Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Friday 2 December has VA101 (1600 hours CHC - MEL) having taken off with B738 VH-YIG at 1803. It is expected to result in an 1837 hours arrival, 47 minutes tardy.

VA279 (B738 VH-YFH) was airborne at a delayed 1742 hours on the scheduled 1655 hours MEL - CBR, so arrival is predicted for 1830 early this evening, half an hour behind schedule.

The 1800 hours SYD - MEL took off at 1906 hours, so VA874 (VH-YFR, another B738) should arrive at 2026 tonight not 1935 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 2 December, VA746 (1655 hours from OOL down to MEL) became airborne at 1740; arrival of B738 VH-VUC should be at around 2100, 45 minutes behind.

The ADL - MEL VA236 departure, the 1705 hours late afternoon departure took off at 1926 hours. With B738 VH-VOP undertaking the honours, arrival should be 127 minutes behind schedule at 2102.

VA876 (1815 hours SYD - MEL) took off at 1940 hours with E190 VH-ZPM, otherwise known as VA's 'threatened species', or more correctly, a species facing 'extinction' from the fleet. Arrival should be at 2014, 74 minutes late.

VA882 (1900 hours SYD - MEL, B738 VH-VUG) was in the sky at 2013 with arrival suggested as 2132, 57 minutes late.

The mirror image flight, VA883 (northbound) took off at 2013 hours for a forecast 2123 hours, 58 minute late arrival with B738 VH-YIF.

VA670, the short hop 1905 hours from SYD to CBR (ATR72, VH-FVQ) was airborne at 2011 for a predicted 2106 hours, 61 minutes late arrival in the national capital.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 3 December sees VA739, the 1110 MEL - OOL having become airborne at 1215 for a projected 1304 arrival early this afternoon, 49 minutes behind schedule. The unpunctual aircraft is B738 VH-VOP.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Saturday 3 December, VA738, the 1255 OOL - MEL took off at 1405; arrival should be at 1729, 74 minutes late. Aircraft is B738 VH-VOP, the same as in the previous post. Note how on its overall return trip MEL - OOL and back it lost further time.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 5 December, VA810, the 0715 hours SYD - MEL took off at 0800; arrival of B&38 VH-BZG should be at about 0920, half an hour tardy.

VA814, the 0745 hours on the same route was airborne at 0829. Arrival is expected 32 minutes late at 0952 hours. Aircraft is VH-VUR, also a B738.

The 0715 hours SYD - PER (A332 VH-XFJ) was not airborne until 0813 and is battling the winds enroute, so arrival is predicted to be 46 late at 1006 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Quickstatus just kindly advised me that as at 1615 on Monday 5 December 2016, SYD airport operations have been grounded due to impending thunderstorm activity.

This will naturally cause numerous delays and presumably cancellations for the rest of the evening.

UPDATE: As at about 1626 hours, operations have resumed. VA654 (1535 hours SYD - CBR, E190 Vh-ZPC) was queued for takeoff at 1640 hours, so it will be about an hour late into the national capital - at least.

VA850 (1500 hours from SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-VOS) appeared not to have moved from its gate by 1639 hours, so it will be well over an hour late arriving in the southern capital.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the afternoon Monday 5 December thunderstorms in SYD, it looks like VA1472 (1315 hours MKY to SYD that took off at 1307 hours, E190 VH-ZPH) may be heading for CBR where arrival should be in the realm of 1720 hours. The flight is due into SYD at 1630 hours.

 

[andyhui01]

Not to mention cancelled 6:30 and 7am SYD-MEL this morning. argh

 

[Melburnian1]

andyhui01, as AFF member Quickstatus often reminds us, the major airlines (to save money) are now practising 'capacity management' on the major routes with advertised higher frequencies.

You are the loser as flights are combined.

The monthly cancellation percentage of flights (including flights cancelled within a week prior to timetabled departure) can be as high as six per cent. Very poor, and by no means all due to adverse weather or staff absences.

It would be extremely unusual for this to occur on a high speed train network such as the populous part of Australia in the southeast should have.

 

[andyhui01]

andyhui01, as AFF member Quickstatus often reminds us, the major airlines (to save money) are now practising 'capacity management' on the major routes with advertised higher frequencies..

I understand. It was a very Tiger and Jetstar thing to do. I'm not sure if EF can see past flight loadings but surely 6:30 and 7am flights SYD-MEL on a Monday can't be for capacity management. I often get this done to me on VA898 which is always on Sale which means poor loadings.

 

[vmile]

Quickstatus just kindly advised me that as at 1615 on Monday 5 December 2016, SYD airport operations have been grounded due to impending thunderstorm activity.

This will naturally cause numerous delays and presumably cancellations for the rest of the evening.

UPDATE: As at about 1626 hours, operations have resumed.

Many Thanks Melburnian1, currently sitting in the VA ADL lounge waiting for VA437 to SYD, where no one knows nothing.


