Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

I am not in Sydney but on Sunday 21 May 2023 at 1730 hours - peak period - it appears SYD may be down to only using the east-west runway.

VA862 (1630 hours SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-YIJ) looked to be second in the queue for takeoff as at 1733 hours, so it'll be more than half an hour later arriving at its MEL gate some time after 1835.

 

[BD1959]

I am not in Sydney but on Sunday 21 May 2023 at 1730 hours - peak period - it appears SYD may be down to only using the east-west runway.

VA862 (1630 hours SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-YIJ) looked to be second in the queue for takeoff as at 1733 hours, so it'll be more than half an hour later arriving at its MEL gate some time after 1835.

I flew into/out of SYD yesterday. Morning, yes SYD was down to using the east-west runway. QF used this as an excuse for the late running QF430 (60mins late landing in SYD), I did question this in the QF Lounge as - according to the SYD website - no other flights appeared to be impacted. Once onboard the CSM advised that the preceding sector had been late arriving into MEL due to a last minute aircraft swap.

Back to the subject at hand, westerly take offs appeared to continue through that afternoon, I was out at Olympic Park and departures continued throughout but back to using the southerly runways by the evening for my (again delayed) QF499 back down to MEL.

Regards,

BD

 

[Harrison_133]

VA862 (1630 hours SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-YIJ) looked to be second in the queue for takeoff as at 1733 hours, so it'll be more than half an hour later arriving at its MEL gate some time after 1835.

I happened to be on this flight. The delay was a combination of one runway ops, high winds forcing front door only boarding on a 100% full flight, and a lot of cabin bags needing to be offloaded into the hold.

 

[Melburnian1]

I happened to be on this flight. The delay was a combination of one runway ops, high winds forcing front door only boarding on a 100% full flight, and a lot of cabin bags needing to be offloaded into the hold.

Were many passengers trying to bring the proverbial 'kitchen sink' into the cabin?

Were VAd staff at the entrance to the aerobridge rejecting bags deemed too large?

The flight arrived at 1901 hours in MEL, 56 late last night.

 

[HS-TQE]

Has to be a weird (yet somewhat serious) issue if VH-YIR was in a holding pattern for over 2 hours. VA113 ADL-DPS returned to ADL. Issue not yet known.

As per twitter:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666076236354027521

 

[Carrots]

Has to be a weird (yet somewhat serious) issue if VH-YIR was in a holding pattern for over 2 hours. VA113 ADL-DPS returned to ADL. Issue not yet known.

As per twitter:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1666076236354027521

Noticed this last night also. Probably not too serious as they’d land heavy instead of burning off fuel (as shown by cutting laps).

Maybe @AviatorInsight might have heard (or will hear) what occurred on the grapevine?

 

[AviatorInsight]

Noticed this last night also. Probably not too serious as they’d land heavy instead of burning off fuel (as shown by cutting laps).

Maybe @AviatorInsight might have heard (or will hear) what occurred on the grapevine?

Very early information, but seems to have been a hydraulic issue.

 

[AIRwin]

I just noticed that VA76 from APW will be making a stop in NAN on its return to BNE tonight?

 

[henrus]

I just noticed that VA76 from APW will be making a stop in NAN on its return to BNE tonight?

Fuel, it's a known thing that APW flights are weight limited in fact VA's website lists APW as a limited baggage location:



Normally It's a AU to APW uplight issue put I guess this evening there is probably significant weight or weather of both requiring the stop.

 

[AIRwin]

Fuel, it's a known thing that APW flights are weight limited in fact VA's website lists APW as a limited baggage location:

View attachment 334684

Normally It's a AU to APW uplight issue put I guess this evening there is probably significant weight or weather of both requiring the stop.

Thanks! That makes sense and it looks like VA76 bypassed NAN after all...

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 30 June 2023, the east-west runway was the sole one in use (due allegedly to 'high winds') and had been for most if not all of the morning (and still at 1233 hours).

Delays are significant to many flights, and others have been cancelled. One example is VA1139 (B738 VH-VOL), the 1050 hours nicely timed SYD-BNK airborne at 1234 hours. Arrival should be at 1325 hours, 80 late.

