Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 10 January 2020, VA686 (the lunchtime 1300 hours PER - MEL airborne at 1401) has VH-YFR and should arrive at roughly 2009 hours, 34 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Oh dear.

On Monday 11 January 2021, the 1230 hours lunchtime CBR up to BNE (VA1217 operated by B738 VH-YIS) took off mid evening at 2105 hours. Arrival; is forecast as 2134, 504 minutes late. The aircraft arrived in CBR half an hour late at 2020 hours as VA287 from MEL, so must be substituting for a failed class member.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA337 (1600 hours MEL to BNE airborne at 1652 on Friday 15 January 2021 with B738 VH-VUL) should arrive at its gate at about 1745 hours, 35 minutes down. The aircraft had arrived MEL 14 late at 1539 as VA1325 from HBA.

The 1700 hours southbound CBR - MEL (VA278) has VH-YWA, having taken off at 1757 hours. Arrival at a projected 1854 will be 44 minutes tardy. Unusually, this aircraft's previous trip was from OOL to CBR, which arrived 36 late at 1656 hours.

VA560 (B738 VH-YIF, the 1205 hours early lunchtime PER - SYD that took off at 1321) should arrive at 2006 hours, 46 minutes late.

 

[jase05]

VA580 ADL-CBR departed at 1614 but about 40 minutes in was forced to return to ADL due to a medical emergency with a crew member who fell ill.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA321 (1000 hours MEL - BNE, Tuesday 19 January 2021) has been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 21 January 2021, VA1595 (1535 hours MEL up to NTL) is not expected to depart until 1720 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 30 January 20201 finds VA517 (1115 hours SYD up to OOL) cancelled, as is VA941 (1230 hours SYD - BNE).

 

[Melburnian1]

VA797 (the evening 1950 hours BNE - CNS) on Sunday 31 January is to be added to the list of no-shows.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 5 February 2021 has seen VA846, the 1400 hours from SYD down to MEL cancelled.

VA1167 (B738 VH-YIF, the 1400 hours from SYD up to CFS) took off at 1454, arriving at 1541 hours, 36 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA681 (1015 hours MEL across to PER, Thursday 11 February 2021) has got the chop.

 

[Melburnian1]

Given Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews 'thid lockdown' short notice imposition from Saturday 13 January 2021 for a claimed period of five days, it's no surprise that on Saturday, VA has cancelled quite a lot of flights, even though Saturday is generally the least busy day of the week.

From MEL, flights cancelled include VA213, the 0810 hours to ADL; VA1293 (0920 to CNS); VA323 at 1100 to BNE; VA849 (1400 hours to SYD); VA749 to OOL at 1510 mid afternoon; VA237 to ADL at 1610 hours and VA1045 at 1630 to MCY.

This leaves VAd with a maximum of 14 flights today ex MEL, the last at 1600 hours. A very early finish but Saturday afternoons tend not to be busy unless there's a major sporting event on. The Australian Open was seeing crowds below the 30000 cap with free tickets apparently being available in the last day or so, but from today until Wednesday (at least), spectators cannot attend. By reports there weren't many who came from interstate this year, probably scared off by Daniel Andrews' disastrous track record. They were correct!

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 27 February 2021, VAd had just 25 flights scheduled from MEL, but VA1364 (1030 hours to LST), VA323 (1100 BNE), VA743 (1310 hours lunchtime to OOL), VA1324 (1340 HBA), VA337 and VA859 (1600 hours respectively to BNE and SYD) were cancelled.

In addition, VA725 (0610 hours MEL - OOL), VA259 (0845 hours to CBR), VA1293 (0845 hours for CNS) and VA1318 (0940 hours down to HBA) display as 'flight open' on the Melbourne Airport site, show without any actual times on the VA site and aren't showing times on FR24, so I assume these were all cancelled.

This brings VAd's flights today ex MEL to just 15.

Saturday afternoon is normally low demand but even so, this tiny number of timetabled flights that actually ran demonstrate how tough times are for most Australian airlines (exception: Alliance) in early 2021.

Bain Capital must be losing money hand over fist.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 14 March 2021, VA&33, the 0910 hours MEL - OOL (B738 VH-YIA) took off at 1014 hours, arriving at 1108, 53 minutes tardy. This was its first flight today. The return working, VA736 (1100 hours airborne at 1209) should arrive at 1510 mid afternoon, 50 minutes late.

VA1497 from BNE to the resort island of HTI is expected to depart at 1337, 52 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA879, the 1830 hours MEL - SYD is to be cancelled on Monday 15 March. This leaves VAd 2.0 with 12 scheduled flights northbound on this route, down from at least 20 a couple of years ago (possibly slightly more on a Monday). Unfortunately I never considered 'saving' a typical domestic airline schedule form that time as the thought never entered that we'd be in today's situation.

The mirror flight, VA878 (1830 hours southbound) is also to get the chop.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 21 March, VA351 (1900 hours MEL - BNE) was cancelled. This was a day of much rain in Sydney, Brisbane and points in between, especially the NSW mid north coast around Kempsey and the Hunter Valley around Newcastle.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA870 (1730 hours SYD - MEL) is cancelled on Monday 22 March 2021.

NTL airport looks to be closed due to the massive amount of rain up in the Hunter, so VA1593 at 1200 'high noon' has got the gong.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 22 March, VA221 operated by B738 VH-VUT, the 1110 hours MEL: - ADL took off at 1157 with arrival suggested as 34 minute stardy at 1234. This was because VA824, the 0900 hours SYD - MEL arrived at 1112 hours, 37 minutes behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1593 at 1200 'high noon' MEL - NTL continues to be cancelled as the airport remains flooded.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA917, Sunday 28 March's 0800 hours early morning SYD - BNE (B738 VH-VOK) was airborne at 0844, arriving at 0900 hours, half an hour behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 29 March 2021, VA351 (the evening 1900 hours MEL - BNE) is expected to depart at 2025 hours. This is due to VA334 (the 1455 hours ex BNE) not becoming airborne until 1635, probably because during that period the Labor government in Victoria suddenly declared Greater Brisbane a 'red zone'. Expected arrival is 1943 hours, 83 minutes tardy.

VA973 (1800 hours SYD up to BNE) should depart at 1910 hours.