Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Pushka, you are in luck as VA654, the 1535 hours SYD to CBR, departed only six minutes late at 1541. As many of us know, flying on more popular routes that have higher flight frequencies can be 'hit and miss' because on occasion a later scheduled flight can depart ahead of a timetabled earlier flight. There won't always be the spare seats, time or ability to transfer more important passengers such as MasterP to the flight that is departing first, especially if MasterP has luggage secured in the hold.

This cannot often occur on a simple railway with limited platforms and one track each way, but it sure can happen with QF and VA. Bit of a lottery in MasterP's case, but today he 'won.'

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 24 March, VA342, the 1655 BNE down to MEL took off at 1821 (B738 VH-VUT) and should arrive at about 2145, 90 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1328, the Easter Monday (28 March) 1620 hours MEL down to HBA did not take off until 1725.

VA351, the 1900 hours MEL - BNE has been more badly delayed until an expected 2100 hours takeoff.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1333, the Tuesday 29 March 1810 hours from HBA up to MEL (B738 VH-VUH) took off at 1851 and should arrive about 35 minutes late at 2000 this evening.

 

[Edge]

VA1333, the Tuesday 29 March 1710 hours from HBA up to MEL (B738 VH-VUH) took off at 1851 and should arrive about 35 minutes late at 2000 this evening.

Think it's a scheduled 1810 departure - I was meant to be on it (but thankfully used fly ahead earlier). So it sounds like it was still delayed, but not too badly.

 

[Melburnian1]

Edge, many thanks - you are correct. My apologies for the typo: I had meant to write '1810.'

 

[Melburnian1]

VA259, the 0830 hours MEL to CBR on Thursday 31 March has been delayed for an hour in its departure.

UPDATE: VA9306, the 1715 hours ONS to PER was airborne at 1827 this evening and should arrive at about 2022, 67 minutes late. Aircraft is F100 VH-FSQ, the first time that a VA Regional Fokker 100 has featured in these pages and similarly the first time anyone has mentioned ONS in terms of delays.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 3 April 2016, VA873 (1745 hours MEL to SYD) has been cancelled. Southbound, VA888, the 2000 hours ex SYD is also cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Wednesday 6 April 2016 VA854 (1530 hours SYD down to MEL) has been cancelled while VA1594, the 1600 hours arrival in MEL ex NTL (sometimes now referred to by QF as 'Port Stephens airport') is delayed until about 1850 in arriving.

Even worse is VA228, the 1655 hours late afternoon MEL arrival ex 'wine capital' ADL, which should now arrive at about 2245 this evening, almost six hours late.

VA693, the 181`5 hours MEL to PER took off at 1910 (A332 VH-XFD.) It should however only be about 15 minutes late into PER at around 2050 hours.

 

[TonyHancock]

The Wednesday 6 April 2016 VA1594, the 1600 hours arrival in MEL ex NTL (sometimes now referred to by QF as 'Port Stephens airport') is delayed until about 1850 in arriving.

VA1593, the incoming flight, arrived ahead of schedule but went tech prior to returning as VA1594. VA initially looked to bring an engineer from BNE on VA1106 but then flew another 737 from SYD. VA1594 eventually arrived in MEL at 18:44.

What a joy it was to spend an extra couple of hours in the terminal at NTL.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you TonyHancock. As always, great to have 'live' reports from passengers 'on the spot.'

That strikes me as pretty fast if VA ferried up a B738 from Sydney without passengers to Newcastle airport. A crew would have had to be found (standby?) and a flight plan drawn up.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 11 April, the 1115 SYD to DPS (VA65 - B738 VH-YIV) did not take off until 1214.

 

[Foreigner]

VA 7 BNE-LAX today is showing on Flight Aware atm as 9:35 PDT arrival. Seems like a long flight...Would that ETA be right?

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VOZ7

 

[Melburnian1]

Foreigner, as far as I can see it is now showing as an 0630 arrival time, not '0930.'

 

[Foreigner]

Foreigner, as far as I can see it is now showing as an 0630 arrival time, not '0930.'

Yes, I see it's changed now. I am sure it showed over 15 hours trip when I posted. Anyway, all good. Have my children on that flight...will be a long evening before I hear from them around midnight AEST.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 14 April, VA874, the 1935 hours evening arrival in MEL ex SYD is expected to be at the gate at about 2010.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA184 from NAN to MEL is supposed to arrive at 2120 hours on Friday 15 April but is an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA679, the 0915 hours Saturday 16 April MEL - PER has been delayed to depart at about 1000.

 

[Melburnian1]

The dire bookings situation (down eight per cent for April and 15 per cent for May 2016) that QF outlined on Monday 18 April must also logically affect VA.

While VA's flight frequencies on most routes are less than QF's (thus making it more difficult to cancel flights), one mighht expect more flights to not run if VA's bookings are similarly suffering from low consumer confidence and what pundits constantly claim happens in the run-up to Federal elections.

One can understand that elections delay decision making on projects but it is debatable if Aunt Mabel who is off on a trip to see her best friend interstate thinks to herself 'Mr Turnbull and Mr Shorten are fighting an election campaign so I must not travel until it's over.'

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 20 April, VA160 (1810 hours early evening BNE across to AKL) took off at 1909 with arrival forecast as close to midnight, the latter being 45 minutes behind time. Aircraft is B738 VH-YIS.