Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF108 (A332 VH-EBL) from PEK down to SYD should arrive at 1521 on Sunday 22 October, 61 minutes late.

The almost perenially late QF23 from SYD to BKK departed 50 minutes behind scheduled at 1140 hours. Arrival should be 44 minutes down at 1724 BKK time.

Building on Flyerqf's impeccably accurate advice, B744 VH-OEG operating as QF6017 empty from SYD up to BNE did not land until 1130 BNE time, so it is most unlikely to be departing as the Saturday (overnight delayed) QF15 from BNE to LAX as displaying at 1300 AEST. 1315 to 1330 is a more realistic departure time.

B744 VH-OEJ operating a 'ferry flight' in the opposite direction from BNE down to SYD as QF6016 landed in the mainland harbour city at 1134 AEST, 56 minutes ahead of its colleague that was travelling north.

QF27, another B744 flight is forecast to depart SYD at 1315 hours, 45 late but the expectation is that on a gate-to-gate basis it will still arrive distant SCL on time.

After yesterday's unanticipated temporary return to SYD, QF73 on Sunday 22 is again delayed with SYD departure expected 250 minutes late at 1810 early this evening. SFO arrival is predicted as 1325 hours same day, 235 late.

UPDATE: The delay to QF27 (B744 VH-OJU) increased with takeoff at 1424 hours. Arrival has become a predicted 1145, 35 late, so QF28 out of SCL on Sunday 22 will also be tardy in pushing back.

The overnight delayed QF15 departed BNE on 22 October with B744 VH-OEG. LAX arrival is expected same day at 0845 hours, 165 minutes late.

 

[docjames]

Some flights on QFLink into/out of DPO were cancelled Thursday due to out of limit crosswinds.

 

[Flyerqf]

QF108 (A332 VH-EBL) from PEK down to SYD should arrive at 1521 on Sunday 22 October, 61 minutes late.

The almost perenially late QF23 from SYD to BKK departed 50 minutes behind scheduled at 1140 hours. Arrival should be 44 minutes down at 1724 BKK time.

Building on Flyerqf's impeccably accurate advice, B744 VH-OEG operating as QF6017 empty from SYD up to BNE did not land until 1130 BNE time, so it is most unlikely to be departing as the Saturday (overnight delayed) QF15 from BNE to LAX as displaying at 1300 AEST. 1315 to 1330 is a more realistic departure time.

B744 VH-OEJ operating a 'ferry flight' in the opposite direction from BNE down to SYD as QF6016 landed in the mainland harbour city at 1134 AEST, 56 minutes ahead of its colleague that was travelling north.

QF27, another B744 flight is forecast to depart SYD at 1315 hours, 45 late but the expectation is that on a gate-to-gate basis it will still arrive distant SCL on time.

After yesterday's unanticipated temporary return to SYD, QF73 on Sunday 22 is again delayed with SYD departure expected 250 minutes late at 1810 early this evening. SFO arrival is predicted as 1325 hours same day, 235 late.

QF73 is delayed due the maintenance issue with VH-OEJ. Let’s hope that it’s not three days in a row of overnight delays for OEJ (first two overnights being QF15 on Friday and Saturday)

 

[Melburnian1]

QF25, the 2145 hours Sunday 22 SYD - NRT operated by a B744 is delayed overnight until a predicted 1030 hours on Monday 23 October, meaning arrival in Japan at 1805 hours rather than what is often earlier than the stated timetable of 0515 at the NRT airport gate.

This continues the disastrous performance in the last few days of QF's B744s. However when a fleet is totally used (bearing in mind that one of the 10 of this type of aircraft is often in scheduled maintenance) that's what a transport operator - air or surface - risks.

AFF member JohnPhelan's incredibly wise comment that QF should previously have retained two of its B744s rather than as it did send them to the scrapheap may be a bit dated, but it was prescient. Since then, QF disposed of its 26 year old B744 as it was due for very costly major maintenance if I recall.

With the BNE - LAX - BNE cancellations and delays, the problems with the SYD - SFO run and now a 12 hour plus delay to QF25 to Narita, a couple of thousand passengers must be affected as most of these flights have good to excellent load factors even at this time of the year which is not school holidays, Christmas or Easter.

Flyerqf, could you please explain how VH-OEJ was able to fly down from BNE to SYD this morning but still requires repair? Is what's wrong with it something that only affects passengers (such as defective onboard ovens, or an unacceptable number of blocked toilets) but is irrelevant to safety?

 

[milehighclub]

OEJ has a problem with the PA system. This is why it was able to be ferried empty.

 

[JessicaTam]

Ironically the aircraft (VH-EBP) that was due to fly me to SIN ended up being repaired overnight and flew me home instead!

 

[sydks]

QF127 and QF128 on Monday 23 October have both been cancelled - presumably due to the issues with the 744 fleet. Found out due to family on 128 that have been moved to Cathay.

 

[OzEire]

Nice @Melburnian1
10,001 posts

 

[Melburnian1]

OZEire, very kind. Could you reduce the size of that post a little? It's just a wee bit out of scale! The emphasis should be on recording delays and cancellations, much as your gesture is appreciated.

