Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

A hot north wind at MEL on the morning of Friday 25 January 2019 is gusting to 65kmh. While unpleasant, there are few delays - so far, although VA259 (0830 hours MEL up to CBR, B738 VH-VUX) was at 0911 hours still queuing for departure, so it will be more than 35 minutes late.

UPDATE: Winds were gusting at 0912 hours at MEL to 72kmh. Looks like MEL is on single runway ops with the east-west shorter runway 09/27 not in use. This will mean some delays, even though (say) 1100 is not as busy as 0900.

VA733 (B738 VH-VUG, the 0920 hours MEL - OOL) was not airborne until 1035 so it will be at least 55 minutes late arriving.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Friday 25 January, VA1509 (B738 VH-VOO, the 1035 hours midmorning MEL - MCY) was still queuing at 1124 for takeoff, so will be at least 40 minutes late.

VA1319 (0910 hours HBA up to MEL, VH-VUE) was in the sky at 1029 hours so predicted arrival is 1134, 69 late. Fortunately it is having the AviatorInsight 'coffee break' as its next rostered duty is not until 1300 hours ex MEL in the form of VA329 to BNE, so that should be punctual.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA869, 25 January's 1715 hours MEL - SYD that took off at 1807 with B738 VH-YFU should arrive at 1921 hours, 41 late.

VH-VUQ on the northbound MEL to MCY VA1511 should arrive 69 late at 1934 hours this evening.

The 1900 hours MEL up to BNE, CVA351 (VH-VOL) took off at 2003 for an expected 2105 hours, 55 late arrival.

VA691, the welcome A332 VH-XFD is worse with takeoff at 2000 hours compared to scheduled departure at 1735. Predicted arrival is 2053, 123 late.

The 1700 hours OOL down to MEL, VA748, took off at 1804. VH-YFP should arrive 35 late at 2055.

 

[Melburnian1]

There are severe storms around SYD that had only been rated as a 'chance' by the BOM.

Many aircraft have had to hold on approach to a busy SYD on the evening of Sunday 27 January with VA970, the BNE down to SYD, arriving at an estimated 2053, 73 late with B738 VH-YIE.

VA978 on the same route has VH-YFZ and subject to further holds at this stage is an expected 56 late (2136) as its at gate arrival.

 

[Silvia]

VH-XFC (A332) is currently being positioned into MEL as VA9902 ADL-MEL, due to arrive at 12 04. This means that VA69 MEL-HKG has a revised departure of 13 15, over 135 min tardy, which will also impact the return leg, VA68 HKG-MEL which is now scheduled to depart at 20 40.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA711, the Sunday 3 February 2019 HBA to BNE due out at 2100 took off at 2135. Arrival is predicted as 2312, 32 late for B738 VH-VUK.

 

[Melburnian1]

B738 VH-VUF on VA800, the 0600 first of the morning's SYD down to MEL on Monday 4 February 2019 did not take off until 0656 and then had to hold above Mt Buller, so arrival is predicted as 0821, 46 minutes tardy.

VA804, the 0630 hours was in teh sky at 0730. The very welcome widebody A332 VH-XFE should arrive at 0849 hours, 44 late. This means that VA679, the 0915 hours from MEL across to PER shoud depart at about 0955 hours.

VH-XFC on the longer SYD - PER VA551, the 0715 hours took off at 0819 so arrival should be at 0952 hours, 32 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 4 February 2019, VA1296 (B738 VH-YFH, the 1600 hours CNS downj to MEL airborne at 1708) looks to be arriving at about 2110 hours, 45 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

As a severe storm cell features southwest of MEL, VA691 (A332 VH-XFH, the 1735 hours MEL - PER airborne at 1821) tracks further south than usual above Port Phillip Bay to avoid it. Arrival should be at about 1920 hours, half an hour late.

Also on Wednesday 6 February, VA168 (B738 VH-YIS, the 1615 hours afternoon AKL to MEL in the sky at 1710) was arriving 41 late at 1906, but as at 1901 had two missed approaches, the first on runway 16 and the other on 27. There is much rain around MEL but not at it.

UPDATE: VA168 is diverting to SYD. I originally thought CBR but there are more facilities in SYD.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with a stormy Wednesday 6 February 2019 in MEL, VA287 (1845 hours MEL up to CBR, B738 VH-YFN) was airborne at 1949 so it will be about 45 minutes late arriving in the national capital.

 

[suze2000]

Hubby on VA878 SYD-MEL. Been circling over Mt Buller and Bonnie Doon for what seems like the last hour. Haven't heard from him, but watching FR24 is stressing me out! (I'm a nervous flyer)

 

[Melburnian1]

Hubby on VA878 SYD-MEL. Been circling over Mt Buller and Bonnie Doon for what seems like the last hour. Haven't heard from him, but watching FR24 is stressing me out! (I'm a nervous flyer)

suze2000, you're not alone. Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett has always been a nervous flyer, and there are many others at all income levels, though some try to keep it to themselves and their immediate family, particularly if they must fly a lot for business.

Arrivals were put back further due to a change of runway in some cases, but B738 VH-VUZ conveying your beloved looks like it should be at its gate at roughly 2048, 43 late.

 

[suze2000]

@Melburnian1 Yes, thank god! Have heard from him - he's not a nervous flyer but he's a bit shaken up anyway. I think a stiff drink is in order.

(BTW, we also had a hailstorm at home - the inner north - the likes of which I haven't seen since I left Perth)

 

[Melburnian1]

@Melburnian1 Yes, thank god! Have heard from him - he's not a nervous flyer but he's a bit shaken up anyway. I think a stiff drink is in order.

(BTW, we also had a hailstorm at home - the inner north - the likes of which I haven't seen since I left Perth)

As usual, the localised nature of rain (or hail) means many other Melbourne suburbs have not had that...yet.

Essendon Airport (MEB) had received far more rain than MEL when I last checked, yet they're close together.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 7 February 2019 has VA2901, the 0625 hours BNE - GLT in the air at 0711 hours (F70 VH-NKQ) likely to arrive at 0812 hours, 37 late.

 

[QF WP]

Direct from a VA staffer in SYD (via a Facebook Group of which I am a member - along with many others here):

For those of you travelling VA this afternoon (Friday 8th Feb) - there may be some delays due to a Sabre outage. Give the check in staff plenty of time at the airport and be patient.

Also, that will be why you can't book a ticket direct to VA's website, or as I just tried, via Amex Online Travel.

Hopefully it will be rectified shortly ...because Friday afternoon/night is not a very busy period at all

 

[QF WP]

@JohnK and @Silvia , lucky you're both QF this evening...

 

[Melburnian1]

QF WP, nice to let everyone know, but it could be amalgamated with teh VA cancellations/delays forum.

From the sample I have checked thus far - by no means the entire fleet, and I tend to miss many planes on the ground that may not have transponders switched on - delays are not uniform and as at 1830 AEDT were varying from virtually nil to 40 minutes, so perhaps not as severe as one might expect.

 

[Melburnian1]

AFFer QF WP (also a moderator) has kindly advised of a Sabre (GDS system) failure affecting VA flights on Friday 8 February 2019.

As at 1800 hours, there were also storms in Sydney leading to a suspension of flights according to AFFer Silvia.

B738 VH-CVUP on VA232 (1605 hours ADL across to MEL) took off at 1658 and should arrive at 1834, 39 late.

The 1700 hours SYD down to MEL, VA866 (VH-VOO) was in the sky at 1745 with arrival suggested at 1909, 34 late.

 

[JohnK]

@JohnK and @Silvia , lucky you're both QF this evening...

Oh dear. Flying Virgin back tomorrow afternoon.