Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Quickstatus]

Thanks CMA222.

With VH-OEF operating tonight's HND flight QF25 after arriving from JNB this afternoon. I wonder if VH-OJT, the other B747 sitting on the ground in SYD at the moment is unserviceable causing the cancellation of today's QF127. (speculation). Initial FA and FR24 information suggested that VH-OEF was operating QF127 then swopped to QF11.

Having 3 CX flights today to HKG as a backup probably helped the decision to swop VH-OEF's flight number.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 25 October, QF793, the 1420 hours from DRW to PER took off at 1621. B738 VH-XZL should arrive at about 1825 hours, 95 late.

The badly delayed Sunday 23 October QF9 (timetabled out of MEL at 2355) discussed above that pushed back at 0247 hours managed to only spend 92 minutes at DXB, departing at 1044 (99 minutes behind schedule) and arriving LHR at 1545 (90 minutes late).

So when it left MEL, it was 172 minutes late, and on a point-to-point basis picked up 82 minutes on the complete MEL to LHR journey.

Every day is not identical and some may have fog or sand storms at DXB, or other problems, but it shows what can be achieved with the present slower timetables.

There must be a case to claw back at least some of this excess time when the QF1/2/9/10 timetables are next revised, probably for the end of March 2017.

Monday 24 October's QF16 from LAX to BNE departed 40 minutes late; arrival on Wednesday 26 October is suggested as half an hour behind schedule at 0640 hours.

 

[CMA222]

Having 3 CX flights today to HKG as a backup probably helped the decision to swop VH-OEF's flight number.

I asked for any other alternatives for my flight and was advised that QF118 was full and the only option was QF128 the following day. If QF utilised any CX flights to move any of their QF127 pax, a similar option was not offered to me as a WP in business, flying the other way.

 

[Quickstatus]

Thanks for the insight.

QF117 on the way over is full as well. Generally have found that the other airline option is only triggered if you say that the initial offer is unacceptable.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 26 October, QF582, the 1330 early afternoon from PER to SYD was not airborne until 1501. Hence A332 VH-EBD will not arrive until approximately 2125, 50 minutes late which should be a net gain of about 20 minutes on the point-to-point (gate-to-gate) complete trip.

A333 VH-QPH on the 1635 hours SYD - SIN 'second of the day' QF5 took off at 1738. It should arrive at around 2235 this evening, 35 minutes tardy.

The 1715 hours peak period flight QF451 from SYD down to MEL was only about five minutes late in taking off at 1740, but has been delayed in a 'hold' above Mount Buller (Vic) - a normal spot for ATC to mandate this - and so should arrive about 34 minutes behind time at 1924.

QF455, the following 1730 hours departure took off at 1759 (A332 VH-EBK) and should arrive at approximately 1937, 32 minutes late.

These delays on the world's fourth most popular air route are fairly common during weekday and Sunday peak periods and significantly add to the total time of a SYD - MEL (including the suburbs or CBDs) journey. Oh for a high speed train...

QF627 (1600 hours from BNE down to MEL) took off at 1620, on time, but it had to 'hold' above Tocumwal NSW so it should arrive at roughly 2002 hours, 37 minutes tardy. Aircraft is B738 VH-VYF.

Also on Wednesday 26, QF7, the 1400 hours long haul from SYD to DFW did not take off until 1902 hours this evening, almost five hours behind schedule. A388 VH-OQJ should arrive at 1800 hours in the southern USA, 270 minutes late.

Earlier, QF11, the 1050 hours longhaul from SYD to LAX departed an even hour behind and so should have a same day arrival at around 0715 hours, 45 minutes tardy. The connecting QF11 from LAX across to JFK (operated by the B744 off QF15 ex BNE) should depart 35 minutes late at 0855 for a suggested 1700 hours arrival (20 minutes late) in The Big Apple.

QF155 (1800 hours from MEL to AKL, B738 ZK-ZQE) was airborne at 1848 and so should arrive at roughly 0008 on Thursday 27 October, 33 minutes behind the eight ball.

 

[Melburnian1]

Quite a number of domestic delays are continuing well into the evening of Tuesday 26 October.

QF701 (the 2015 hours from ADL across to MEL) did not take off until 2101; B738 VH-VXN should arrive at around 2144, 39 minutes late.

The last of the evening to SYD, QF494 ex MEL (the 2100 hours) was cancelled.

 

[katiebell]

We just say it's U/S or unserviceable. Even broken is better than 'gone tech'.

Thank you jb747. I haad thought of US but when I've heard it used before it has always been in the context of the aircraft having a fault (& not crew or other issues) so it seemed to be another way of saying tech. Then my knowledge comes from GA.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 26 October the redeye to SYD, QF24 (A333 VH-QPF) was only 23 minutes late departing from BKK but has lost time on its predicted gate-to-gate journey with Thursday 27's arrival likely at around 0835, 50 minutes behind schedule.

Thursday 27's QF2051 (0815 hours from MEL to DPO) should depart about an hour late.

UPDATE: QF2051 took off at 0945 from MEL for DPO. Q400 VH-QOF is the plane.

 

[Melburnian1]

Additionally on Thursday 27 October, QF93 (1015 MEL - LAX) was in the sky at 1131; arrival (same day) is predicted to be 70 minutes late at 0745 hours.

