Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Boris spatsky]

Friend on VA1 just boarded but captain announced that they were 10 tonnes too heavy for runway 07 so are now commencing offload of freight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Boris spatsky, yet some departures are using runway 34L (which not long seems to have commenced or recommenced, at about 1100). QF11 to LAX, CA176 and AC34 to YVR were three examples.

VA1530, the 0940 from SYD down to HBA (E190 VH-ZPC) looks like it may take off at about 1148 with arrival suggested as 1316, 101 minutes behind time.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1 took off from SYD at about 1145 which is roughly 90 minutes late.

The 0900 ADL across to SYD, VA413 (E190 VH-ZPM) took off at 0938 but has lost a bit of time enroute with arrival likely at 1206, 46 minutes tardy.

 

[Quickstatus]

Friend on VA1 just boarded but captain announced that they were 10 tonnes too heavy for runway 07 so are now commencing offload of freight.

While its cousin DL40 a (similar) 772 was able to use rwy34 a few minutes later.

The TAF made 3.5 hrs ago suggested: 05025G45KT
Should The wind direction have allowed Rwy34 to be used. Maybe a pilot can confirm?

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus, as were a few others but somehow I deleted my post on that: AC34 to YVR was one.

VA833, the 1001 slightly retimed departure ex MEL is about to arrive in SYD at 1230, 65 minutes late. VH-VBZ is the B738.

The 0945 hours SYD - DRW, VA1351 is one of the worst affected domestic flights on a very wet Sunday 5 June 2016 as B738 VH-VUG is only taxiing in SYD as at 1230. Arrival will be in excess of two hours late from the timetabled 1405 hours.

The 1005 SYD - AYQ, VA1627 (B738 VH-VUL) is little better with takeoff likely at about 1237 and arrival at about 1450, an hour and 35 minutes behind the timetable.

The 1035 SYd - AKL, VA144 (B738 VH-YIM) was airborne at 1321 meaning arrival at about 1735, an hour and 55 minutes behind time.

VA517, the 1110 SYD - OOL took off at 1305. B738 VH-YFC is the plane. The 1100 SYD - BNE, VA935 was not airborne 1317 with B738 VH-VOO, meaning arrival at about 1420, an hour and 50 minutes late.

The 1100 SYD down to MEL, VA834, did not take off until 1326 with B738 VH-VUT, meaning a two hour plus late arrival at 1436 or so instead of the scheduled 1235.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1153 from LST to SYD may have just had a missed approach to runway 07 at about 1332. It was about 47 minutes late (arrival time at the terminal is a scheduled 1150 hours). B738 VH-VUP is the aircraft.

It had taken off from LST at 1133 which, given the departure time of 1115, is quite punctual. This shows how much time many flights are losing with the restricted runway operations in SYD at present.

 

[Boris spatsky]

While its cousin DL40 a (similar) 772 was able to use rwy34 a few minutes later.

The TAF made 3.5 hrs ago suggested: 05025G45KT
Should The wind direction have allowed Rwy34 to be used. Maybe a pilot can confirm?

See JBs comment in QF delay thread re:heavy aircraft and crosswind components.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1593, the 1220 Sunday 5 June MEL to NTL did not even make it north of SYD before turning back and travelling a little south of CBR, presumably because SYD is so busy with the incessant rain and two to four hour delays affecting many domestic and international flights. B738 VH-VUC is the aircraft. It is not clear at which airport VA1593 is endeavouring to land: perhaps back in MEL?

The competitor's flight, JQ474 (A320 VH-VQK), the 1200 MEL - NTL that was airborne at 1244 had a couple of what appeared to be missed approaches at NTL but then headed for SYD where it is about to land at about 1457.

How will passengers stranded in NTL get to MEL?

VA1533, the 1205 HBA north to SYD took off at 1356 and with VH-ZPC, an E180, is about to arrive in SYD at approximately 1548, an hour and 53 minutes late.

Southbound VA1532 on this route in reverse took off from SYD at 1532 against a pushback time of 1355 (B738 VH-YFP) and should arrive in the Apple Isle capital at about 1707, 77 minutes late.

VA1556 that should depart from HVB at 1245 instead was airborne at 1438 hours with an arrival in SYD forecast for about 1620, an hour and 50 minutes late. E190 VH-ZPT is the plane.

The 1305 hours OOL - SYD, VA524, took off at 1457 and with VH-YFC, a B738 as its aircraft is arriving in SYD at about 1608 hours, 93 minutes late.

