Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 6 September 2024, VA887 (B738 VH-VUK, the 1930 hours MEL-SYD) took off to the west at 1957 but has then done a left turn near Wandong and then across to Woodend, and south almost to Bacchus Marsh before again heading north over the Lederderg Gorge (an area popular with hikers) and slightly to Woodend's west.

Maybe it's burning off kilograms of fuel prior to returning to MEL? If so, I don't know why.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On Friday 6 September 2024, VA887 (B738 VH-VUK, the 1930 hours MEL-SYD) took off to the west at 1957 but has then done a left turn near Wandong and then across to Woodend, and south almost to Bacchus Marsh before again heading north over the Lederderg Gorge (an area popular with hikers.)

Maybe it's burning off kilograms of fuel prior to returning to MEL? If so, I don't know why.

Wow… i just checked it out, That is interesting. Wonder what’s going on!

 

[Melburnian1]

Wow… i just checked it out, That is interesting. Wonder what’s going on!

It looks to shortly be landing from the north, at approximately 2033 hours.

A problem with the aircraft, or a medical? I rarely listen to ATC. @AviatorInsight may know.

It'll be interesting to see if passengers on this flight reach Sydney tonight.

The aircraft landed at 2032 back in MEL according to FR24 (I made it 2033 hours). It's now invisible.

 

[AviatorInsight]

I flew VUK yesterday with an air con pack inoperative. Maybe the other one has let go?

It sat on the ground for most of the afternoon due to a possible bird strike on arrival into MEL earlier on.

I’ll do some digging and see if I can find anything.

 

[Melburnian1]

I flew VUK yesterday with an air con pack inoperative. Maybe the other one has let go?

It sat on the ground for most of the afternoon due to a possible bird strike on arrival into MEL earlier on.

I’ll do some digging and see if I can find anything.

Thank you @AviatorInsight. Very kind (typical) of you!

Amazing that you've been on that aircraft within the last 36 or so hours. Small world.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Thank you @AviatorInsight. Very kind (typical) of you!

Amazing that you've been on that aircraft within the last 36 or so hours. Small world.

Welcome.

Turns out, it was the right pack that tripped offline as well, which means no pressurisation of the aircraft, so a return to MEL was a good choice.

 

[Harrison_133]

It'll be interesting to see if passengers on this flight reach Sydney tonight.

The aircraft landed at 2032 back in MEL according to FR24 (I made it 2033 hours). It's now invisible.

Flight Aware shows an aircraft swap to VH-YQM with an estimated departure of 2145.

 

[Melburnian1]

Flight Aware shows an aircraft swap to VH-YQM with an estimated departure of 2145.

That plane has just appeared on the FR24 map, usually meaning it's about to push back.

FR24 incorrectly implies this aircraft (on its map) 'diverted to MEL' but of course it was VH-VUK that did this. (FR24 may be referring to the 'flight' though).

VA887 took off at 2220 hours for SYD where arrival at gate should be about 2325-2330. It must have approval from 'the delegate' (of the Federal Minister for Transport) to arrive in Sydney after 2300 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 1900 hours on Thursday 12 September, radar indicates Brisbane and Sydney are both experiencing storms.

One delay example is VA869, the 1715 hours MEL-SYD airborne at 1746, only at that stage about 10 minutes late. It has held above Yass, with arrival for B738 VH-VUW said to be 1930, 50 minutes late.

Many aircraft are holding on the approaches to each.

 

[Melburnian1]

With SYD, BNE and MEL airports busy due partly to school holidays and/or the AFL Grand Final's patrons making their way down for the Grand Final street parade on Friday, a public holiday in Melbourne, unsurprising there's some delayed flights.

VA346, the 1755 hours BNE-MEL (B738 VH-VOK) was not airborne until 1854 hours, so gate arrival becomes an estimated 2108 hours, 48 minutes behind the eight ball.

The OOL down to MEL VA744 (VH-YIJ) is the 1555 hours that wasn't pointing skywards until 1726 hours. Arrival should be 1942 hours, 82 minutes late.

