Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

jad01, of what I think are the five international longhaul aircraft that VA has, VH-VPD, VH-VPF and VH-VPH appear to be operating.

It appears that VH-VOZ flew from BNE to AKL on Monday 18 July, taking off at 1135.

The fifth aircraft, VH-VPE appears to be at CWF airport in the USA where I assume it is undergoing seat configuration changes ('The Business') by AAR Corporation.

I would welcome corrections to the above. Three aircraft is insufficient to operate its scheduled flights to LAX from both BNE and SYD if I am not mistaken.

If my quick research is accurate, that will explain the cancelled flights. Not great!

 

[Jurahn]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

VA567 SYD-PER scheduled to depart at 18:15 last night (19 July)was delayed by around an hour - departure time scheduled for 18:15, actual takeoff wasn't until 19:30. They found a bag on board which no one claimed, despite a page being put out over the PA, which meant (technically) "returning to the gate" - I think the airbridge had been withdrawn and we were just about to push back so the plane hadn't actually moved at that point. The doors had to be opened again and ground crew came on board - eventually someone did finally claim the bag but I assume they had to go through all the departure checks and procedures again as the doors had been reopened. Finally pushed back and taxied for ages, appeared to be to the absolute far side of the airport - possibly the international runways? - as we had to sit and wait for quite a period of time in a couple of spots, and then finally waited for what appeared to be two very large aircraft to land before we were finally about to take off at 19:30.

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

jad01, of what I think are the five international longhaul aircraft that VA has, VH-VPD, VH-VPF and VH-VPH appear to be operating.

It appears that VH-VOZ flew from BNE to AKL on Monday 18 July, taking off at 1135.

The fifth aircraft, VH-VPE appears to be at CWF airport in the USA where I assume it is undergoing seat configuration changes ('The Business') by AAR Corporation.

I would welcome corrections to the above. Three aircraft is insufficient to operate its scheduled flights to LAX from both BNE and SYD if I am not mistaken.

If my quick research is accurate, that will explain the cancelled flights. Not great!

I think you are correct M1.

The length of the daily transpacific flights VA1,2,7,8 require at a minimum 4 B777-300 per calendar fortnight to operate as one aircraft can make 7 returns transpac per fortnight.

Now that they are down to 3, they can still operate VA1,2 which they consider their flagship route but will need to reduce the frequency of either VA7,8 or both VA1,2 / 7,8 to spread the "enhancement" around.

Spare aircrafts are really a thing of the past. It is more cost effective to cancel a flight or lean on your partner airlines than to keep a "just in case" on the ground.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

Spare aircrafts are really a thing of the past. It is more cost effective to cancel a flight or lean on your partner airlines than to keep a "just in case" on the ground.

Quickstatus, very astute observations, perhaps with the slight qualification that if an airline has say a fleet of more than 10 or 20 of a particular model, it may then be economic to have a spare aircraft.

After all apart from the revenue, operating costs and capital costs all being multiples of surface transport, airlines are not much different from a bus, ferry or rail operator. No bus or train operator will assume that 100 per cent of a fleet will be available on any given day: it might be that they work on 90 - 95 per cent being available and the rest being under planned maintenance or (ahem...) failing unexpectedly and having to be substituted.

One difficulty that airlines face is that if an aircraft becomes unserviceable at an 'outstation' (such as for VA, LAX) it is expensive and time consuming should it possess a spare aircraft to send one all the way from SYD. Of course in VA's case it only has a fleet of five of these longhaul planes so your comments about relying on partner airlines is the logical way to operate.

Quickstatus, if VA cancels a BNE or SYD to LAX or return flight, does it usually put passengers on UA, DL or even QF if there are spare seats available on their nonstops or does it make passengers wait a day until either the defective aircraft is repaired or there is another VA scheduled flight with spare seats?

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

Quickstatus, very astute observations, perhaps with the slight qualification that if an airline has say a fleet of more than 10 or 20 of a particular model, it may then be economic to have a spare aircraft.

