Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

It looks like insufficient bookings.

In the latest month for which results have been released, SYD - MEL - SYD had a cancellation rate of as much as 7.5 per cent. This is extremely high. Compare it with surface transport such as Sydney Trains or Metro Trains Melbourne - usually 0.5 per cent to a maximum of two per cent a month.

Some was due to adverse weather, but numerous other reasons including low bookings would have played a part. I'm guessing that a return SYD - MEL B738 flight might cost $30,000 to operate, so if passenger loads booked can be combined onto two flights instead of three, or one instead of two, that's a saving that adds up.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Sorry but comparing a domestic rail service to an airline is not valid. They are similar in a number of ways but not in this way.

 

[Quickstatus]

The 0900 flight my friend was shifted to was not full with several spare seats.

 

[Melburnian1]

Must...Fly!, granted, the modes differ but it was more to show what is acceptable in another subsector. 7.5 per cent of flights cancelled is very high.

On Monday 30 October, VA164, the early morning MEL - AKL (B738 VH-YIR) at a scheduled 0630 hours did not depart until 0817 and take off until 0836, so likely arrival has become 1349 hours, 99 minutes tardy. This plane had arrived in MEL last night as VA184 ex NAN so it was not a late inbound that delayed it this morning. Its next flight, VA111, the 1335 hours AKL - OOL will also be delayed, as will VA110, the mid afternoon 1450 hours OOL - AKL. This aircraft then overnights at AKL.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

In the latest month for which results have been released, SYD - MEL - SYD had a cancellation rate of as much as 7.5 per cent. This is extremely high.

And the highest - Flights between Canberra and Sydney most likely to be cancelled, new data shows - Canberra Times

Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development statistics from September showed cancellations were highest on Canberra to Sydney and Sydney to Canberra flights at 8.1 per cent, ahead Sydney to Melbourne flights at 7.5 per cent and Melbourne to Sydney at 7.4 per cent.

There were 59 cancelled flights on both the Canberra to Sydney route and Sydney to Canberra, far higher than the 30 cancellations between Canberra and Melbourne in the same period.

 

[Melburnian1]

Strategic Aviation, as usual, good point.

The airline cancellation rates into and out of Canberra are very poor compared with what high speed trains worldwide can achieve: reliability, fast CBD to CBD transit times for distances under 1000 kilometres and great punctuality are three of the benefits.

Many flights, in contrast do not run because the airlines (especially QF with its on paper excellent frequencies between CBR and SYD) "combine" flights and in the process delay passengers. Other delays can be weather related, or due to aircraft failures. All up, pretty unreliable: no wonder so many private citizens drive or catch the numerous buses, or the trains.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Canberra Airport asks federal government for help on cancelled Sydney flights - Canberra Times

Canberra Airport's owners have called for the federal government to investigate higher than average flight cancellation rates from Sydney and to consider introducing new national performance benchmarks.

Canberra Airport managing director Stephen Byron has approached Transport Minister Darren Chester calling for action.

"It's my view that there ought to be a national standard at which the federal government properly investigates the issue," he said.

"That should probably be a level of about 4 to 5 per cent of cancellation rate.

"I do think it's having an impact on the number of passengers. People have said to me the bus is more reliable. They have to contend with Sydney's roads and they still think the bus is a better option," Mr Byron said.

Qantas crews at Sydney Airport told ticket holders last week the repeated delays for flights to Canberra were caused by staffing shortages and competing priorities on other routes.

The airline is increasing use of 737 aircraft on Canberra routes and aims to re-book passengers from cancelled flights within 30 minutes to three hours.

A Qantas spokeswoman said the cancellations were caused by a range of factors.

The airline cancellation rates into and out of Canberra are very poor compared with what high speed trains worldwide can achieve: reliability, fast CBD to CBD transit times for distances under 1000 kilometres and great punctuality are three of the benefits.

A considerable benefit would also be freeing up SYD slots for more productive air services.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 2 November, there is quite a deal of holding into MEL with VA808, the 0700 SYD - MEL that took off at 0732 with B738 VH-YFU as a result set to arrive in MEL half an hour late at 0905.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Canberra Airport asks federal government for help on cancelled Sydney flights - Canberra Times












A considerable benefit would also be freeing up SYD slots for more productive air services.

