Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[tomlee1986]

View attachment 483909
Self explanatory. Must be a medical diversion.

Hope the passenger has a full recovery

 

[exLXCXFF]

View attachment 483909
Self explanatory. Must be a medical diversion.

Wouldn’t Darwin be quicker and equally able to handle an A380? (unless people have to deplane and there is only one Xray machine for intl departures…)

 

[ABC1]

Although Darwin is a lot closer and it's sure to be able to take an A380 as it was designated to be an emergency diversion runway for the space shuttle. Would have a plenty capable runway then.

And don’t forget QF operated through Darwin with the A380 during the pandemic and restrictions in SIN.

 

[jb747]

It has little to nothing to do with the runway. When you need a medical diversion, there's discussion with Medlink about the actual medical situation. They will then recommend the place they'd like the person taken. As long as that's acceptable from an aviation perspective (i.e. weather), then that's where you go. I've actually overflown Darwin with one very ill person, because the recommendation was to go to Adelaide. We spoke to the RFDS as we were over the top, and they commented that it was the correct call, as they would have had to put him into one of their aircraft and head to one of the southern cities.

 

[Melburnian1]

It has little to nothing to do with the runway. When you need a medical diversion, there's discussion with Medlink about the actual medical situation. They will then recommend the place they'd like the person taken. As long as that's acceptable from an aviation perspective (i.e. weather), then that's where you go. I've actually overflown Darwin with one very ill person, because the recommendation was to go to Adelaide. We spoke to the RFDS as we were over the top, and they commented that it was the correct call, as they would have had to put him into one of their aircraft and head to one of the southern cities.

Presumably because of the greater surgical and medical expertise available in Adelaide (and today's, Perth) than Darwin. The latter has a population of fewer than 155,000 so it's smaller than some Melbourne and Sydney local government municipalities.

 

[Melburnian1]

A333 VH-QPL on the Tuesday 2 December 1920 hours overnight MNL to SYD (QF20) took off at 2026, so it was already a little late, but then diverted to BNE. Looks like passengers were kicked off there and sent on domestic flights, as this aircraft subsequently operated empty from BNE down to SYD, becoming airborne at 1049 hours and with the one hour time difference at this time of year, arriving at gate at 1310 hours, 390 minutes later than the timetabled (for QF20) 0640 hours.

-QPL is to operate QF83, the 1430 hours mid afternoon YD up to SIN that is optimistically displaying as punctual.

As @jb747 indicated above, A388 VH-OQG on QF2 diverted to PER, eventually arriving SYD at 0957 hours, quite good given the additional nautical miles and time spent on the ground in the West Australian capital. It is forming QF7, the 1405 hours SYD-DFW that as at 1415 hours hadn't become airborne.

B738 VH-XZE as QF101 from SYD to Fiji's NAN arrived at 1421 hours on Wednesday 3 December, so the returning QF102 is likely to be similarly delayed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Further to the above, on Wednesday 3 December 2025, QF83 (1430 hours SYD-SIN, A333 VH-QPL) did not depart until 1630 hours, and took off at 1648. SIN gate arrival should be about 2154 hours, 114 minutes behind schedule.

 

[tassie6]

About to push back on QF998 from HBA to SYD at 0600 this morning when got the dreaded text, QF121, SYD-ZQN delayed from 0935 to 1300, which eventually became 1340 or so.

Apparently a navigational part required, discovered before leaving ZQN this morning and it was flown down from Auckland and created the circa 4 hour delay

 

[CMA222]

QF179 to NLK (Norfolk Island) turned around and returned to SYD this morning. Apparently an issue with the aircraft. Now scheduled to depart (again) at 1330.

Update: rescheduled to 12 noon Saturday 6th.

 

[antycbr]

QF179 to NLK (Norfolk Island) turned around and returned to SYD this morning. Apparently an issue with the aircraft. Now scheduled to depart (again) at 1330.

Have two staff on island at the moment, one of whom has to connect back through to BNE. If I was on island I’d be hoping for a 24 or 48 hour delay at airline expense!

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Friday 5 December 2025, QF63, the 0930 hours morning SYD-JNB (A388 VH-OQL) took off on time at 0951, but is diverting to of all places, MEL where arrival at gate should be about 1500 hours.

I don't know if this is a medical diversion or because there's a problem with the aircraft. Looks like the plane turned around a few hundred nautical miles southwest of Hobart, Tasmania.

QF64 (1730 hours 5 December JNB back across and up to SYD) must be under a cloud.

This may mean an A380 departure from SYD on Saturday 6 is very late, or even cancelled: we may know in a few hours.