The 1030 hours SYD-BNE VA933 (VH-YIH) was further behind, so won't take off until at least 1238 hours. At a guess it'll be at least 100 minutes late arriving at its BNE gate.

Given it's off peak at present, the afternoon and early evening Friday night peak is likely to see delays compound if the other runways remain inoperative.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 1445 hours on Friday 30 June, it looks as if SYD may be back to two runways, as VA947, the 1400 hours SYD-BNE (B738 VH-YWA) has moved south of the east-west runway, and will take off to the north.

This has come to late to eliminate bad delays, but a few may be mitigated, although hard to transfer passengers onto other flights given it's school holidays.

 

[Must...Fly!]

VH-NBV seems to have gone tech at KNX today. Return flight to Perth VA1636 was cancelled. Uncomfortable place to have a mechanical problem.

 

[Harrison_133]

VH-NBV seems to have gone tech at KNX today. Return flight to Perth VA1636 was cancelled. Uncomfortable place to have a mechanical problem.

And NJV went tech in ZNE this morning too…KLM birds not having much of a smooth run lately.

 

[Melburnian1]

VH-NBV seems to have gone tech at KNX today. Return flight to Perth VA1636 was cancelled. Uncomfortable place to have a mechanical problem.

It and Broome probably deserve the title of 'most remote significant airport in Oz', although some might also include ASP and AYQ.

 

[Melburnian1]

On 8 July 2023, SYD airport had single runway operations (the east-west) for much if not all, of the day and perhaps evening, but being Saturday, it didn't seem to result in any significant delays so I refrained from mentioning.

The same is occurring on Sunday 9 July's morning. B738 VH-VUX as VA515, the 1020 hours SYD up to OOL was at 1123 hours still fourth in a lengthy takeoff queue from what one can see. It is likely to be more than half an hour late arriving in Ballina.

Given Sunday afternoons are busier, if the airport remains in single runway use mode, delays could be expected to compound and continue into the evening.

 

[Melburnian1]

SYD remains on single runway operations as at 1741 hours on Sunday 9 July. B738 VH-YFL, the 1420 hours OOL to SYD took off at 1614, arriving at 1740, 110 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Despite normal operations at Sydney having resumed either very late on Sunday 9 July 2023 or early in the evening, continuing delays have been inevitable.

VA545, the 2050 hours SYD-OOL (B738 VH-YFT) was in the sky at 2154 hours so arrival should be at about 2250 hours, 40 minutes tardy.

VUW (B738 also) as VA888, the 2000 hours cleverly numbered 2000 hours (i.e. 8pm - get it?) SYD-MEL was airborne at 2148 so predicted at gate pull in becomes 2307 hours, 92 behind.

VA893 (2015 hours MEL-SYD with B738 VH-VOK should arrive at around 2238, 58 behind as it didn't take off until 2123 hours mid evening.

 

[velli25]

Hi everyone, my wife had her VA flight cancelled in Darwin which is at her away port. The conditions of carriage for VA is up to 200 per night for accommodation / reasonable costs. Unless staying at a more than average hotel, the cost for accommodation is >$200. Just wanted to know what is reasonable costs for accommodation in her scenario? And if Virgin do push for a cheap hotel what our rights are. She is VA Platinum. The call service centre is shocking ..

 

[Harrison_133]

Hi everyone, my wife had her VA flight cancelled in Darwin which is at her away port. The conditions of carriage for VA is up to 200 per night for accommodation / reasonable costs. Unless staying at a more than average hotel, the cost for accommodation is >$200. Just wanted to know what is reasonable costs for accommodation in her scenario? And if Virgin do push for a cheap hotel what our rights are. She is VA Platinum. The call service centre is shocking ..

They’ll reimburse you up to $200 for accomodation, but above that I doubt it. The reasonable cost bit applies to things like transfers, food, toiletries etc.

They usually provide accomodation. If delayed overnight, they send a self serve link to claim accomodation & transfers, along with the ability to view other flight options. I take it this hasn’t happened? I had a cancellation recently and didn’t get the self service hotel link, so I went out to the airport anyway (OOL in this case) and the manager there easily sorted out hotel and transfer vouchers. Might be worth a try, or at least be more successful than the call centre?