Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

VA2 from DOH down to SYD on Tuesday 23 December (B773ER A7-BAB) was the 0840 hours not airborne until 1245. Wednesday 24 gate arrival becomes 1013 hours, 203 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

MEL looks looks like it's on single runway ops as at 1235 AEDT Wednesday 24 December.

 

[mel-world]

Not now - 1415. Airport not too busy at all. VA lounge calm.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 27 December 2025's VA16 is the 0145 hours DOH-BNE with B773ER A7-BEK that took off at 0342 hours, not the most pleasant time.

On Sunday morning 28 DEcember, gate arrival should be about 0033 hours, 98 late.

 

[Saab34]

Storms up the FNQ coast causing some issues tonight.

Virgin 1297 MEL-CNS conducted a hold with a Jetstar A320 from a prior missed approach, then conducted a missed approach. Now diverting to BNE. That’s a long flight.

Expect some potential challenges later next week appears a whole lot of rain coming to FNQ.

 

[Melburnian1]

Storms in and around SYD on Sunday afternoon 4 January 2026 have led to some delays.

Hazarding a guess, cabin or flight crews being out of position might well be a contributor.

VA869, the 1715 hours MEL-SYD (B738 VH-VOO) did not take off until 2105 so expected gate arrival at 2217 tonight will be 217 minutes late.

 

[wenglock.mok]

VA441, the 19:55 service from ADL to SYD, has unfortunately been cancelled tonight after the aircraft arrived almost an hour late inbound from SYD. It did attempt to do a quick turnaround, and even went as far as the runway holding point in ADL before declaring that they would not be making it into SYD tonight and had to return to the gate.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA441, the 19:55 service from ADL to SYD, has unfortunately been cancelled tonight after the aircraft arrived almost an hour late inbound from SYD. It did attempt to do a quick turnaround, and even went as far as the runway holding point in ADL before declaring that they would not be making it into SYD tonight and had to return to the gate.

@wenglock.mok , in these circumstances for domestic passengers who don't live in Adelaide, did VAd provide overnight accommodation, meals and (if required) transfers?

Would any Adelaidians who needed these have been given taxi, Uber or Didi vouchers?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

@wenglock.mok , in these circumstances for domestic passengers who don't live in Adelaide, did VAd provide overnight accommodation, meals and (if required) transfers?

Would any Adelaidians who needed these have been given taxi, Uber or Didi vouchers?

VA’s policy: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/book/manage-booking/disruption-info/

If you're away from home​

If the disruption is within our control and you’re impacted, we’ll assist with:

• Accommodation
• Meals
• Transfers

For events outside our control (like severe weather), we’ll help you rebook but accommodation may not be provided.

Depends why the inbound was late… if weather or ATC then no accommodation, and no meals or transfers either.

 

[Melburnian1]

On a very hot Friday 9 January 2026 in Adelaide and Melbourne, VA682 (the 0745 hours PER-MEL that took off at 0802 hours, B738 VH-YWD) is diverting to ADL. Arrival at the latter should be at about 1355 hours, compared with MEL scheduled gate arrival at 1420. I don't know if this is a medical diversion.

 

[Melburnian1]

At lunchtime on Thursday 15 January 2026 I wondered why so many flights were delayed up to two hours in departing Sydney. This seemed sudden, and unrelated in many cases to late arrivals from elsewhere.

'AFR' has a story stating this has been due to a shortage (again) of air traffic controllers. It says these are the worst delays since the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 23 January 2026, VA195, the 1000 hours MEL-NAN (B738 VH-YIB) took off early at 1010 hours.

It flew a substantial distance but is returning to MEL. Arrival at gate looks to be about 1655.

It seems to have flown above Wollongong on the way back after it commenced to divert, so unclear why it didn't land in SYD instead of MEL. This may rule out a 'medical diversion' as normal practice in that circumstance is presumably to fly back to the nearest suitable airfield, conversant with medical assistance being easily achieved.

Perhaps @AviatorInsight might be kind enough to provide a detail or two.

 

[tomlee1986]

On Friday 23 January 2026, VA195, the 1000 hours MEL-NAN (B738 VH-YIB) took off early at 1010 hours.

It flew a substantial distance but is returning to MEL. Arrival at gate looks to be about 1655.

It seems to have flown above Wollongong on the way back after it commenced to divert, so unclear why it didn't land in SYD instead of MEL. This may rule out a 'medical diversion' as normal practice in that circumstance is presumably to fly back to the nearest suitable airfield, conversant with medical assistance being easily achieved.

Perhaps @AviatorInsight might be kind enough to provide a detail or two.

Thats odd - even if technical, Sydney would be also suitable for VA as they are all 737 fleet too and Sydney is also a major hub for VA as well - why return to Melbourne?