Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[andyhui01]

I think 86 was a delayed departure due to expected fog this morning. Maybe the VA800s were cancelled due to fog as well

 

[Melburnian1]

I think 86 was a delayed departure due to expected fog this morning. Maybe the VA800s were cancelled due to fog as well

Always possible, but the other airlines do not appear to have had cancellations to the same degree.

With fog in CBR, VA632 (0805 ex SYD) did not become airborne until 0936. As at 1015, it was in a holding pattern southeast of Goulburn NSW.

 

[Melburnian1]

It seems there was fog earlier this morning in ABX. On Tuesday 1 August 2017, VA1175 (1010 hours ABX - SYD) took off at 1110; arrival should be at 1227, 57 late for ATR 72 VH-VPJ.

 

[andyhui01]

Always possible, but the other airlines do not appear to have had cancellations to the same degree.

With fog in CBR, VA632 (0805 ex SYD) did not become airborne until 0936. As at 1015, it was in a holding pattern southeast of Goulburn NSW.

The only reason I knew about 86 being delayed was because I saw this post on fb

In J On va86 tonight Hong Kong to Melbourne tonight and Virgin have taken the decision to delay the departure by 2 and a half hours as there is a threat of fog at Melbourne in the morning. Very disappointed as Iv had to cancel half a mornings work as a result. The VA Facebook team have confirmed the reason and it was to avoid ' possibly having to divert to another port'. Qf30 and cx105 on the other hand are departing on time and seem to be willing to absorb the costs of a possible diversion. Would greatly influence me in future to fly the competitors as I this delay has cost me business and money. I feel this decision is more one that would be made by a LCC than a premium airline. Thoughts ?

I'm not sure. Who's decision would it be to hold back departure? Ops or the Captain?

 

[Melburnian1]

While few of us want to be the 'boy who cried wolf', on Wednesday 2 August there is a fair chance of fog in not just CBR but MEL as well, and possibly even late tonight in MEL. If that does occur and it is severe, expect diversions. Note VA's alleged caution for VA86 arriving in MEL on Tuesday 1 August. Will that repeat on future 'possibly foggy' mornings?

Perhaps reflecting its operational conservatism, VA has cancelled VA809, 0645 hours MEL - SYD on Wednesday 2 August as well as VA257, 0700 hours MERL - CBR. VA319 (0900 hours MEL up to BNE) and VA827 (0900 hours MEL - SYD) have also got the boot.

Southbound from SYD to MEL on 2 August, VA804 and VA812, respectively the 0630 and 0730 hours departures are also cancelled as is VA304, the scheduled 0820 hours arrioval in MEL ex BNE. VA256, the mid morning timetabled 0950 hours arrival in MEL ex CBR is also not operating on 2 August.

In fairness, competitor QF406 (0645 hours MEL - SYD) is also to be cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a foggy Wednesday 2 August 2017 in MEL, VA252 (0620 hours CBR - MEL that took off at 0627, B738 VH-VUV) had a missed approach at 0733 hours. If itr manages to make it in it will become a fair bit later than its 0730 scheduled arrival, as quite a few aircraft including international flights are in holds.

Slightly before VA252, VA1313 (0600 HBA up to MEL that had taken off at 0609 with VH-VUA) also had a missed approach. It then tried unsuccessfully to land at AVV, and as at 0810 hours was still in a hold over Laveron, Vic.

As at 0745 hours, all domestic departures from MEL are taking off to the west so there is a long queue with VA309 (0700 hours MEL - BNE, B738 VH-VUT) taking off at 0803 so it will be at least 45 minutes late arriving at the BNE allocated airport gate.

UPDATE: VA252 as at 0809 was diverting to SYD.

VA1313 landed at 0825 hours, about 75 minutes late.

VA815 (0730 hours MEL - SYD, B738 VH-YFL) took off at 0837 to the west.

 

[Melburnian1]

With the earlier fog in MEL, delays are continuing with VA819, the 0800 hours MEL - SYD (B738 VH-VUF) taking off at 0902, so arrival is predicted at 1010, 45 late.

VA808 (B738 VH-VUX, the 0700 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 0719 hours) has had a very slow run to MEL with an extensive holding pattern above Mt Buller (Vic) so arrival should be at around 0930 hours, 55 minutes tardy.

