Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

VA1535 (Sunday 30 October 2016 at 1635 hours from HBA to SYD, B738 VH-VNO) took off at 1656, which is only marginally late. However a holding pattern over Crookwell and near Yass, NSW put paid to an on time arrival, so that should now be at 1858, 33 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

At about 2130, there was a storm over CBR that led to QF708 turning an on time ADL departure into a 40 minute late expected arrival in CBR.

VA672, which is not a B738 but a smaller ATR is the 2035 hours VA672 from SYD down to the national capital. It took off at 2120, possibly being held a bit in SYD for the storm to have a chance of passing, and is expected to arrive at roughly 2212 tonight, 37 minutes late assuming that the storm does not cause any further problems such as a turnback or diversion.

 

[Melburnian1]

Melbourne Cup Day (1 November) sees VA168 from little known TBU, the 0625 hours departure, having taken off at 0628 which is early but arrival in SYD is expected at 1020, 35 minutes late. Aircraft is B738 VH-YIW.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1553 (B738 VH-VUR, 1220 MEL up to NTL) took off at 1321; it is expected to arrive at roughly 1434, 44 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 4 November 2016 the first of the day from BNE down to MEL, the scheduled 0500 hours VA302 (E190 VH-ZPA) did not take off until 0626. The inevitable result is a forecast 86 minute late arrival at 0946.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Friday 4 November, VA580 (1610 hours from ADL across to CBR) took off at 1716. B738 VH-YFK should arrive at about 1905 hours, 50 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

With only one runway operating in SYD as at 1020 on Saturday 5 November 2016 (departures to the west), VA479, the 0925 hours SYD - MCY was still second in the queue for takeoff as at 1022.

VA1251, the 0950 hours SYD - HTI and VA1519 (0955 hours SYD - TSV) were still queueing for takeoff as at 1038.

VA1627, the 0955 hours SYD - AYQ was behind these so will be about an hour late.

WSW winds were at 57kmh, gusting to 65kmh, at Sydney airport as at about 1015 hours.

UPDATE: VA946 (1205 hours BNE - SYD, E190 VH-ZPT) on Saturday 5 November took off at 1331. Arrival should be at 1553, 73 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Delays are continuing into what is normally a relatively quiet period of the 168 hour week, Saturday afternoon (5 November) due to the strong winds in SYD.

VA1176, the 1300 hours SYD down to ABX (ATR 72 VH-VPJ) is still queued for take off as at 1429, so arrival will be about an hour late at 1525.

UPDATE: VH-VPJ is landing back in SYD at 1723 ex ABX, so by the time it gets to the terminal it will be about 73 minutes late.

VA1218 (1400 hours mid afternoon from BNE down to CBR) was airborne at 1524, with arrival suggested as 77 minutes tardy at 1807: comfortable conveyance E190 VH-ZPM has the task.

 

[Melburnian1]

The adverse wind conditions-related delays continue at SYD into the early evening of Saturday 5 November, with VA660 (1705 hours SYD - CBR, ATR72 VH-VPJ) turning around from its return flights down to and back from ABX but not having taken off by 1814 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 6 November sees VA1473 (1115 hours from SYD up to MKY, E190 VH-ZPQ) yet to commence taxiing by 1210, so expect it to be at least 50 minutes late into the sugar cane area.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 7 November sees E190 VH-ZPA on the 0550 hours super early start BNE - ROK, VA1231, having taken off, allegedly, at 0557 but not arriving until 0754, 54 minutes late after holding north of The Caves for many minutes. Fog?

It is windy in MEL with gusts of up to 57kmh at the airport, but it does not appear to be resulting in any out of the ordinary delays.

VA219 from MEL to ADL (B738 VH-VUO) is the 1010 hours, which on 7 November took off at 1048: arrival should be at 1134, 34 minutes behind time.

Update: By 1430 this afternoon E190 VH-ZPA was heading north on VA1243, the 1310 hours BNE to ROK and running about eight minutes early.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Monday 7 November, VA1294, the 1200 'high noon' from CNS down to MEL took off at exactly 1300 hours. Arrival of B738 VH-YFG should be at 1707, 42 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The early evening of Wednesday 9 November sees VA1429 (B738 VH-YIE, 1845 hours from SYD up to CNS) remaining at the SYD terminal at 1929, not showing any signs of departing. Arrival will be later than the 2119 hours (34 minutes late) implied by FR24.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Wednesday 9 November, VA569, the transcontinental 1900 hours from SYD across to PER (B738 VH-YFF) took off at about 2057 with arrival suggested as 2237 late tonigtht WA time in lieu of the timetabled 2105 hours.

The 1905 hours early evening OOL - SYD, VA540 (B738 VH-YIB) took off at 1954 with arrival suggested as 48 minutes behind schedule at 2123.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA321, the 1000 hours MEL to BNE on Thursday 10 November (B738 VH-VUC) took off at 1051. Arrival is predicted as 31 minutes late at 1141.

B773ER VH-VPD on the 1120 hours BNE - LAX Thursday 10 November VA7 took off at 1230. It should arrive 35 minutes late at 0705.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 10 November 2016, VA321 (B738 VH-YVA), the 1605 hours OOL - SYD took off at 1645. Arrival is suggested as 1917 hours, 42 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Remembrance Day, Friday 11 November sees VA70, the 2230 hours Thursday 10 ex DPS that took off on Friday at 0200 likely to arrive in SYD at 1022 instead of 0740, 162 minutes tardy. Aircraft is B738 VH-YIV.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 11 November, VA326 (1155 hours BNE - MEL, B738 VH-VOT) was airborne at 1206 but not assisted by a 'hold' to Bendigo's east is arriving at about 33 minutes late - 1548 hours.

VA1594, the 1425 hours NTL - MEL took off at 1449 with arrival expected at 1642 hours, 42 minutes late. Aircraft is B738 VH-VUF.

B738 VH-VON on the mid afternoon VA1327, 1500 hours HBA - MEL has just emerged from its racecourse-like patterned 'hold' above Leongatha and so should arrive at around 1646 hours, half an hour late.

VA868 and VA872, respectively the 1715 and 1745 hours SYD - MEL departures have been cancelled, as has one JQ flight and three QF flights in the space of an hour. Is anyone aware why - even for a route on which one or two airlines each month tend to have up to six per cent of flights cancelled, it is a lot of 'no gos' for a Friday afternoon.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA879, the Friday 11 November peak period MEL - SYD with a scheduled departure at 1830 was up up and away at 1905, so arrival of VH-VUE (the ubiquitous B738) should be half an hour behind at 2025 this evening.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 12 November has VA931 (1000 from SYD up to BNE, B738 VH-VUI) having been airborne at 1051 with arrival time suggested as half an hour behind at 1100.