After all apart from the revenue, operating costs and capital costs all being multiples of surface transport, airlines are not much different from a bus, ferry or rail operator. No bus or train operator will assume that 100 per cent of a fleet will be available on any given day: it might be that they work on 90 - 95 per cent being available and the rest being under planned maintenance or (ahem...) failing unexpectedly and having to be substituted.

One difficulty that airlines face is that if an aircraft becomes unserviceable at an 'outstation' (such as for VA, LAX) it is expensive and time consuming should it possess a spare aircraft to send one all the way from SYD. Of course in VA's case it only has a fleet of five of these longhaul planes so your comments about relying on partner airlines is the logical way to operate.

Quickstatus, if VA cancels a BNE or SYD to LAX or return flight, does it usually put passengers on UA, DL or even QF if there are spare seats available on their nonstops or does it make passengers wait a day until either the defective aircraft is repaired or there is another VA scheduled flight with spare seats?

Additionally an aircraft having an RDO will/may require a standby crew to operate it if pressed into urgent service. While it takes several hours to assemble/brief a standby crew, I'm not sure how much time is required to put a standby aircraft "on the road".
I would imagine several hours especially if a scheduled aircraft goes "tech" with freight / catering already loaded and has to be moved away so standby aircraft can come to the gate.

Luckily,I have no knowledge /experience of VA's strategy to reseat stranded passengers. I would think its agreement with its various partners would include a clause about stranded passengers and the associated financial treatment. Perhaps like other airlines, fare class, tier status, availability of spare seats looking forward on its own and partner airlines,and urgency of passenger's itinerary would play a part in the shuffle.

Is there an industry wide agreement for inter airline passenger re-accomodation in situations of an inoperable aircraft?.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

Is there an industry wide agreement for inter airline passenger re-accomodation in situations of an inoperable aircraft?.

In the USA the prevalence of these agreements has declined from what I read. Fascinating to know if that is the case in Oz.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

Does anyone know what on earth is going on with VA flights to USA???
With a trip just over a week away BNE-LAX on VA7 looking at the history in the past week or so 30% of these flights have been delayed between 6 - 14 hours and one cancelled.

Adding further to Quickstatus' and my replies to jad01, the Wednesday 20 July VA7 from BNE took off at 2109 hours tonight - about eight hours late - for LAX.

Earlier, VA8 terminated in BNE at about 1830, almost 12 hours late compared to the normal arrival of 0650 in the morning.

By comparison, as Quickstatus intimated, VA1 and VA2 SYD - LAX - SYD appear to be smoothly operating with few delays of any magnitude. Just as with JQ the BNK flights seem to have the lowest peacking order, for VA's very small number of flights to and from the USA, prospective travellers may be well advised to book on VA1 and VA2 rather than VA7 and VA8.

If anyone has information as to when the fourth B773 will return to service that would be extremely helpful.

Having a small fleet suitable for one or two flights a day - which is the case with VA's TransPacific flights - is a potential problem for travellers booked. BI is a good example in the 'other direction' between (in its case) MEL - BWN - DXB - LHR as it has four aircraft suitable for these flights with four being required on a daily basis. If one has to undergo planned maintenance (let alone unplanned repairs), passengers are potentially facing severe delays (or a transfer to another airline of BI's - or VA's - choice).

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

'Areas' of fog (not just 'patchy') are predicted for Melbourne on Thursday morning (21 July); at 2330, relative humidity was 100 per cent and there were identical temperature and dew point readings at Olympic Park so while as always on matters meteorological it is good to defer to experts, these may be ideal conditions for fog to gradually develop at MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

VA46, the overnight 2210 Wednesday 20 July DPS - BNE (B738 VH-YIZ) was airborne at 2335 hours and hence on Thursday 21 should arrive at about 0705, 80 minutes behind the schedule.

