Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Storm cells above SYD seem to have led to some delays early this evening, with not many departures, if any for a while and perhaps other delay-causing problems such as inability to unload or load luggage from B738s or A320s and smaller aircraft.

VA969, the 1730 to BNE, took off from SYD at 1836 on Sunday 1 November and is forecast to arrive BNE 55 minutes behind time at 1855. VA973, the 1800 hours to BNE and VA436, the timetabled 1810 hours to ADL are in or joining the queue to depart, which in both cases is at least a few minutes off as I write at 1850.

 

[Melburnian1]

Unlikely to have been helped by today's on-again, off-again storms (punctuated in the Melbourne CBD by fine weather - such is life in the 'city of four seasons in a day'), VA853, the 1500 hours from MEL to SYD on Thursday 5 November did not take off until 1550 hours, while VA877, the 1815 hours departure on the same route did not take off until 1902 with its load of happy punters ex Oaks Day taking all their winnings to bank vaults in Old Sydney Town.

VA351, the 1900 hours MEL - BNE and VA885, the 1915 from MEL to SYD have both 'got the gong' tonight while VA243 is expected to be an hour late departing MEL at 2040 tonight for ADL with the normally following VA247, the true 2040 hours departure on the same route anoether cancellation this evening.

VA669, the 1905 hours from CBR for the short hop to SYD has not long taken off and is due in SYD at what FR24 claims to be 2125 (however it looks more like 2040 or so) in lieu of 2005, being operated by ATR 72-600 VH-FVR

 

[Melburnian1]

With a second day of inclement weather along some of Oz's east coast, VA has been affected adversely. VA866, operated by B738 VH-YFF is about to arrive in MEL at about 1952 when it was timetabled to the gate at 1835. VA1375 (operated by VH-YFG, another B738) from LST to MEL is the 1835 hours arrival but it looks like being at the terminal at about 2020 hours.

VA1851 from KGI to MEL is expected to arrive at 2027 instead of 1905 with B737 VH-VBZ doing the honours.

VA134 is the 1915 hours from SYD to CHC but it is as yet not off blocks at 1954. VH-YIG (B738) is operating this one.

 

[JohnK]

Feeling the delays at OOL tonight.

VA540 appears to be 1h 45m late, VA544 1h 20m late and VA546 is simply delayed.

With VA546 due into SYD ~22:35 any delay and it will struggle to make curfew. In fact VA544 may struggle with curfew as well.

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnK,on which flight are you booked and to where?

 

[JohnK]

I am on VA540 OOL-SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnK, VA546 has been cancelled as you implied would be the case.

 

[JohnK]

I thought so. When I checked in 3 hours ago VA540 was half full. It is now full and they paged a few people in lounge for op-up.

We have boarded but still no sign of take off yet.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA540 took off from OOL at 2007 (its pushback scheduled time was 1805, so it is about an hour and 45 minutes late ex the Gold Coast) and may arrive in SYD at about 2215, an hour and 40 down.

VA544, the 1905 hours from OOL to SYD is apparently boarding: it needs to leave within the next 20 - 25 minutes to be assured of making the 2300 hours curfew, notwithstanding that the tech crew will do their best to save every second.

 

[JohnK]

I don't doubt both flights were delayed but I suspect both were intentionally delayed further to cater for passengers from cancelled VA546. I need to look at Flightstats but the incoming flight for VA540 looked to be there a while before boarding called.

Trust me to be a sceptic.

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnK, what you say is logical, so you're not being sceptical on this occasion. Passengers do turn up at the last moment, especially those who consider themselves the most important of all of us. There were presumably reservations to change with not a lot of notice.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 8 November 2015 is a pleasant day weather wise in much of Oz, it appears, but VA868 (VH-VUZ, a B738) took off from SYD at 1833, 78 minutes after its timetabled departure of 1715 hours and hence will be at the MEL airport gate at 1942 not 1850 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Another pleasant Sunday like the one a week ago, but VA214,B738 VH-VBY departed ADL at about 1500 this afternoon instead of 0935 this morning and will shortly be in MEL at 1552 instead of its timetabled 1125.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight redeye from PER to MEL, VA696 arrived at MEL at 0807 this morning (Monday 16 November) in lieu of the scheduled 0510 hours. In consequence, VA677 to PER has been delayed ex MEL from 0715 to an estimated 0900 departure for the Golden West. VA682 returning from PER to MEL should arrive at 1755 instead of 1620 this afternoon. VA691 later in the day is expected to be an hour and a half late departing from MEL on its transcontinental westwards journey - 1905 hours instead of 1735.

VA926 (B738 VH-VOK) from MEL to SYD, the 0745 hours departure, did not take off on 16 November until 0926 and will not therefore arrive in SYD until an estimated 1036, 86 minutes late.

VA913, the 0730 from SYD north to BNE took off at 0930 and is due in BNE at an amended 0942 instead of 0800, with VH-VUP, a B738, undertaking the task.

Weather wise, a benign day for flying but it further demonstrates that not all delays are due to God or Mother Nature.

 

[Melburnian1]

In a further example of how it can sometimes be quicker to travel by train from Sydney to Canberra on a NSWTrainLink Xplorer, drive or (shudder) sit on a bus, VA670 (ATR72-600 VH-FVN) was timetabled ex SYD on Wednesday 18 November at 1905 but took off at 2207 with likely arrival in CBR at 2252 instead of 2007.

Earlier today, VA652, the midafternoon 1435 hours from SYD to CBR was cancelled. Northbound, VA657 ex CBR, the 1605 hours flight was naturally also cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1179 on Friday 20 November 2015, the 1640 ex ABX took off at 1839 and is in a holding pattern approaching SYD, where it may be at the gate at about 2006, 131 minutes behind time.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 21 November, VA1519 from SYD to TSV, the 0955 hours departure did not take off until 1327 with arrival expected at 1448 not 1140. Plane is B738 VH-YFE.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 22 November's VA182 from NAN to SYD is 55 minutes late on Sunday 22 November and expected at 2120 this evening.

 

[Melburnian1]

Some of we mere east coast Oz mortals who do not often visit WA may forget how busy PER can be.

This evening (Tuesday 24 November), VA694, the 1715 to MEL operated by A332 VH-XFD did not take off until 1850, more than an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 2000 hours VA989 from SYD to BNE on Thursday 26 November 2015 (aircraft VH-VOL, a B738) took off from SYD at 2210 and with the minus one hour time difference should be in BNE at 2218, 108 minutes late.

VA474 from BNE to PER has been as a result delayed from 2030 to a forecast 2300 hours in its late evening departure. While many of us have sat in B737s or B738s for five hours or more, they are not my favourite aircraft for a flight such as this. PER arrival on Friday 27 November is predicted at 0228 in lieu of 0005.