Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 24 June, VA559, the 1305 hours SYD across to PER (A332 VH-XFG) took off at 1340 and should arrive at 1651 hours, 36 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In the evening of Friday 24 June, VA567, the 1815 SYD across to PER (A332 VH-XFD) took off at 1845 with arrival suggested as 2157 hours, 32 minutes late.

The mid afternoon 1555 hours CHC to MEL, VA101 (B738 VH-YIZ) took off at 1838 and so is only just arriving at a predicted 2010, 145 minutes behind.

VA882 (1900 hours evening SYD - MEL) took off at 1952 with arrival of B738 VH-YFS expected at around 2110 tonight, 35 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 27 June commenced as a bit of winter lie-in for first of the morning VA401, the 0600 from ADL across to SYD (B738 VH-YFV) as it was airborne at 0656 and hence should arrive about 41 minutes late at 0901.

Coincidentally, the opposition '401' - QF401 - is about 34 minutes late, but it's on the more lucrative SYD - MEL route as the 0600 hours southbound.

VA551 (A332 VH-XFH) has also had a shocking start to Monday morning with its 0715 timetabled departure turning into an 0924 airborne situation in SYD, with arrival in PER suggested as 1221 instead of 1025.

The 0840 hours from SYD across to ADL, VA412, did not take off until 0932 so B738 VH-VUT should arrive at around 1104, 44 minutes late.

 

[stevied71]

VA 693 MELB to PER delayed by 2 hours 15 mins. Now departs at 20:30

 

[Melburnian1]

stevied71, your delayed VA693 may be formed by A332 VH-XFG that is arriving in MEL at about 1921 (due 1930) on VA690, the 1400 ex PER on Monday 27 June.

Meanwhile the morning delayed VH-VFH appears to have been in PER for some hours but is not departing until after midnight, which must be relatively unusual.

 

[samas]

On Friday 24 June, VA559, the 1305 hours SYD across to PER (A332 VH-XFG) took off at 1340 and should arrive at 1651 hours, 36 minutes late.

I was on VA559 last Friday!

All pax were boarded ready for OTD however the Cabin Manager made an announcement along the lines of "we are waiting for a crew member connecting from an incoming flight. Their flight is due to land in 10 minutes and we will depart as soon as they are on board with us"

I assume by "crew" it was flight crew not cabin crew... I didn't notice anyone new board before departure.

EDIT: I will be on VA559 again in just under three weeks and it will be this flight that ticks me over to 1005 SC and back to WP again

 

[Quickstatus]

I was on VA559 last Friday!

All pax were boarded ready for OTD however the Cabin Manager made an announcement along the lines of "we are waiting for a crew member connecting from an incoming flight. Their flight is due to land in 10 minutes and we will depart as soon as they are on board with us"

I assume by "crew" it was flight crew not cabin crew... I didn't notice anyone new board before departure.

Thanks for your report Samas,
Do All crew need to be briefed before operating the flight????. 2 pilots need to be on the flight deck to commence flight preparations, and at least 1 FA per aircraft door when passengers embark.
So I dont think this could have been an operating crew. Maybe a standby crewmember called in to replace another on the 1735hrs VA 694 PER-MEL?

 

[samas]

Thanks for your report Samas,
Do All crew need to be briefed before operating the flight????. 2 pilots need to be on the flight deck to commence flight preparations, and at least 1 FA per aircraft door when passengers embark.
So I dont think this could have been an operating crew. Maybe a standby crewmember called in to replace another on the 1735hrs VA 694 PER-MEL?

I had assumed it was a paxing crew. the announcement was vague that it didn't say either way.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Thanks for your report Samas,
Do All crew need to be briefed before operating the flight????. 2 pilots need to be on the flight deck to commence flight preparations, and at least 1 FA per aircraft door when passengers embark.
So I dont think this could have been an operating crew.?

The crew will need to brief but for domestic ops that can be fairly quick. If the other pilot is coming off another flight, then in my company i would do everything i can to get the aircraft ready to go so that the other pilot can walk in and then we can get a clearance and start the flight deck briefings. They could feasibly walk on 5 minutes before we shut the door.

