Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

VA274, the 1500 hours CBR - MEL was in the sky at 1648 on Wednesday 4 September with arrival for B738 VH-VOL expected at 1747 hours, 97 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Contrary to what many Melburnians might believe, MEL as an airfield is not affected as often by fog as some other Australian airports, but tomorrow (Thursday 5 September) unspecified 'areas of morning fpg' are predicted.

A couple of months ago, one of AFF's esteemed aviators informed us that fog was concurrently predicted for three major capital city airports, but IIRC only one - BNE I think - was affected that day. So some predictions may be red herrings. BOM implies that fog is the most difficult weather condition that occurs in Australia to predict.

If MEL was adversely affected, in excess of 40 per cent of the four major airlines' planes will suffer delays. With connections, this can compound.

Recent fog in ADL had some repercussions all day even though ADL is far smaller in aircraft throughput each day than BNE, MEL, PER or SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-XFG, the always welcome more comfortable widebody on a transcon route finds itself on VA555, the Thursday 5 September 2019 scheduled 0935 hours SYD across to PER. It took off at 1029 hours so a 34 minute late, 1419 hours arrival is the expectation.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA334 (5 September, the 1455 hours BNE - MEL in the sky at 1524, B738 VH-YIZ) is arriving at about 1806, 46 minutes tardy.

VH-VUL on the 1630 hours SYD - ME, VA862, was airborne at 1644 but had to hold above Mt Buller so arrival is likely at 1842, 37 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA233 (Friday 6 September, the 1635 hours afternoon MEL - ADL) is predicted to push back 35 minutes late. The later VA243, the 1935 hours, should similarly push back 35 late.

The 1645 hours MEL - SYD (VA865) has been cancelled. VA879, the 1830 hours MEL - SYD is expected to depart at the odd time of 1908 hours, probably ATC at work, although the actual time of departure rarely aligns. VA883, the 1900 hours is predicted to push back at 1931 while VA885 (1915 hours MEL up to SYD) should depart half an hour late. VA887, the 1930 hours is showing as pushing back at 2008 hours.

VA891, the 2000 hours ex MEL should push back for SYD at 2037 mid evening.

This smells of a shortage of ATC staff, perhaps in SYD who have called in sick, but could also be due to strong westerlies in Sydney and variable weather but hail predicted and much previous rain in Melbourne.

VA274 (1500 hours mid afternoon CBR down to MEL, B738 VH-VOQ) was airborne at 1623 so expected arrival is 1722, 72 late.

The 1605 hours ADL across to MEL took off 41 minutes later. B738 VH-VUI should arrive at 1827, 32 minutes tardy.

The 1600 hours MEL - BNE (VH-YFQ) was in the sky at 1650 so predicted arrival has become 1846 hours, 36 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 6 September, VA684, the 1135 hours PER - MEL took off at 1316. A332 VH-XFH should be at its arrival gate at 1851, 106 minutes late.

 

[Silvia]

VA288 CBR-MEL (AT76 VH-FVP) is expected at 22 22, 52 tardy.
VA1465 MEL-DRW (B738 VH-YIF) was recently airborne at 21 24, arrival revised at 1 07, 72 behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 6 September, VA444 has B738 VH-YIA and is the scheduled 2015 hours SYD across to ADL up up and away at 2153 hours, hot on the heels of QF785. Both will breach curfew, as ADL at gate arriva for VA444l is looking like 2317 hours (82 late.)

 

[JohnK]

VA504 OOL-SYD was ~154m late this morning which means that VA518 is likely to be ~130m late and if we're lucky VA528 will only be ~115m late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1408 on Saturday 7 September is the 0605 hours CNS - SYD airborne at 0827. Arrival for B738 VH-YWA is 1117 hours, 137 late, not helped by a brief hold west of Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley.

The 0855 hours BNE - MEL, VA318, took off at 0925, only about 10 - 12 late. However arrival for B737 - not ..8 - VH-VBY looks like 1156, 36 minutes behind schedule.

VA924, the 0805 hours BNE - SYD did not take off until 1036, so arrival for VH-VUC is a forecast 1157 hours, 137 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA504 OOL-SYD was ~154m late this morning which means that VA518 is likely to be ~130m late and if we're lucky VA528 will only be ~115m late.

JohnK, from what I can see, VA504 - the 0700 hours OOL down to SYD, B738 VH-YFV - did not arrive in SYD at gate until 1124, 174 minutes behind schedule.

VA518 looks to have VH-VOQ that arrived in SYD (as VA811 ex MEL) at 1046 hours, 141 late and will tehn make its way north to OOL as VA511, the badly late 0910 hours.

VH-VUG looks later today to be running VA528 (the 1505 hours OOL - SYD) with the aircraft currently in MEL after arriving four minutes early at 1121 hours on VA214 ex ADL. This aircraft must be substituting for another, as it looks to be next on a delayed VA837 from MEL to SYD, the 1100 hours and subsequently the 1310 hours SYD - OOL, VA523.

Maybe many of these delays are due to the bad weather in SYD and MEL yesterday afternoon/ evening. It's not just the late running last night, but presumably in some cases pilots and cabin crew arriving late at their accommodation and hence having insufficient mandated rest to commence flights punctually this morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Saturday 7 September, VA827, the 0900 hours MEL - SYD took off at 1131. At 1221, B738 VH-VOK remained holding above Goulburn so arrival is likely to be later than the nominal 1240 hours (135 late) displaying.

Westerlies are gusting at SYD to 56kmh.

Sydney is down to single runway operations it appears.

 

[mannej]

Found this off one of the FB groups last night, looks as if there were some extended flight times last night...

 

[JohnK]

@Melburnian1 that would explain further expected delay to VA528 and now 172 minutes delay.

There are quite a few flights on time. VA now saying we may not go to SYD tonight. Just goes to show that LCC schedules are easily disrupted with delays.

 

[Melburnian1]

@Melburnian1 ...There are quite a few flights on time. VA now saying we may not go to SYD tonight. Just goes to show that LCC schedules are easily disrupted with delays.

JohnK, as far as I can see, delays are across all airlines. However I get your point, because QF and maybe VA to some degree have spare planes stabled on most Saturdays, whereas TT and JQ don't appear to have, certainly not to the same degree.

 

[JohnK]

JohnK, as far as I can see, delays are across all airlines. However I get your point, because QF and maybe VA to some degree have spare planes stabled on most Saturdays, whereas TT and JQ don't appear to have, certainly not to the same degree.

I was referring to VA as a LCC. As far as I can tell today the delays on VA are longer than QF and JQ.

 

[Silvia]

Continuing today, VA419 ADL-SYD (B738 VH-VUQ) has a revised arrival at 16 38, 98 tardy.
VA1418 CNS-SYD (B738 VH-YIB) also running behind, with suggested arrival at 16 59, 84 behind.
VA954 BNE-SYD (B738 VH-VUO) is suggested to arrive at 17 38, 118 min late.

 

[Mogul]

I was referring to VA as a LCC. As far as I can tell today the delays on VA are longer than QF and JQ.

Jetstar have massive delays today and don't expect to recover until Monday night at the earliest.

 

[Mogul]

VA1426 CNS to SYD now cutting it very fine with an ETA of 10.58pm.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you Mogul. VA859, the 1600 hours MEL - SYD was in the sky at 1757 on Saturday 7 September so arrival is a suggested 1908 hours, 103 late for B738 VH-YFZ.