VA868 is the 1715 hours SYD to MEL (VH-VUE) that should arrive 46 late at 1936 hours.

VA852, the 1745 hours on the same Australian #1 route, is suggested as gate arrival 38 late at 1958 hours.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Believe me… VA doesn’t need an excuse like school holidays for delays! lol.

To be honest, pax numbers shouldn’t affect performance. If pax aren’t there in time the plane should just go!

 

[Melburnian1]

Believe me… VA doesn’t need an excuse like school holidays for delays! lol.

True, but I was more referring to possible delays from air traffic being at a higher level than normal for Thursday, meaning planes have an increased possibility of being placed in a holding pattern if an arrival, or waiting for clearance from ATC to depart.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 6 October 2024, VA50, the 1535 hours mid afternoon flight from DPS down to BNE was in the sky at 1720. B738 VH-81B should arrive at about 0033 hours on Monday 7, 73 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Even with benign weather, VA seems to have quite a few delays.

On Monday 14 October, VA425, the 1430 hours ADL across to SYD (B738 VH-YWD) was in the sky at 1603. SYD at gate arrival becomes 81 minutes late at 1811 hours early this evening.

 

[Harrison_133]

Even with benign weather, VA seems to have quite a few delays.

On Monday 14 October, VA425, the 1430 hours ADL across to SYD (B738 VH-YWD) was in the sky at 1603. SYD at gate arrival becomes 81 minutes late at 1811 hours early this evening.

There was a ground stop in SYD earlier which caused a number of departures to be held.

 

[henrus]

VA1239 might take the cake today, the 10:55am departure finally left Brisbane at 18:21pm.

 

[Harrison_133]

VA1239 might take the cake today, the 10:55am departure finally left Brisbane at 18:21pm.

It was swapped from Fokker to 737-700 due to engineering requirements.

The Alliance Fokkers have been pretty unreliable over the last couple of weeks with a lot of long delays or 737 substitutions. Didn't help things that Alliance engineers were on PIA.

 

[encryptededdy]

The last VA BNE-MEL (VA356), last BNE-PER (VA474), and last BND-SYD (VA990) tonight (Sunday 10th) have been cancelled. I believe there was some bad weather that delayed the evening flights, but these flights were delayed beyond the end of the weather then cancelled.

 

[henrus]

There was quite a few cancellations yesterday from Brisbane. I flew in landing around 8pm just as the storm had finished. Ubers that were normally $50 were over $100 and huge queues for a taxi, luckily there was a train leaving 10 mins later.

VA BNE-MEL (VA356)

This was bound to happen, at 8pm it was delayed to 11:59pm with a 3am Melbourne arrival time.

BNE-PER (VA474)

Again also delayed until about 11pm with a 2:30am arrival in Perth before being cancelled.

Also taking the cake yesterday was the Mackay and Rockhampton rotations thanks to an Alliance F100.

VA600 left 3 hours late, meaning VA605 and VA608 operated late. VH-UQG was meant to operate VA1245 but clearly something went wrong and after a further delay VH-FNC switched in to operate VA1245 leaving at 6:23pm (shc 1:55pm) and arriving in ROK at 7:41pm. The return flight VA1248 was then cancelled and so was VA1249. I think the last two were cancelled due to crew needing rest for the morning as VH-FNCs first flight of the day ROK-BNE has been delayed until 7:45am this morning. To clear the backlog an additional 737 is switching out for an F100 on the ROK flights today.

 

[Harrison_133]

The last VA BNE-MEL (VA356), last BNE-PER (VA474), and last BND-SYD (VA990) tonight (Sunday 10th) have been cancelled. I believe there was some bad weather that delayed the evening flights, but these flights were delayed beyond the end of the weather then cancelled.

The aircraft (and presumably crew) for VA356 and VA474 were out of position. The VA356 aircraft had diverted to SYD and VA474 aircraft to MCY. Then for VA990, it would have missed curfew in SYD because of the weather delay.