Well intentioned I am sure but I can only see one of two things happening

1) Same services remain, prices stay same/drop to get bums on seats. Airlines absorb cost (hehehehe)
2) Reduction in frequency and available seats, prices go up

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 4 November, the LAX - SYD VA2 (B773ER VH-VPD) is arriving at about 0926, 71 minutes tardy. This will delay VA1 that on Saturdays at present has an earlier scheduled departure at 1015 hours. It should be able to get away at around the 1110 hours mark.

VA1291 (B738 VH-VUJ, the 0855 hours MEL - CNS that was in the sky at 0943) is predicted to arrive in the FNQ major centre at 1155, 35 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA166, Sunday 5 November's 0930 hours MEL - AKL is delayed by an expected two hours in its departure.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 5 November, B738 VH-VUC on VA281, the 1705 hours late afternoon MEL to CBR was in the sky at 1806. Arrival has blown out to a predicted 1858 hours, 48 late.

VA35 (1720 hours mid afternoon SYD - DPS, B738 VH-YIM) did not take off until 1938 hours, so arrival will be at 2246, 171 minutes late. VA36 thankfully has a timetabled turnaround in Bali that is greater than minimum, so VA36 back down overnight should be able to commence its pushback at around the 2330 hours mark.

 

[Quickstatus]

Insufficient bookings , insufficient aircraft or embellished schedule?
VH-VOK was due to operate the VA841 1200 MEL-SYd and was well positioned to operate that flight
Delayed to 1241hrs then cancelled but then operated VA1753 1150 MEL-HTI

A mole on the 1100 VA837 told me the reason their flight was also delayed to 1155 hrs was because to accomodate some of the already checked in passengers from VA841 and thunderstorm activity in SYD. Not surprisingly VA837 is completely full

YSSY ATIS reports only passing showers reducing visibility to 6km

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Monday 6 November 2017, VA938 (scheduled 1005 hours BNE down to SYD with B737 VH-VBZ) was in the sky at 1117 hours, so a 1342 hours arrival, 62 late is on the cards.

VA1516 is close behind with this 1005 hours OOL - SYD having become airborne at 1124 hours. Arrival should be 67 late at 1347 for VH-YFP.

 

[Quickstatus]

Runway activity during storm:

SYD airport according to my mole is on hold at the ramps. Announcements say airport closed to all incoming and departing aircraft
Thunderstorm activity perhaps.
...and the storm has hit.....

If this was equatorial Asia you could call it heavy monsoonal rain

Poor VA842 is stuck at the bottom of Rwy34 when the storm hit and closed the airport.

... +10min...Ok the sun has come out now....

 

[Melburnian1]

At 1349 hours on 6 November, VA417 (B738 VH-VUI, the 1100 hours ADL - SYD) was along with other aircraft holding south of SYD over Goulburn NSW. It had taken off at 1149 but will not arrive until at least 1420, 55 minutes tardy.

B738 VH-YID on VA1556 (scheduled 1140 hours HVB - SYD that was in the sky at 1341) should arrive at roughly 1521, 56 late but Sydney is busy with many inbound aircraft in holding patterns due to the storm to which Quickstatus refers.

 

[Quickstatus]

And approx 1 hour after Va837 passengers deplaned, checked luggage has still not appeared on the carousels for the flight and presumably many others

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 6 November, VA943 (1300 hours lunchtime from SYD up to BNE, B738 VH-YIA) was in the sky at 1423. Suggested arrival is 1438, 68 minutes tardy with the plane having an inland route to avoid the storm.

VA859 (1600 hours MEL - SYD) has been cancelled.

VA1594 did a good job getting out of NTL given the severe mid afternoon storms. B738 VH-YIB is operating this timetabled 1425 hours departure that was in the sky at 1538; arrival should be at 1659 hours, 59 minutes past the allotted.

 

[Melburnian1]

6 November 2017 also finds VA870 (1730 hours SYD down to MEL) cancelled as is VA664, the 1805 hours short hop SYD to CBR. VA989 (2000 hours evening from SYD up to BNE) is to suffer the same fate.

VA654, the 1705 hours SYD - CBR is expected to depart at 1900 along with VA1157 to TMW and VA660 to CBR.

The 2000 hours SYD - BNE VA989 has been cancelled. So has the identically timed competing QF flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1695 (2030 hours CBR - OOL on 6 November, B737 VH-VBY) took off punctually at 2043 but suffered two different holds, so arrival has become an estimated 2158 hours, 53 minutes behind schedule.