Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

VA556 on Monday 16 September incurred a hold northeast of Goulburn as the weather in Sydney isn't optimal. Many aircraft are having to hold.

This flight is the 1045 hours from PER not airborne until 1340 this afternoon. The 'always more welcome than a B738' A332 VH-XFD should arrive in SYD at about 1937 hours, 162 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

The welcome rain on Tuesday 17 September 2019 in Sydney is the first for ages, but it is slowing movements at SYD down. VA1187 (0840 hours SYD up to PQQ, ATR72 VH-FVN) had not taken off by 0923 so will be at least half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-XFH on VA83, the 1000 hours SYD - HKG on Tuesday 17 September had not taken off by 1130, so will be at least 45 minutes late arriving.

B773ER VH-VPD on the 1135 hours MEL - LAX, VA23, was airborne at 1304 so expected arrival has become 0953 hours (same day), 53 down.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 17 September, VA738 (1200 'high noon' BNE - MEL that pointed skywards at 1304 with B738 VH-YFF) is expected to be 50 late arriving at 1515 hours.

The MCY down also to MEL VA1508 (VH-VUO) was airborne at 1300 with arrival suggested as 1525, half an hour past the allotted.

 

[Melburnian1]

B773ER VH-VPH seems to have been in MEL since Friday 13 September, with FR24 suggesting on Saturday 14, VA23 (MEL - LAX) had been cancelled. On Tuesday 17, it is operating VA9909, a 1515 hours MEL - BNE airborne at 1529 for suggested arrival at 1718, seven minutes early.

Is this a positioning flight for maintenance?

 

[AviatorInsight]

Tonight’s OOL-SYD (VA536) and return (VA543), severely delayed due to thunderstorms in the SE QLD area. Attached is a photo of our inbound flight, avoiding the storms

.

 

[Melburnian1]

Indicative of delays on what is continuing to be a very wet Tuesday 17 September 2019 in the Sydney Basin, VA869 (B738 VH-YFR),l the 1715 hours MEL - SYD took off at 1756 (about 25 - 30 minutes late) but having to hold above Gunning and then north of Goulburn sees arrival at 1950, 70 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1510, the Thursday 19 September 2019 scheduled 1325 hours MCY- MEL was airborne at 1422. Arrival for B738 VH-VUR should be 50 late at 1645 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA43, the 1010 hours BNE - DPS (B738 VH-YIM) was airborne at 1519 hours so expected arrival has become 281 minutes tardy at 1926 this evening.

Also on Thursday 19 September, VA868 (1715 hours SYD - MEL in the sky at 1802, B738 VH-VOK) is arriving at gate at about 1946 hours, 56 minutes behind its schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 2230 hours on Thursday 19 September, winds were gusting at up to 67kmh at MEL, but delays did not seem to be major.

VA356 (BNE - MEL) should arrive at 2331, 41 late but at 2256 remained in a hold east of Bendigo. Quite a few other aircraft were also in holding patterns.

 

[Melburnian1]

The strong winds at MEL on the morning of Friday 20 September - at 0750 hours gusting to 63kmh at the airport, but not apparent in many other suburbs where winds are far lower - sees VA257, the 0700 hours MEL up to CBR (B738 VH-YFY not taking off until 0752, so suggested arrival is 0842 hours, 37 minutes tardy.

MEL appears to be down to single runway operations from what FR24 is displaying,. This always causes delays unless it's a lazy Saturday afternoon.

So many 'mainline' aircraft - a guess would be 40 - 60 per cent of the fleet - are scheduled to visit (or originate from) MEL or SYD during a typical weekday that delays at either one, or both, compound and affect other airports' punctuality.

UPDATE: By 0800, winds were gusting to 72kmh (39 knots) at MEL.

VA204, the 0605 hours ADL - MEL took off at 0629, only about 10 - 12 late but arrival for B738 VH-VOK is a likely 0833, 38 late, showing that much times can be lost on even a relatively short sector should there be high winds.

 

[Melburnian1]

Still regarding 20 September, VA842 (VH-VUL, the 1300 hours SYD - MEL in the sky at 1419) looks to be arriving at its gate at 1536 hours, 61 minutes tardy. Wins are gusting to 50kmh at MEL, less than this morning, but still significant.

 

[Melburnian1]

From a quick look, MEL still appears to be on single runway operations as at 1900 hours on Friday 20 September, with VA1512, the 1530 hours MCY - MEL (B738 VH-VUP) that took off at 1601 (only 15 - 18 or so late) arriving at 1905, 65 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 22 September's VA1617 (B738 VH-YVC, the 1045 hours MEL - MQL airborne at 1150) looks to be arriving at 1241 hours, 51 late. This was YVC's first use today so no obvious delay reasn.

 

[Silvia]

Friday 27 September sees VA1594 NTL-MEL (B738 VH-VUV) with suggested arrival at 16 53, 53 min late
VA229 MEL-ADL (B738 VH-VUC) is expected at 16 22, 52 min behind schedule.
VA342 BNE-MEL, the 16 55 service was cancelled.

 

[docjames]

Sunday 29th VA352 last flight of the day BNE-MEL has been cancelled.

At least one group of pax have been transferred and accommodated at Rydges Southbank and then an 0400 pickup for the 0600 to SYD followed by the 1000 to MEL from there.

 

[Silvia]

Monday 30th of September saw VA1627 SYD-AYQ (B738 VH-YFN) divert to ADL. This resulted on a late arrival at 17 06, 231 min tardy. The return leg as VA1628 AYQ-SYD has a revised arrival at 21 08, 228 min late.

 

[Silvia]

Monday 7th of October sees VA974 BNE-SYD (B738 VH-YFG) with a revised arrival at 21 23, 73 min tardy.
(B738 VH-YFV) as VA867 MEL-SYD was on holding pattern for a while, with flying time longer than usual (1 hr 46m) was partially responsible of a late arrival at 19 34, 69 min behind. This has delayed the return leg as VA882, the 19 00 hours service.

 

[Silvia]

Sunday 13th of October finds a late arrival of VA1361 LST-MEL (B738 VH-VUT) which arrived at 11 11, 191 min behind schedule.
VA328 BNE-MEL (B738 VH-VUZ) is predicted to arrive at 17 43, 83 min tardy.
B738 VH-VYFQ initially as VA739 MEL-OOL arrived at 13 30, 65 behind. This later formed as VA740 OOL-MEL which now has a revised arrival at 17 35, 70 min late. This will slightly delay departure of VA869 MEL-SYD which has a predicted departure at 18 06.
VA1628 AYQ-SYD (B738 VH-YFU) is expected to arrive at 18 47, 97 min late.
VA1398 BNE-ADL (B738 VH-YIS) has a revised departure at 17 14.

Cancellations
VA269 MEL-CBR 12 00 hours
VA327 MEL-BNE 12 00 hours
VA332 BNE-MEL 13 55 hours
VA331 MEL-BNE 14 00 hours
VA272 CBR-MEL 14 00 hours
VA854 SYD-MEL 15 30 - My husband was on this flight but got rebooked on VA850.
VA336 BNE-MEL 15 55 hours
VA873 MEL-SYD 17 45 hours
VA347 MEL-BNE 18 00 hours

 

[Melburnian1]

VA878 (Wednesday 16 October, the 1745 hours SYD down to MEL) was pointing skywards at 1816, about 18 late. B738 VH-VUH then had to hold above Mt Buller so delayed arrival is suggested for 1953 hours, 33 late.