was number five.

Amazing what a 'little' weather anomaly can do to flight schedules.

And I assume you meant Sunday 5 June?

 

[Quickstatus]

I wonder how a single runway Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek would have fared in this weather. The relatively nearby XRH Richmond RAAF base was able to welcome QF130 when it did a splash and dash due to the weather and resultant congestion at SYD. One problem with a single or parallel runways (as proposed for WSA) is crosswind limitations especially in the wet which was one of the issues at SYD this weekend. At least SYD had a fall back with the shorter and lesser used Rwy 7/25

SYD airport is said by various proponents to be able to accomodate far more flights. However its capability in inclement weather has exposed its limitations. To be fair such weather is rare but with more flight activity the delays would have been longer with more flights going to alternates.

Melburnian1, do you know how many flights landed at alternates due to this weather?

QF128 : CBR
QF130 : XRH single runway
CZ301 : DRW

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, there were two flights, a JQ and a VA (both from MEL) that did not make it to nearby NTL during the mid afternoon. I wrote about these in the relevant delays/ cancellations threads.

I am not aware of any further diversions, but they are easy to miss on a day with so many delays and a number of cancellations.

eminere, thank you: date that I wrote late at night has been corrected.

On a standalone basis considering Sunday 5 June only, VA would have made an even greater loss and QF either a smaller profit or even a loss due to the numerous additional expenses. Many crew would have received additional hours, but aircraft chewing up extra time waiting for ATC to give the OK for takeoff or for an approach would be the greatest abnormal cost.

Looking at the statistics available through Airservices Australia, all day usage of runways 07/25 is highly unusual. It can be unpopular with nearby residents as we have seen during some previous Federal elections.

 

[docjames]

I'm interested in QF130 using XRH - when was the last time a commercial op flight landed there unexpectedly?

Did QF130 forget it wasn't a C-130?

 

[jb747]

I'm interested in QF130 using XRH - when was the last time a commercial op flight landed there unexpectedly?

Did QF130 forget it wasn't a C-130?

Not that long ago. Similar weather, and I just happened to be watching FR24 to see how it was going. A 737 (arriving from NZ I think), and a 330, both diverted simultaneously, the 737 to Richmond, and the 330 to Canberra.

A more interesting question would be the number of go arounds that happened during the day. This is the sort of weather that gives windshear events....

 

[Melburnian1]

jb747, if I recall from yesterday up at NTL a JQ flight ex MEL had a couple of tries at landing, but then went down to SYD and landed there.

 

[dajop]

It is most unusual for SYD and MEL to be both in the top five for delays, while for either to feature is fairly rare

But there is a certain interconnectedness between the two airports though, the flown on effects can be signficant ... with up to what 70? flights a day in each direction ....

 

[Melburnian1]

Very true dajop - yes, certainly in excess of 60 flights a day (although Saturdays may be the lowest). When I last counted in one direction, QF alone had 36 on the sample day.