VA810, the 0715 hours departure on the same route (B738 VH-VUE) should arrive at 0937, 47 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA86 ended up being delayed a lot more than the above comments indicate. The Wednesday 2 August scheduled MEL arrival at 0720 hours became 1845 or so, but A332 VH-XFG may not have yet left HKG by 1857 (HKG time) on 2 August. Advice from others on this would be great as I may have missed something.

On Wednesday 2 August, VA693 (B738 VH-YFC, the 1815 hours early evening MEL across to PER that did not take off until 2105) should arrive at 2248, 128 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA908 (Thursday 3 August 0600 hours from BNE down to SYD, B738 VH-VUG) was not in the sky until 0722, so the unavoidable result is forecast arrival at 0846 hours, 71 late.

On the same route and in the same direction, VA920 (0735 hours that was airborne at 0854 with VH-YFK) should pull in at 1011, 61 minutes behind the eight ball.

 

[Melburnian1]

Much later on what has become a gentle night of rain in Melbourne, VA346 (Thursday 3 August 1755 hours BNE - MEL that was airborne at 1832 with B738 VH-VUJ) should arrive at 2102 hours, 52 minutes behind schedule.

The 1900 hours SYD - MEL that did not reach skywards until 1957, VA882 (B738 VH-VUS) remained in a hold above Mt Buller, Vic at 2055 hours but was expected to arrive at roughly 2136, 61 minutes behind the eight ball.

VA242 (1905 hours ADL - MEL with B738 VH-YFG) took off at 1925 but has been in a hold above Bendigo and so should arrive at approximately 2125, half an hour tardy.

VA978 (early evening 1805 hours BNE down to SYD with B738 VH-VUA) arrived at 2115 hours, 95 late.

The 1910 hours SYD up to OOL (VA543 - B738 VH-YFP) was still waiting to take off at 2110 hours, long after it was due in the entertainment capital.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 4 August 2017 has VA555 (A332 VH-XFE, the 0905 hours SYD - PER that took off at a much delayed 1056) likely to arrive at 1337 this afternoon, 82 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 4 August, VA688 (1330 hours PER - MEL that was airborne at 1507 with A332 VH-XFE) should arrive at 2019, 79 late. The previous post shows how this aircraft has been late all day.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 5 August sees VA1531 (B738 VH-YFU, the 1005 hours HBA - SYD that was airborne at 1049) arriving at 1236, 41 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The very early start VA1255 (0555 hours BNE - EMD) on Monday 7 August (F70 VH-NKU) took off at 0646 so estimated arrival has become 70 minutes behind schedule at 0805 hours.

VA823 (B738 VH-YIG, 0830 hours MEL up to SYD that was in the sky at 0935) should be 46 minutes late arriving at 1041 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 7 August (VA323, 1100 hours MEL - BNE that was in the sky at 1156 with B738 VH-YFN) is suggested as arriving at 1349, 39 minutes late.)

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 8 August 2017's morning there is fog in ADL so along with SQ279 and QF671, as at 0830 AEST VA211 (0705 hours MEL - ADL that took off promptly at 0715 with B738 VH-YFJ) was holding northeast of the airport. It landed in ADL at 0816 hours.

VA713 (0630 hours ADL - PER, B738 VH-YIB) was in teh sky at 0724; arrival should be at 0913 hours, 43 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Tuesday 8 August, VA9308 from ONS down to PER, the 1815 hours that was airborne at 1921 should arrive at 2059 tonight, 44 minutes late. F100 VH-FNU has the honours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 9 August sees VA309, the early morning 0700 hours MEL up to BNE (B738 VH-YFR) in the sky at 0802; arrival should occur at 0945 hours, 35 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 10 August, VA1508 (1225 hours lunchtime from MCY down to MEL, B738 VH-VOS) was airborne at 1324 and so is arriving at 1552, 57 minutes behind the schedule.

The MEL - LST VA1371, the 1455, took off at 1520 with B738 VH-VUY. It is travelling on an unusual route (slowed down) and should arrive 45 late at 1640.

UPDATE: With some air traffic congestion in MEL during the early evening of Thursday 10 - not all that unusual later in the week on a weekday - VA868 (1715 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 1747 about 20 minutes late with B738 VH-YIG) looks to be arriving 33 late at 1923.

VA341 (B738 VH-VOM, the 1700 hours MEL up to BNE that was pointing heavenswards at 1744) looks to be arriving at 1945 this evening, 35 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA213, Friday 11 August 0805 MEL across to ADL was airborne at 0856 with B738 VH-VUY. Arrival is estimated at 0937 hours, 37 minutes behind schedule.