TripAdviser, TripCase going crazy

 

[Melburnian1]

Examples of further SYD-thunderstorm related delays on Monday 5 December 2016 include VA981, the 1900 hours SYD - BNE that took off at 2026 for a projected 66 minute delayed arrival of 2036, and VA1429 (1845 hours SYD up to CNS) that was airborne at 2036 for a suggested at gate arrival of 2214 in lieu of 2050 hours. Latter's aircraft is VH-YFI, a B738.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 6 December, VA904 (0530 hours BNE - SYD) did not take off until 0633, so arrival is suggested as 0854, 49 minutes late. Aircraft is B738 VH-VOL.

VA1100, the 0600 hours BNE - NTL (E190 VH-ZPT) is also late with it in the sky at 0654; it should arrive at roughly 0859 hours, 39 minutes tardy.

The 0555 hours from BNE down to MEL, VA304 is similarly afflicted with it becoming airborne at 0652. B738 Vh-VUU should arrive at 1003 hours, 48 late.

Some QF flights are also delayed ex BNE.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 7 December has VA809, the 0645 hours MEL - SYD cancelled.

 

[Quickstatus]

Breaking news

This morning 7/12/16:
VH-YFT operating HBA-SYD collided with VH-VUP another VA737 being prepped for the morning's HBA-MEL mission VA1321 at the ramp causing wingtip damage. Both grounded. Subsequent flights also cancelled: For VH-VUP it was MEL-ADL-MEL VA229/VA232.

Last night 6/12/16:
VA 737 VH-VUI operating VA1465 MEL-DRW nonstop ran off runway at DRW after landing. Subsequent flights today by this aircraft DRW-ASP-ADL-ASP-DRW has been cancelled.

So : 3 x VA 737 grounded at non VA hub airports.

 

[Melburnian1]

Here is a media article:

'Almighty shudder' felt as two Virgin Australia planes make contact on tarmac in Hobart - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[flydoc]

One wonders
- if any passengers on the cancelled DRW-ASP-ADL and return flights were rebooked on the alternate QF services, and how many have been delayed until tomorrow mornings VA service.
- if consideration was given to flying an aircraft into DRW overnight to operate the cancelled services, or to operating an ADL-ASP service to cater for the sectors which usually have the higher passenger loading.
Without intending to sound unduly critical, these knock-ons following the Darwin incident will only increase the perception of the unreliability of VA flying this route 3 times weekly

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 8 December, the 0655 hours BNE - MEL, VA308 has been cancelled as was VA800, the first of the morning at a normally timetabled 0600 hours from SYD down to MEL. VA804, the 0630 SYD - MEL also got the gong.

Much later today, VA870 (1730 hours SYD - MEL) is also not running.

VA321 and VA833, both of which are timetabled 1000 departures from MEL respectively to BNE and SYD are also cancelled. So is VA327, the 1200 from MEL to BNE, meaning a two hour VA gap between flights on Australia's third busiest domestic air route.

Some of these cancellations may be as a result of the rather 'touching' frolic at HBA yesterday to which AFF member Quickstatus drew our attention.

Here is another media article that briefly refers to the DRW 'runway excursion' and features a stupid (and untrue) comment from a VA spokesman that it has 'sufficient aircraft' to replace the three that were inoperable. Note the single reader comment response at bottom that is oh so true - could this be the redoubtable Quickstatus at work:

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/north...g/news-story/b6391bfaf7ebfaeee69399a5a2fb60ae

Why do spokesman and spokeswomen for Australia's domestic airlines persist in making untrue statements to the media, routinely underplaying the extent of delays and unseemly incidents? QF, JQ and TT are as guilty of this as VA.

 

[Quickstatus]

Here is another media article that briefly refers to the DRW 'runway excursion' and features a stupid (and untrue) comment from a VA spokesman that it has 'sufficient aircraft' to replace the three that were inoperable. Note the single reader comment response at bottom that is oh so true - could this be the redoubtable Quickstatus at work:

http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/north...g/news-story/b6391bfaf7ebfaeee69399a5a2fb60ae

Alas not me. .

Not only the airlines but airports. Remember the recent Sydney thunderstorms and the airport spokesman saying the airport remained open and aircraft can take off and land?. Just spin/half-truths. yes aircraft can land - if they can get to the runway but no one to pushback from the gate and refuel and the pilots can't even do walkaround check, and yes they can land but there is no one to guide the aircraft to the gate and chock wheels, refuel etc.


VH-VUI (DRW runway excursion) is not going to operate 9/12/16 VA303 and VA334 MEL-BNE-MEL return (at least)
VH-VUP is unable to operate 8/12/16 VA877 MEL-SYD so that flight is cancelled
VH-YFT no news

VH-VUR rescued VH-VUP but in doing so was unable to operate the 7/12/16 afternoon's MEL-ADL-MEL VA229/232

So much for "sufficient" replacement aircraft..





(according the FR24)

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Thursday 8 December 2016, VA679 (the 0915 hours MEL to PER, A332 VH-XFH) was airborne at 1020. Arrival should be at 1112, 42 minutes late.

The 0855 hours BNE - MEL, VA318 (B738 VH-VUG) was in the sky at 0938, so arrival is predicted for 1251, 36 minutes tardy.

VA1321 (1030 HBA up to MEL that took off at 1130, VH-VUR, a B738) should arrive at about 1258, 68 minutes behind schedule.