Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

VA701, Saturday 5 January HBA up to SYD has B738 VH-YFN. This 0715 hours departure was in the sky at 0802, so arrival is estimated at 0935, 40 late.

A332 VH-XFG on VA679 (0915 hours MEL - PER) took off at 1029 with arrival at 1131 suggested, 61 late. Earlier, itr arrived 10 minutes early at 0500 hours on VA696 ex PER so no obvious reason for the delay.

VH-XFE on the 1015 hours SYD - HKG VA83 is delayed until 1245 in its departure, so one of the overnights back from HKG tonight will be delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA935, the Saturday 5 January SYD up to BNE (B738 VH-VOM) had yet to take off by 1155, so will be at least 40 late arrriving.

VA1 (1115 hours SYD - LAX, B773ER VH-VPE) departed at 1156 but did not take off until 1253 hours. Arrival should be at 0636 hours, 31 late.

the delayed SYD - HKG VA83 was in the sky at 1251 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

With storms in Sydney from about 1715 hours on Saturday 5 January 2019, VA1535, the 1635 hours afternoon HBA - SYD that was airborne early at 1644 (B738 VH-VOT) held above Cooma for a long time but is arriving at 1932 hours, 67 late. At least it made it unlike QF28 ex SCL (divert to BNE) and a QF ex-AKL flight (divert to MEL).

VA867, 1700 hours MEL up to SYD with B738 VH-VOP took off at a late 1857 and as at 1936 remained in a holding pattern above Tumut NSW, so it will arrive after 2000 hours. Timetabled arrival is 1825.

The 1500 hours mid afternoon CNS down to SYD, VA1422 (VH-YFI) airborne at 1548 should arrive at about 1947, 47 late.

VA532 from OOL down to SYD has VH-VUA and is the 1605 hours airborne at 1737, with suggested arrival at 2006 hours, 91 late.

A332 VH-XFD on VA686, the 1205 hours lunchtime PER across to MEL was in the sky at 1340, so arrival has become 1952 hours, 72 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In another storm-related Saturday 5 January 2019 delay, VA957, the 1600 hours afternoon SYD - BNE was airborne at 2052, more than four hours late with B738 VH-VOO.

VA565 (1745 hours late afternoon SYD across to PER, B738 VH-YFW) took off at 2112 hours.

The 1700 hours SYD - BNE, VA965 was taxiing in SYD at 2115. Aircraft is VH-YFS so it is about four hours late.

VA962 (1605 hours BNE down to SYD) was airborne at 1841 with B738 VH-YFY and looks to be arriving at 2146, 186 late after holding near Muswellbrook.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA888, the 2000 hours SYD - MEL (B738 VH-YFY) on Saturday 5 January 2019 had yet to take off by 2237 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA1536, the Sunday 6 January 2019 SYD down to HBA scheduled as a 1755 hours departure (B738 VH-VOT) departed at 1908 and was airborne at 1930. It should arrive at 2111 hours, 81 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 7 January 2019, VA713 (0640 hours ADL across to PER, F100 VH-FNY) has had a late start to its morning with it in the sky at 0845 hours. Arrival should be at 0929 hours, 119 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA679 (Wednesday 9 January 2019, the 0915 hours MEL across to PER airborne at 1052 with A332 VH-XFD) should arrive at 1145 hours, 75 late. VA68 from HKG was 33 early arriving in MEL at 0757 this morning but it had to be transferred to the domestic terminal.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA83, the 1015 SYD - HKG on Thursday 10 January 2019 (A332 VH-XFD) took off from SYD at 114 so arrival is likely at about 1710, 35 late. This aircraft is scheduled to do the same flight tomorrow, so any further delays tonight at the HKG end may see another late '83' on Friday morning.

This northbound flight often runs late. In the past seven days, it has been less than 15 minutes late arriving in HKG only twice, and on one day was 140 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 10 January, VA168, the afternoon 1600 hours AKL across to MEL airborne at 1625 is arriving at 1845, 35 minutes late with B738 VH-YIQ.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 11 January 2019 sees VA1897, the very late morning weekly 1155 hours KGI - MEL (A320 VH-VNP) having taken off at 1235, so suggested arrival is half an hour behind at 1830.

Westbound VA719 (F100 VH-FNJ, the scheduled 1410 hours ADL across to PER) was not in the sky until 1528 so arrival has become 1616 hours, 76 late.

