Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

VA816 (0800 ex SYD) took off at 0839 so MEL arrival of B738 VH-BZG should be at 1013, 38 late, so quite similar to VA810 above.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Today's VA41 BNE-DPS diverted to DRW. Reason unknown. It's now underway again.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to the early morning 0520 hours SYD radar failure there are many delays and some cancellations (with more of the latter likely) as school holidays commence on Monday 25 September.

VA807, the 0630 hours MEL up to SYD and VA813, the 0715 hours have been cancelled as has VA823 on teh same route, the timetabled 0830 hours departure. The 0645 hours SYD down to MEL, VA806 has also got the boot as has VA810, the 0715 hours and much later, VA832, the 1030 hours southbound.

VA800, first of the morning at a timetabled 0700 from SYD to MEL (B738 VH-VOM) was airborne at 0712 so arrival should be 62 late at 0837.

VA905 (0630 hours SYD up to BNE, B738 VH-VOL) was in the sky at 0724 with arrival suggested at 0839, 39 minutes late.

 

[AviatorInsight]

VA511 SYD-OOL and VA518 OOL-SYD have both been cancelled also.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with the many delays of Monday 25 September, VA803, first of the morning at a timetabled 0600 from MEL to SYD was airborne at 0750 with B738 VH-VUY. Arrival is predicted for 0854, 89 late.

Southbound VA804 from SYD to MEL, the 0630 hours with B738 VH-XFD took off at 0734 so arrival is estimated at 0852, 47 minutes late.

VA625, the 0600 hours CBR - SYD short hop with ATR72 VH-FVI took off at 0755. Arrival should be at about 0839, 99 minutes behind schedule.

VA909 (0700 SYD up to BNE, B738 VH-YIF) got off comparatively lightly with takeoff at 0755. Arrival is suggested as 0901 hours, 31 late which in the circumstances is a good effort.

At least some flights are moving but given the typically heavier passenger loadings of offpeak flights during school holidays, if more flights get the boot many passengers will have to wait for some time to get be allocated a seat. In these circumstances one must feel sorriest for the elderly and mothers travelling with infants and small children, for whom delays must be difficult.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Monday 25 September, VA808 (0700 SYD - MEL) took off at 0814 so arrival of B738 VH-VUJ should be at about 0937, 62 late.

The following VA812 is a bit better with this 0730 hours SYD - MEL likely to arrive at 0947, 42 late. Aircraft is VH-YIE.

Popular, attractively configured seating wise A332 VH-XFE with 'The Business', the 0715 hours SYD across to PER (VA551) was airborne at 0832. Arrival is suggested at 1144 hours, 79 minutes late. This is an example of a plane that may not undertake many sectors today but where it will run late all day as it would be extremely difficult to cancel a transcontinental flight as the frequencies are lower than on route like SYD - BNE or MEL - SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Delays are continuing into the afternoon of Monday 25 September with VA321 (1000 MEL - BNE, B738 VH-YFW) not becoming airborne until 1211. Expected arrival is 1355 hours, 105 minutes late.

The 0945 hours SYD up to DRW (VA1351, B738 VH-YFN) has fared worse, with takeoff at 1309 this afternoon meaning predicted arrival at 1656 hours, 171 minutes behind schedule.

VA834 (1100 hours late morning SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-YFH) took off at 1301 this afternoon. Suggested arrival is 1427, 112 minutes late and not all that far behind its QF colleague QF427.

The 1155 hours BNE - MEL may be flying some distance from Sydney on this flight but is another flight affected with takeoff at 1241 hours for B738 VH-VUZ. Arrival is estimated at 1503 hours, 43 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Monday 25 September, delays are continuing since this morning's radar failure in Sydney, with VA859, the 1600 hours MEL up to SYD (B738 VH-YFP) taking off at 1714. Arrival is predicted as 1815 hours, 50 minutes late.

VA24, normally the early morning 0545 hours arrival in MEL ex LAX has been delayed for 13 hours. B773ER VH-VPD looks to be arriving at about 1845. This aircraft will then turn around straight away and operate what is said to be the 2030 hours MEL - LAX (VA23, which is usually timed to depart at 1130 so it will be at least eight hours late, probably a bit more, arriving in the screen stars' city.)

 

[Melburnian1]

Delays are continuing up until stumps on Monday 25 September with VA1226 (1915 hours BNE down to CBR that took off at 2131, B738 VH-YFY) expected to arrive at 2322, 137 minutes late.

VA898 (2200 late night SYD down to MEL with B738 VH-YFW) was airborne at 2237; arrival is predicted for 0003 hours on Tuesday 26, 28 minutes late.

The 1940 hours arrival in MEL ex CBR, VA284 was cancelled as was VA238, the 1955 hours MEL arrival from ADL.