The 1400 hours SYD - BNE, VA947, took off at 1511 so is about 80 minutes late with B738 VH-VUE the operating aircraft.

VA850, the 1400 hours SYD down to MEL took off at 1620, about an hour late. However given what is often the generosity of the 95 minute gate-to-gate timetable it may pick up a bit of time to the southern capital.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 5 June, VA422, the 1310 hours SYD to ADL (E190 VH-ZPC) was airborne at 1719 with arrival predicted at 1839, three hours and 49 minutes late. This is one of the worst delays on what has been an extremely wet Sydney Sunday during 'Vivid.' Let's hope that some delayed travellers are nicely (gentlemanly or ladylike) 'vivid' after gulping some drinks in the VA lounge.

The 1530 hours SYD - MEL, VA854, took off at 1729, 24 minutes after it was meant to be at the MEL terminal. B738 VH-YFC is the plane. This was a slow 81 minutes from arrival in SYD as VA524 ex OOL and takeoff for MEL: one might expect at a busy time for this to be about 50 minutes: a half hour turnaround and 20 minutes' taxiing in preparation for takeoff.

UPDATE: VA869, the 1715 hours from MEL to SYD took off at 1902 and should arrive at about 2021, an hour and 41 minutes tardy. Aircraft is VH-VUZ, a ubiquitous B738.

A following flight, VA8y73, the 1745 ex MEL to SYD was cancelled.

The 1705 OOL - SYD, VA536 took off at 1919 hours and should be in SYD at about 2027 hours, an hour and 52 minutes late. VH-ZPT, an E190, is the plane.

VA973, the 1800 hours SYD up to BNE should be just under two hours late in arriving at around the 2125 hours mark this evening. VH-YIA, a B738 is the conveyance.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing the evening delays on Sunday 5 June, VA284, the 1900 CBR - MEL was airborne at 2110 hours and hence is about to arrive at roughly 2203, an hour and 53 minutes late, with E190 VH-ZPB the aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 6 June 2016, VA632, the 0805 SYD short hop to CBR, ATR 72 VH-FVP) was still taxiing at 0858. Arrival is predicted for around the 0946 mark, 41 minutes late.

VA628, the 0705 SYD to CBR has fared worse with E190 VH-ZPG still taxiing in SYD at 0903. Arrival is suggested as 0955 which would be an hour and 55 minutes late. Not a good start to the morning. I assume that CBR has fog.

VA1207, the 0620 hours CBR north to BNE is forecast to depart at 1000 while VA262 from CBR down to MEL, the 1005 has been cancelled.

 

[SponsorSFC]

Still waiting for VA559, original scheduled departure due at 13:05 most recent announcement is scheduled for 17:00.

Initial delay was due to late arriving aircraft, second delay to 14:20 due to engineer addressing an issue that occurred on landing. Most recent delay no reason given.

 

[Melburnian1]

SponsorSFC, many thanks. VA559 (A332 VH-XFC) took off from SYD at 1944 hours, about six hours and 25 minutes late as its pushback time was 1305; it should arrive in PER at 2248 instead of 1615, roughly six and a half hours late.

Probably the only good thing about this is that it's not a B738.

VA444, the 2010 SYD across to ADL took off using runway 07 at 2106 so will be approximately 45 minutes late in arriving at about 2236. VH-VOS, a B738, is the aircraft.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 7 June 2016, VA714, the 0910 hours from PER to ADL (E190 VH-ZPN, a 'threatened species' at VA due to its announced intention to reduce the number of this aircraft type it utilises, but widely viewed by travellers as a comfortable aircraft in which to fly) was airborne at a very late 1355. Instead of 1330 hours, arrival in the 'wine capital' is forecast as about 1750.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1333 on Wednesday 8 June, the 1810 hours HBA - MEL (E190 VH-ZPT) took off at 1827 and is about to arrive at 2000 hours, 35 minutes late as it did a 'racetrack loop' over Korumburra.

The 1800 hours peak time departure from SYD, VA874 with B738 VH-YIF took off at 1830 and is likely to be in MEL at 2010 hours, 35 minutes late after being placed in a hold above Mt Buller (Victoria).

VA755 from MEL to OOL, the 1840 hours, took off about an hour late at 1954 (B738 VH-YFG) and should pull in to the terminal at approximately 2134, 49 minutes late.

Another AFF member recently contributed about his much delayed VA559, the 1305 hours early afternoon SYD across to PER.