Separately, QF35 (1205 hours lunchtime MEL-SIN, A332 VH-EBL) was airborne at 1240 with gate arrival suggested as 1741 hours, 36 late.

QF41 (A332 VH-EBM, the 1425 hours SYD up to CGK) is delayed to an expected pushback at 1615 this afternoon.

 

[Melburnian1]

The diverted QF63 (A388 VH-OQL) on Friday 5 December 2025 (see above) is displaying as a proposed 1600 hours departure from MEL.

My guess is it returned to MEL due to a medical emergency. Presumably it will be refuelling in Melbourne.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Friday 5 December 2025, QF1, the flagship 1555 hours SYD-SIN-LHR is predicted to depart at 1645. VH-OQH is the A388.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 1722 hours on Friday 5 December 2025, the diverted QF63 (A388 VH-OQL) appears to be still on the ground in Melbourne.

It isn't pinging, although in a remark I recall from @jb747 , occasionally buildings can be a barrier.

Historically it isn't a great portent when an A380 diverts and was then expected to depart MEL at 1600 hours., 90 minutes ago. The flight deck crew must be close to running out of hours were they to take the aircraft on to JNB and push back at this moment. Perhaps a new crew has to be flown down from Sydney (assuming the plane is OK and ready to go?)

Perhaps Saturday 6 December will be the first test of QFi having a 'spare' A380 in SYD given VH-OQC is apparently back in service.

 

[jb747]

As at 1722 hours on Friday 5 December 2025, the diverted QF63 (A388 VH-OQL) appears to be still on the ground in Melbourne.

The airspeed and altitude make sense for normal operations in the diversion, so I can't glean any ideas from FR24.

Historically it isn't a great portent when an A380 diverts and was then expected to depart MEL at 1600 hours., 90 minutes ago.

Well, you never really know who comes up with these times....

The flight deck crew must be close to running out of hours were they to take the aircraft on to JNB and push back at this moment.

The crew that flew it out of Sydney would already have been out of hours for a flight to JNB when they landed.

Perhaps a new crew has to be flown down from Sydney (assuming the plane is OK and ready to go?)

Quickest way to get a crew would be from people living in Melbourne. But, as I don't think the 380 crew base exists any more, there wouldn't be any standby support, and it would be a case of ringing around and seeing if anyone felt like answering the phone. Still the most likely way to find a crew.

If you wanted a crew out of Sydney, you'd call the standby, but then have to fly them down. If you called at the instant the aircraft turned around it would have been at 1300 local. You're unlikely to see them in Melbourne before about 17-1800. Then there's an issue of duty time with them anyway, as the duty period from MEL to JNB, plus the time involved in Sydney and then the transit, is very likely to put them on, or even over, the limit. There wouldn't be a huge amount of margin. The company cannot plan a duty that goes into the area of "crew extendable".

Perhaps Saturday 6 December will be the first test of QFi having a 'spare' A380 in SYD given VH-OQC is apparently back in service.

They're like spare tyres. They're only spare until you actually need it, then they're flat.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you @jb747 for the excellent reply!

 

[Melburnian1]

The diverted 5 December QF63 has suddenly become an 1130 hours MEL-JNB on Saturday 6 December 2025, with arrival at latter likely at about 1430 local time tomorrow.. Presumably this will carry flight number QF63D.

Today's QF64 will naturally also be delayed overnight so it may depart from JNB, all being well, at say 1730 tomorrow afternoon, with it likely to be described as QF64D.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 6 December 2025, QF11 (1745 hours SYD-LAX) has been cancelled, despite A388 VH-OQC as the 'spare A380' being in Sydney.

 

[D747]

On Saturday 6 December 2025, QF11 (1745 hours SYD-LAX) has been cancelled, despite A388 VH-OQC as the 'spare A380' being in Sydney.

Perhaps OQC is not ready for service yet?

 

[Melburnian1]

Perhaps OQC is not ready for service yet?

You may be correct, although one would hope not, given VH-OQC has flown long distances since its lengthy AUH refurbishment, and QF has publicised it as being back, resulting in a few glowing media articles.

But nothing much QF does ought surprise. After all, it's the "world's best airline managers" as Alan Joyce looked in the mirror to constantly remind himself. Little change under Vanessa Hudson.

They're like spare tyres. They're only spare until you actually need it, then they're flat.

Given how QF11 SYD-LAX is cancelled on Saturday 6 December, this may prove to be one of @jb747 's most prescient observations. Time will tell.

As a side issue, given Christmas and school holidays are approaching (and for many school students and all at uni, already the case), it must be more difficult by the day to quickly find 400 spare seats on QFi or other airlines when an A380 flight is given the flick.