VA23, the 1130 hours MEL to LAX - see above - with B773ER VH-VPD that normally would depart the southern capital at 1130 proved to be delayed longer than its suggested 2030 hours mid evening departure. It took off at 2219 and is expected to arrive at 1854 on Monday 25 instead of 0900 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 26 September, VA871, the afternoon 1730 hours MEL - SYD has been cancelled, as is VA850 (1400 hours mid afternoon SYD - MEL.)

VA86 is about 100 minutes late with arrival expected shortly after 0900 on its HKG - MEL journey.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Tuesday 26 September, VA679 (0915 hours morning MEL across to PER, A332 VH-XFJ) did not become airborne until 1217 hours. Arrival in the west should be at 1429 hours, 174 late.

VA555, the 0935 hours SYD - PER is not quite as bad. It was in the sky at 1056 so a 1418 hours mid afternoon arrival is likely - 93 minutes behind time. VH-XFE has the task.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA804 (Wednesday 27 September 0630 hours SYD - MEL) took off about 13 minutes late at 0653 with arrival suggested as half an hour behind at 0835, showing yet again how ehen aircraft push back late further time may be lost at busier times due to the departure slot being missed. B738 VH-VUU has the task.

 

[Captain Halliday]

VA35 SYD-DPS is currently on the ground in DRW for a splash and dash.

Been a few of these with the 738 fleet this past week as they make sure they have enough juice to come back if required.

 

[Melburnian1]

Media (The Age, SMH) is reporting that a worldwide fault with Amadeus Altea software means passengers are unable to check in. I do not have a complete list of which airlines use this software.

QF is affected, but it says that flights are continuing to depart. VA uses this software so one assumes it is also adversely affected.

As I write (2125 AEST) it is a major check in time for a number of flights ex southeast and north Asia to east coast Australia. Sometimes these stories can be exaggerated as such problems might be fixed after a couple of hours. A bit early to tell..

 

[AviatorInsight]

All SYD and BNE to DPS until further notice will require a tech stop in DRW for fuel and crew change. Also, I believe the outbounds have all been delayed to give minimum time on the ground in DPS.

 

[Melburnian1]

Aviator Insight, if I recall correctly that strategy of a northbound stop in DRW was employed by VA (and perhaps others) last time there were volcanic eruptions threatening in Bali.

An ANU Professor quoted by the News Ltd site claims that there is a 70 to 80 per cent chance Mt Agung will erupt this week and 90 per cent chance 'within months.'

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1627 (1020 hours 'tourist special' from SYD across to AYQ, B738 VH-BZG) was airborne on Saturday 30 September at 1053. Arrival is predicted as 1401 hours, 31 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

An Optus systems 'outage' (euphemistically referred to as a 'glitch' delayed thousands of passengers on Sunday 1 October, including the defeated Adelaide Crows AFL football players and officials:

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VA43 (1415 hours BNE up to DRW, B738 VH-YIM) took off at 1506 hours mid afternoon on Sunday 1 October 2017. Arrival should be at 1853 hours, 53 minutes behind time.

The 1455 hours similarly timed SYD - DRW (VA37, VH-YIJ) was airborne at 1606, with arrival predicted at 1902, 52 minutes late.

The 0915 hours PER - BNE transcontinental flight, VA467 took off at 1120 hours despite its 0915 hours timetabled push back, so arrival is forecast for 1728 rather than 1540.

VA1294 (1200 'high noon' CNS down to MEL with B738 VH-VUY was in the sky at 1458. Arrival is suggested at 1858, 153 minutes late.

VA1421, the 1410 hours SYD - CNS with B738 VH-YFZ pointed skywards at 1519; arrival should be at 1720 hours, 55 minutes behind.

A332 VH-XFH on VA685, the 1245 hours lunchtime from MEL across to PER was not airborne until 1448 so arroval has been delayed to an estimated 1528, 78 minutes tardy.

 

[Flyerqf]

VA562 is delayed 8 hours due to the system glitch and then Sydney curfew.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Sunday 1 October 2017, VA347 (1800 hours MEL - BNE, B738 VH-VUA) took off at 1925 so arrival has become an estimated 75 late at 2025 hours.

The 1710 hours MEL - OOL (VA753, VH-YIR) was airborne at 1932. Predicted arrival is 128 minutes late at 2023 hours.

VA867 (1700 hours from MEL up to SYD, B738 VH-YID) was in the sky at 1915 hours; arrival should be at 2030, 125 minutes tardy.

The CBR up to BNE VA1225 (the scheduled 1725 hours departure) was airborne at 1931, meaning a suggested 2006 hours, 121 minutes late arrival for B737 VH-VBY, one of only two B737s (as distinct from B737-800s) remaining with VA.

The 1830 hours early evening VA1429 (B738 VH-VUH that took off at 1951) is predicted to arrive at about 2153 hours, 68 minutes late.

VA346 (1755 hours BNE - MEL that was in the sky at 1915 with B738 VH-VUS) should pull in at 2214 tonight, 54 late.