 

[serfty]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

I see a VA9 (BNE-LAX) and a VA4 (LAX-SYD) on the schedule for Friday 22nd July.

VA7 is scheduled to depart at 6:30pm (normally 9:40am).

 

[Quickstatus]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

I see a VA9 (BNE-LAX) and a VA4 (LAX-SYD) on the schedule for Friday 22nd July.

VA7 is scheduled to depart at 6:30pm (normally 9:40am).

Usually flights transpacific are VA1,2 and VA7,8
But well spotted: VA7 departed the gates at BNE just before 2100hrs AEST last night (20/7/16). It arrived at LAX around 1700 hrs PDT.
VA1,2,8 ontime.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

VA144, the Friday 22 July 2016 1035 SYD - AKL (B738 VH-YIU) did not take off until 1142 so an arrival at around 1615 will be 35 minutes late.

Te 0935 hours ADL - MEL (B738 VH-VON) was in the sky at a much delayed 1142 and is arriving at about 1303 hours, 98 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

Friday 22 July's BNE - LAX VA7 departed late - and even later than predicted a couple of posts above. It did not take off until 1914 with likely same day arrival at about 1510.

Earlier, today's arriving VA8 in BNE ex LAX had diverted via CNS where it landed at 0622 but did not take off until 1248 for an arrival in BNE at about 1445 this afternoon. Was the lengthy stop in CNS because various crew had 'run out of hours?'

In 'The Age' and 'SMH' Traveller online edition (which is also a separate website), there is a new review of the international 'The Business' looks great.

However it's not much good introducing it if existing flights are several hours late. Hopefully in time all five will be operating but this is one of the problems of a small fleet on a particular route, as also noted above.

Meanwhile VA1 and VA2 (SYD - LAX- SYD) continue to reliably and punctually operate, so they are the ones to book if AFFers want to choose between departing from or arriving back in BNE or SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

On Saturday evening 23 July 2016, VA243 (1935 hours MEL across to ADL) departed about 45 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

The Sunday 24 July 2016 VA366 (0850 hours TSV down to BNE) was airborne quite late at 0956. B738 VH-YIF should arrive at approximately 1130, 50 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Re: Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations - VA7

VA239 on Sunday 24 July, the 1735 hours MEL across to ADL was not in the sky until 1941. Arrival of B738 VH-YIB should be at 2025, 115 minutes tardy.

VA870 (1730 hours SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-YFK) took off at 1835 and should pul in to the terminal at around 2008 hours, 63 minutes late.

 

[andyhui01]

Just got notification VA894 is cancelled. Got put on 898? I fly this weekly and this is normally a really empty flight. Wonder if that is the reason.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 27 July 2016, VA628, the 1350 AYQ - SYD was not airborne until 1451 hours (B738 VH-YVC) and arrived at about 1821 compared with its scheduled at gate time of 1720, so more than an hour late in.

VA278 (1700 hours CBR - MEL, B738 VH-YFJ) was in the sky at 1745 with arrival likely at 1843 hours, 33 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA736, the 1150 hours from OOL down to MEL on Thursday 28 July took off at 1259 so will be delayed, arriving MEL at about 1510, 55 minutes late. Aircraft is B738 VH-VUL.

 

[Quickstatus]

Just got notification VA894 is cancelled. Got put on 898? I fly this weekly and this is normally a really empty flight. Wonder if that is the reason.

Seems like it, as the aircraft operating the cancelled VA894 (VH-YFU) then operated VA 898.

There were other cancelled flights throughout the day and on the previous day on the SYD-MEL route pointing to dynamic capacity management.
See: The VA Source - Virgin Australia News & Information
Even flights like VA871 MEL-SYD departing at 1730 was cancelled (though this is an E190 and VA is removing 5 of these planes from its Garage.)


Typically the second last flight will be cancelled due to low patronage rather than the last flight as it is easier to move passengers to a later flight than to call passengers in for an earlier flight. Tactically though the second last flight rather than the last flight of the day is the best one to book.