Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On 26 December 2018, VA327 (1200 'high noon' MEL - BNE) was cancelled.

VA1297 (1505 hours mid afternoon MEL up to CNS, B738 VH-YFZ) took off at 1548. Delayed arrival is estimated as 1832 hours, 62 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 27 December has VA1325, the 1315 hours from HBA up to MEL airborne at 1456 (B738 VH-VOT) pulling in to its gate at 1609 hours, 99 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 30 December's VA680 (B738 VH-YFI, the scheduled 0800 hours from PER to MEL airborne at 0907) should arrive at 1506 mid afternoon, 31 late.

 

[Silvia]

Continuing today, VA874 SYD-MEL (737 VH-YWD) the 18 00 service, recently airborne at 20 47, arrival is now revised to 22 05, 150 tardy.

Also, VH-YID has been delayed on the last 2 flights. VA1535 HBA-SYD, the 16 35 hours service departed at 18 15, with arrival at 19 52, 92 tardy. It later formed as VA569 SYD-PER, the 19 45 hours service which is currently taxing out of Sydney, so I'm assuming arrival into Perth will be at least an hour late.

VA894 SYD-MEL 21 00 hours cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 30 December, A332 VH-XFD on VA82, the 1915 hours HKG down to SYD did not take off until 2226, so on Monday 31, arrival should be at 1023 hours, 163 minutes tardy. This is due to VA69, the 1100 midmorning MEL - HKG on Sunday not becoming airborne until 1432 hours.

If this aircraft sticks to its published rotations, the 0935 hours SYD to PER (VA555), the 1250 hours PER - BNE (VA469) and the 2050 hours BNE across and down to PER (VA474) will all be delayed on 31 December.

 

[Silvia]

Also today, VA2 LAX-SYD was late, with arrival at 10 03, 68 min behind schedule. This will slightly delay departure of VA1 SYD-LAX which is now suggested for 11 55 (VH-VPF).

VA78 APW-SYD (738 VH-YIM) is now expected at 10 54, 79 min tardy.

VA163 SYD-ZQN 10 30 service has a revised departure at 11 35am (VH-YIU).

VA1174 SYD-ABX 10 05 hours service is delayed (VH-FVZ) with a suggested departure of 11 23. This means that VA1177 ABX-SYD will also be impacted, with a revised departure of 13 44.

VA318 BNE-MEL (VH-YFZ) was airborne at 9 45, now expected at 12 58, 43 behind.

VA938 BNE-SYD (VH-VOL) has a revised departure, now at 11 14.

VA827 MEL-SYD 9 00 hours service was cancelled.
VA1351 DRW-SYD 9 40 hours service also joins cancellations list.

 

[Melburnian1]

In the afternoon of Monday 31 December 2018, VA705 (1305 hours HBA up to BNE that was airborne at 1354 with B738 VH-VON) should arrive at 1522, 37 minutes late.

Southbound VA1641 from BNE down to LST (VH-VUA, the 1250 hours in the air at 1324) should be at its destination gate at roughly 1652 this afternoon, 32 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

With storms around Sydney in the late afternoon of Monday 31 December (downplayed by the weather bureau except for 'the west'), VA427 (B738 VH-VOO) spent some time on multiple racetrack holding circuits above Gunning NSW, so arrival has become an estimated 1809, 44 late.

VA556 has had a convoluted approach to SYD due to a storm cell. A332 VH-XFH on this 1045 hours PER - SYD that took off at 1056 should arrive at about 1816 hours, 31 late.

The 1700 hours SYD up to BNE, VA965 (B738 VH-VUI) was caught up in these weather-related delays and took off at 1814, meaning suggested arrival at 1828, 58 minutes down.

UPDATE: Due to the weather worsening, VA427 is further delayed with estimated arrival 1831 hours, 66 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more re the stormy early evening of 31 December 2018 adversely affecting flights bound for or departing from SYD, VA1535 (B738 VH-VOM, the 1635 hours afternoon HBA up to SYD that was airborne at 1655, about five minutes late) was held over Towrang NSW for some time but should arrive SYD at roughly 1903, 38 minutes tardy.