Unfortunately this flight is again badly delayed, taking off at 1659 (more than three and a half hours late) with A332 VH-XFC likley to arrive at 1936 rather than 1615.

 

[Foreigner]

I'm travelling VA 1 on Friday. Are SYD-LAX flights generally on time or close to scheduled departure?

I'm connecting to VX to SFO then to SAN.

 

[Melburnian1]

Foreigner, I can't be specific for your day of travel because anything can occur.

However today (8 June) VA1 apparently departed 14 minutes late at 1004 and should arrive 25 minutes early at 0605.

The FlighStats website uses a two-pronged approach to affix a 'rating' out of 5.

VA1 scores 2.3 at present out of 5, with the flight being 'on time' 64 per cent of the time (which I assume means 15 minutes or less late at destination, but it is never explained on the website) and with an 'average' (which I take to mean 'median') delay of 18 minutes.

Of the last 118 flights, 76 have been 'on time' and only four were 'excessively late' (again, not explained, but that may be 'more than two hours late', I don't know).

Two of the 118 flights were cancelled.

So overall it's a quite good, but imperfect, punctuality record. Most days, it all runs to plan (as in 'the timetable). We can all be unlucky to have Mr Murphy's law strike.

In comparison, QF11 that is timetabled to depart at the same time left at 1000 (10" late) and will only be an expected five minutes early into LAX today.

QF11 has been given a rating by FlightStats of 0.8 out of 5 (worse than VA1), being 'on time' 51 per cent of the time and with an 'average' delay of 29 minutes. Only 32 of the last 52 QF11 flights were 'on time'.

You can also look up the DL and UA SYD - LAX flights as a further comparison.

It might have been quicker and more pleasant if travelling to San Diego to travel on the www.amtrak.com Pacific Surfliner trains from Los Angeles' famous Union station: there are multiple daily trips, and you can reach Union railway station (depot) by express bus from LAX or by the Metro elevated rail network, the latter requiring two en route changes of train.

 

[Quickstatus]

I'm travelling VA 1 on Friday. Are SYD-LAX flights generally on time or close to scheduled departure?

I'm connecting to VX to SFO then to SAN.

What's your transit time in LAX.

Bear in mind that it's now a lot quicker getting through immigration at LAX due to the introduction of passport kiosks much like the smart gates.

 

[Foreigner]

Foreigner, I can't be specific for your day of travel because anything can occur.

However today (8 June) VA1 apparently departed 14 minutes late at 1004 and should arrive 25 minutes early at 0605.

The FlighStats website uses a two-pronged approach to affix a 'rating' out of 5.

VA1 scores 2.3 at present out of 5, with the flight being 'on time' 64 per cent of the time (which I assume means 15 minutes or less late at destination, but it is never explained on the website) and with an 'average' (which I take to mean 'median') delay of 18 minutes.

Of the last 118 flights, 76 have been 'on time' and only four were 'excessively late' (again, not explained, but that may be 'more than two hours late', I don't know).

Two of the 118 flights were cancelled.

So overall it's a quite good, but imperfect, punctuality record. Most days, it all runs to plan (as in 'the timetable). We can all be unlucky to have Mr Murphy's law strike.

In comparison, QF11 that is timetabled to depart at the same time left at 1000 (10" late) and will only be an expected five minutes early into LAX today.

QF11 has been given a rating by FlightStats of 0.8 out of 5 (worse than VA1), being 'on time' 51 per cent of the time and with an 'average' delay of 29 minutes. Only 32 of the last 52 QF11 flights were 'on time'.

You can also look up the DL and UA SYD - LAX flights as a further comparison.

It might have been quicker and more pleasant if travelling to San Diego to travel on the www.amtrak.com Pacific Surfliner trains from Los Angeles' famous Union station: there are multiple daily trips, and you can reach Union railway station (depot) by express bus from LAX or by the Metro elevated rail network, the latter requiring two en route changes of train.

Thank you for that comprehensive reply.

I did seriously consider the train. The use of points looked like a better option.

 

[Foreigner]

What's your transit time in LAX.

Bear in mind that it's now a lot quicker getting through immigration at LAX due to the introduction of passport kiosks much like the smart gates.

That's good news. Hopefully bag will be tagged to SAN. 3 hours in LAX. The LAX-SFO-SAN cost same points as direct flight. Booking in premium economy...I suspect that's between the main cabin and VX first.