VA660 (ATR72 VH-FVQ), the 1705 hours SYD - CBR was in the sky at 1800 and should arrive at 1855, 50 late.

 

[pauly7]

Hi! Any intel on what happened to VA 733 Mel - Ool on 3rd Jan....?

Missed approach
Long circling pattern
Interesting landing....
Subsequent flight cancelled
Ferries back apparently Ool - Bne no pax

 

[Must...Fly!]

Hi! Any intel on what happened to VA 733 Mel - Ool on 3rd Jan....?

Missed approach
Long circling pattern
Interesting landing....
Subsequent flight cancelled
Ferries back apparently Ool - Bne no pax

There were severe storms in SE QLD on the 3rd would explain the first three.

Could have sustained some damage in flight or on the ground as a result. Not much engineering support in OOL, but lots in BNE which may have been the reason for the ferry.

 

[pauly7]

There were severe storms in SE QLD on the 3rd would explain the first three.

Could have sustained some damage in flight or on the ground as a result. Not much engineering support in OOL, but lots in BNE which may have been the reason for the ferry.

Yes apparently there was weather but none apparent or adverse weather around at time of landing.... Pilot said ‘configuration issue we need to sort out’ after we missed the first approach.

I was on the flight I should have added!

Eventual landing was very firm came in very low approach and took entire runway to stop with reverse thrusters on full the entire way to stop us. Bit strange. People were nervous but not screaming or anything....

 

[Melburnian1]

B738 VH-VUC has not enjoyed the most punctual of Sunday mornings as its 13 January VA1361, the 0700 hours from LST to MEL did not become airborne until 1038. Arrival is at 1132, 212 late. A delay of this magnitude may sometimes be because a spare part has to be flown in on another aircraft coming from, in this case, probably Melbourne.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA882, Sunday 13 January's 1900 hours SYD down to MEL has B738 VH-VUR. It was airborne at 2002 so arrival is estimated as 2119 hours, 44 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to MEL inbound being closed as at 0940 on Monday 13 January, VA816, the 0800 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 0823 (B738 VH-VUH) got as far south as Jamieson, Vic but has diverted to CBR where arrival should be at about 1005 hours.

VA820 (the 0830 hours SYD - MEL, B738 VH-VUR airborne promptly at 0840 hours) is also diverting, having got down to Mt Buller before turning back northwards. It looks to be diverting to SYD not CBR.

AFF member Ansett suggests that the ATC tower in MEL had to be (partly) evacuated. The airport reopened to inbound flights just after 1000, but other flights - CA177, various QF flights and an NZ among them - have diverted to either CBR or SYD.

 

[AviatorInsight]

Due to MEL inbound being closed as at 0940 on Monday 13 January, VA816, the 0800 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 0823 (B738 VH-VUH) got as far south as Jamieson, Vic but has diverted to CBR where arrival should be at about 1005 hours.

VA820 (the 0830 hours SYD - MEL, B738 VH-VUR airborne promptly at 0840 hours) is also diverting, having got down to Mt Buller before turning back northwards. It looks to be diverting to SYD not CBR.

AFF member Ansett suggests that the ATC tower in MEL had to be (partly) evacuated. The airport reopened to inbound flights just after 1000, but other flights - CA177, various QF flights and an NZ among them - have diverted to either CBR or SYD.

Correct. I’m on VA816, we didn’t have the fuel to hold out so we made the decision to divert early. VA820 also followed us in to CBR.

MEL tower had to be evacuated due to a fire indication. They held out as long as they could but then had to leave.

 

[Melburnian1]

The usual fantastic information from Aviator Insight.

These delays can't be blamed on the airlines but are frustrating for thousands of passengers and staff, costly to the airlines and very stressful for ATC staff notwithstanding that the latter at busier airports and in congested airspace are well used to that.

50 years ago employees may have done the 'sniff test' re checking for a fire and decided there was nothing to worry about, but not so today.

Air crew and attendants will be out of position, or working more hours than rostered today, so that doesn't help.

 

[Silvia]

Very informative, thanks @AviatorInsight

VA221 MEL-ADL (VH-YIE) the 11 10 hours service has now a tentative departure of 12 50, this will also affect VA1449 ADL-OOL, now revised departure at 14 14.

VA 816 SYD-MEL 8 00 hours, VA820 SYD-MEL 8 30 hours were cancelled