VA867, the 1700 hours MEL up to SYD that took off at 1723 with VH-YFX is a little ahead, so its arrival should be at around the 1900 hours mark, 35 late.

VH-YIU on VA162 from ZQN to SYD should be at its designated arrival gate at 1856, 71 late as it had become airborne at 1747, 87 minutes after timetabled pushback.

 

[Melburnian1]

By 1910 hours on Monday 31 December, very heavy rain looked to be falling over Sydney's CBD and airport so VA962 (B738 VH-VUL, the 1605 hours BNE down to SYD that was in the sky at 1625, only five late) was holding west of Hawkesbury River railway station, so arrival will be after 1921, so at least 41 late.

VA287 (VH-YVD, the 1845 hours MEL up to CBR airborne at 1932) should be at its destination gate at 2024 tonight, 34 minutes behind the timetable.

Southbound VA882, the 1900 hours SYD down to MEL has B738 VH-YIB and took off at 2013 so is about 50 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with 31 December, although SYD (airport) has only had 5mm of rain this evening thus far, airlines have still been disrupted as the storms did a fair job of almost enveloping Sydney at various times.

It's no surprise that SYD to PER evening flights are delayed with VA569 (1900 hours departure) not airborne until 2048. Arrival is suggested as 2217, 72 late for A332 VH-XFH.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 2 January 2019, VA1281 (B738 VH-YFT, the 0950 hours SYD - HTI) took off at 1034 so delayed arrival is 1150, half an hour tardy.

VA830, the 1000 SYD down to MEL has B738 VH-YFR and was still taxiing in SYD at 1053, so will be at least half an hour late arriving in the southern capital.

A332 VH-XFG on VA555, the 0935 hours SYD - PER had not departed by 1055 so will be at least 55 minutes late arriving at its Perth allocated gate. Scheduled arrival is 1140 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 2 January 2019, VA691 (1735 hours MEL across to PER, A332 VH-XFH) took off an hour later. Expected arrival is 1931 hours tonight, 41 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thanks to Quickstaus' eagle eye, we can know about this article posted at 1626 hours (afternoon) of Wednesday 2 January 2019 re delays to VA (and JQ) flights from that terminal at SYD:

Worst day to travel: Airport passengers affected by mass delays and crowding

 

[Quickstatus]

In that article SYD reported only a few flights delayed in the 0715-0730 slot.

What then was the root cause?. Too many people travelling with checked luggage with checkin issues?

I thought overall airport/airline operations into the new year were orderly and was surprised when this article was posted.

 

[Quickstatus]

Happy New Year @Melburnian1 !!!

 

[Melburnian1]

In that article SYD reported only a few flights delayed in the 0715-0730 slot.

What then was the root cause?. Too many people travelling with checked luggage with checkin issues?

I thought overall airport/airline operations into the new year were orderly and was surprised when this article was posted.

All true, but much as I prefer VA to JQ, QF or TT, I have found in the past that when disruptions occur, VA just goes to water. QF isn't much better, and JQ and TT worst of all. I too completely missed this yesterday but that's a function of being 707 air kilometres, 880 road km or 960 rail km away.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1593 (1215 hours MEL up to NTL, B738 VH-VOM on Friday 4 January 2019) took off at 1309 so consequent arrival is expected as 1426, 41 late.

On its return down to MEL as VA1594, the aircraft is expected to arrive at 1643, 43 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

After an extremely hot (for Melbourne) mid arvo, the Friday 4 January 2019 southerly cool change arrived in the southern suburbs at about 1600 and at MEL at about 1640 hours. VA228 (B738 VH-YWE, the 1505 hours ADL - MEL that was in the sky early at 1513) had a missed approach on runway 27 at about 1646. Scheduled arrival is 1655. Winds are blustery with gusts of up to 52kmh.

At about 1658, using runway 16, VA228 had a second missed approach. BOM suggests winds at Melbourne Airport are at 41kmh, gusting to 59kmh.

 

[Melburnian1]

Much later on 4 January 2019, VA894 (B738 VH-VUW, the 2100 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 2219) is arriving at 2326 hours, 51 late.