So yes, it could have been operating crew.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 28 June, VA41 (1005 BNE - DPS) was not airborne until 1258 so arrival of B738 VH-YIZ should be at 1711, two hours and 26 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Post 370 above should read 'Tuesday', not 'Thursday' - apologies.

On Thursday 30 June, VA304, the 0555 hours early morning from BNE to MEL took off punctually at 0606, but arrival is delayed until about 0852, 32 minutes late. Aircraft is B738 VH-VUV. A north wind is gusting up to 57 kilometres an hour at MEL (otherwise constant at 48kmh) and has increased in the last hour.

VA811 (0700 MEL up to SYD) had a bad start to the morning with takeoff at 0824. B738 VH-VUY should arrive about 65 minutes late at 0930 hours.

UPDATE: VA1508, the 1225 MCY - MEL took off at 1259 and with VH-VUF (B738) as its craft should arrive at roughly 1525, half an hour behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a wintry end to this financial year's business hours in MEL on Thursday 30 June, with at least minor hail in some suburbs, VA1294, the 1300 hours from CNS down to MEL had taken off at 1340. B738 VH-VUV is arriving at roughly 1709, 44 minutes late.

Earlier, VA259, the 1205 hours MEL to CBR was cancelled.

Northbound, VA859, the 1600 from MEL up to SYD (B738 VH-VUD) took off at 1645 with arrival estimated as 1800 hours, 35 minutes behind the eight ball.

 

[docjames]

Preemptive email just received - " Flights in and out of Sydney tomorrow may be impacted by strong winds resulting in single runway operations from 1200 to 2300. As a result, your Virgin Australia flight may be affected. We will be working to ensure we have guests safely on their way as soon as possible. We encourage guests to contact Virgin Australia for earlier or alternate travel arrangements and to check the status of their flight here: https://flightstatus.virginaustralia.com/flightNumber Kind Regards, Virgin Australia " Knew I should have chosen Qantas for a time critical flight, Virgin just can't cope in these situations, damn it

One might argue they are being proactive and giving you an option to move to an earlier flight??

What ended up happening?

 

[Melburnian1]

docjames, on the day in question, there were lots of delays. Have a look backwards through this and the QF/ JQ/ VA threads, among others.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 2 July, VA148, the 0630 hours MEL - AKL did not take off until 0752 with arrival of B738 VH-YIQ suggested as 65 minutes late at 1315 in the early afternoon in the NZ non-capital Harbour City.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 4 July, VA148, the 0630 hours MEL - AKL must have had major problems as it has been altered to depart at about 0920. Has an aircraft been substituted for the original?

VA804, the 0630 hours from SYD down to MEL has been cancelled.

The Federal election result uncertainty, while not a first, and the possibility of another Federal election to try to resolve any deadlocks cannot be good for airline profitability and shares, but of more interest in this thread is that should consumer (and business) confidence take a hit in the next few months, VA (and QF) could respond with cancellations or less flying in the summer late October-issued timetable than they had originally planned - capacity reductions - and maybe more compulsory airline staff leave or even redundancies.

 

[Melburnian1]

During the wet evening of Tuesday 5 July in MEL, VA883 (B738 VH-VOQ) has taken off at 2050 with arrival suggested as 2055, half an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 6 July's early evening sees VA862 (1630 hours from SYD down to MEL) having become airborne at 1706 with arrival of E190 VH-ZPB likely at around 1835, half an hour late.

Later, VA878 (1830 hours departure) took off exactly at 1930 and with B738 VH-VUO is estimated to arrive MEL at 2057, 52 minutes late. At 2025 hours it remained in the foten seen holding pattern above Mt Buller (Vic.)

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 7 July, VA841, the 1200 SYD down to MEL took off at 1328 (B738 VH-VOP) with arrival suggested as 1440, 75 minutes late. QF also has quite a few flights on the route that are at least an hour late. There has been or is rain in both Sydney and Melbourne with much more predicted: this may be a contributing factor to the late running.

 

[24601]

Thursday 7 July, VA239 MEL - ADL cancelled.