QF23, the 1050 hours north from SYD to BKK departed at a late 1222; arrival at 1745 will be 65 minutes late, delaying the returning QF24 overnight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Despite having a FlightStats rating of 2.3 out of 5 - which undersells it somewhat, as the rating is influenced by extremities such as the occasional extremely late running - QF1 from SYD to DXB and LHR is often punctual, especially since the timetables were slowed a year ago in October 2015.

However that is not the case on Thursday 27 October with the usual AEDT departure at 1650 hours delayed until a forecast 1800, meaning DXB arrival at a suggested 0110 hours (instead of 0025) on Friday 28. DXB departure is displaying as 'on time' at 0210 but the usual minimum time for a stop here tends to be about an hour and a half, given the change of crews along with compulsory alighting (hopefully not 'slighting' as I originally typed) and (re) boarding of passengers who have come in to the Middle East from Sydney.

QF5 (1635 hours from SYD to SIN, A333 VH-QPJ) did not commence pushing back until 1723 so it will be late into the Lion City.

UPDATE: QF1 (A388 VH-OQC) took off to the south at 1811, about 55 minutes to an hour late.

QF454 (B738 VH-VXT, 1730 hours from MEL up to SYD) took off at 1823. Arrival should be at 1932, 37 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 26 October's B744-operated QF12 departed JFK 99 minutes late at 1949 for a 68 minute delayed, 2213 hours arrival in LAX. It then as normal formed QF16 to BNE, departing teh USA at 0051 on Thursday 27, 101 minutes tardy with forecast Friday 28 BNE arrival at 0735 hours, 85 minutes late.

As is often the case QF94 with its tight MEL turnaround was not held, but the A388-operated QF12 from LAX to SYD did not depart until 2345, 75 late for a Friday 28 October expected arrival time off 0845, identically late.

Unless other things go awry, neither QF15 on Friday ex BNE or the various A388 QF flights ex SYD should be late on Friday morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 27 October, QF128 (B744 VH-OEJ) did not take off from HKG until 2212, significantly later than its timetabled 'blocks off' of 2015, so Friday 28 arrival should be at approximately 0943 instead of 0815, making it 88 minutes tardy.

In consequence the 1105 hours from SYD to HKG, QF127, has been delayed until an expected departure at 1130, but if this holds true the aircraft could still arrive HKG on time at 1720 this afternoon.

QF83, the second flight of the day to HKG is also delayed, being expected to depart from SYD at 1240 this afternoon instead of 1115.

QF702 (0920 hours from MEL up to CNS, B738 VH-VXO) departed at 1014, with arrival estimated at 1221, 36 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 28 October, noting the above, the delayed QF127 from SYD took off at 1156 for HKG.

Its southerly colleague, QF29 (B744 VH-OEE, 1120 MEL - HKG) took off at 1229, with arrival suggested as 1902 hours, 62 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 1630 hours, QF450 from MEL to SYD on Friday 28 October is cancelled. On the start of a 'holiday long weekend' for some Melburnians, load factors might be high so one wonders how these passengers will be accommodated.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 27 October's QF12 is not forecast to depart until 0045 on Friday 28, two and a quarter hours late so Saturday 29 October arrival in SYD ex LAX should be at around 0915, an hour and three quarters behind.

By contrast QF16 from LAX to BNE was meant (amended) to push back at 2345 hours, only 25 late but it is now 0005 in LAX on Friday and it appears not to have yet done so.

 

[Steady]

Friday 28th October QF460 MEL - SYD scheduled 18.30 delayed to 19.15 - 19.30 with a replacement air craft

 

[Melburnian1]

The delays to the Thursday night ex LAX QF12 and QF16 have risen.

QF12 departed LAX at 0232 hours on Friday 28 October, 242 minutes past the alloted pushback of 2230 hours on Thursday night. SYD arrival on Saturday 29 should be at 1045 rather than 0730, 195 late. As this aircraft (juding by the gate numbers) may be forming the 1650 hours QF1, both QF11 to LAX ex SYD on Saturday and QF7 to DFW should be unaffected.

QF16 is not as bad, having departed LAX 50 minutes behind at 0010 on Friday 28 October, with BNE arrival suggested as 0710 on Saturday 29, an even hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 29 October, QF130, the Friday 28 1955 hours from PVG that was airborne at a late 2123 hours should arrive in SYD at roughly 1043, 73 minutes behind schedule. VH-QPG is the A333.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF83, the second flight on Saturday 29 October from SYD to HKG departed at 1150, 35 minutes behind time but should only be 20 minutes late into the Asian major city at 1800. Aircraft is A333 VH-QPA.

 

[Melburnian1]

It is relatively unusual for QF1 to depart more than 20 minute slate but on Saturday 29 October, it pushed back from SYD exactly an hour late at 1750. It is expected into DXB 40 minutes late at 0105 on Sunday 29 but provided it limits its stay to about 90 minutes or so, it could be on time into LHR due to the year-old slower timetable. The A388 is VH-OQI.

While the Friday 28 October ex LAX QF12 A388 is on time (to SYD), QF16 from LAX to BNE (B744) is not, with departure 42 minutes behind at 0002 hours - just after midnight - on Saturday 29 October for a projected 50 minute late, 0700 hours arrival on Sunday 30. This should not - touch wood - delay QF15 returning from BNE to LAX.