The numerous problems with the B744s negate some of the gloss of the B789 launch as QF will not be ridding itself of B744s tomorrow. For the foreseeable future, the B744s will continue operating routes such as SYD - JNB, SYD - SCL and SYD - SFO, probably SYD - HKG and perhaps occasionally MEL - HKG. (Flyerqf, please correct me if required.)

Mr Joyce might reflect that it is good for transport operators to have a spare and not use a (sub) fleet (as in this aircraft type) fully on more than occasional days, as doing so regularly brings the possibility that a failure will have compounding effects, as has been the case since Friday 20 October. A spare would not prevent every delay or cancellation, but it might assist in reducing the extent of delays and any flow-on effects.

On Monday 23 October, the overnight delayed QF25 from SYD to HND (B744) was showing as further delayed to 1100 (not 1030 hours as above) but had not begun to push back by 1115.

Another B744 flight, QF73 from SYD to SFO is expected to depart at 1530 this afternoon, 90 minutes late with a forecast 80 minute late (1050 hours) same day arrival.

Sunday 22 October's QF28 from SCL departed 73 minutes tardy at 1443 due to QF27's late arrival. QF28 should arrive in SYD at about 1834, 54 minutes late this afternoon (23 October). B744 VH-OJU is the aircraft.

UPDATE: B744 VH-OEB departed on 23 October as QF25 from SYD to HND at 1116 hours, 751 minutes late. Arrival is forecast at about 1835 early this evening in lieu of 0515 hours, but still in plenty of time to form an on time QF26 tonight back as the redeye down to SYD.

On Sunday 22 October, QF11 (B744 VH-OEG) departed LAX 187 minutes late at 1127, arriving JFK at 1948, 188 minutes behind schedule. The returning QF12 from JFK is not departing until an expected 2145 hours, 215 minutes behind schedule with LAX arrival on Monday 23 October suggested as 0040 hours in the 'wee hours', 220 late. As AFF members such as Flyerqf have previously suggested, a tardy arrival at JFK often sees the aircraft losing further time on the ground, presumably due to missing its departure slot.

This delay means that QF12 from LAX to SYD (operated by the A388 aircraft) is forecast to depart exactly three hours late at 0130 hours on Monday 23, arriving in SYD at a claimed 1010 hours on Tuesday 24, 170 minutes late. Allowed turnarounds in Sydney are generous so in theory this should not delay any of QF11, QF7 or QF1.

QF16 from LAX to BNE is also to depart three hours late (0220 hours on Monday morning) for a Tuesday 24 arrival at 0845 hours, 155 minutes late. This will at least slightly delay the 1020 hours QF15 from BNE to LAX.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 23 October, QF15 from BNE to LAX departed 54 minutes late with arrival suggested as also that - at 0654 hours.

The morning's QF79 (1035 hours MEL - NRT) departed 50 late. Arrival should be at 1930 hours, half an hour behind schedule.

The BNE - NRT QF61 is often on time but on 23 October it departed 33 minutes late at 1133. It is forecast to arrive at 1944, 34 minutes down.

B744 VH-OEJ remains in SYD: 'marooned' is not the correct description as repair expertise is available there, but 'inoperable' captures the moment.

Domestically, QF772 (1000 hours morning PER - MEL that did not take off until 1158 hours) has A332 VH-EBC and should arrive at roughly 1809, 99 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Expected delays on Monday morning (23 October) LAX time to QF12 to SYD and QF16 to BNE have increased with departure suggested respectively at 0205 and (yuk!) 0305 hours for Tuesday morning (24 October) arrivals at 1045 hours AEDT and 0930 hours AEST respectively. This is because QF12 did not arrive from JFK in LAX until 0121 hours.

This will mean a delay on Tuesday morning to QF15's BNE departure of at least 50 minutes.

 

[Flyerqf]

. For the foreseeable future, the B744s will continue operating routes such as SYD - JNB, SYD - SCL and SYD - SFO, probably SYD - HKG and perhaps occasionally MEL - HKG. (Flyerqf, please correct me if required.)

.

SYD-JNB, SYD-HND, SYD-SCL & SYD-SFO only.

SYD-HKG goes to 388. They won’t have sufficient 744 frames to do MEL-HKG as a 744

 

[Flyerqf]

QF16 eventually pushed back at 0327 putting it approx 4 hours behind schedule. This will delay the morning QF15 by at least an hour.

 

[Himeno]

SYD-JNB, SYD-HND, SYD-SCL & SYD-SFO only.

SYD-HKG goes to 388. They won’t have sufficient 744 frames to do MEL-HKG as a 744

Isn't that from late March after the changes to LHR, leaving 2 A380 available for the SIN/HKG flights and the 744 fleet is reduced to 9?

Arrivals board here at SFO is showing QF73 as arriving 48 mins late at 1018.

 

[Flyerqf]

Isn't that from late March after the changes to LHR, leaving 2 A380 available for the SIN/HKG flights and the 744 fleet is reduced to 9?

Yes

 

[Melburnian1]

Tuesday 24 October sees QF565, the early morning 0625 hours from SYD to PER not having departed until 0727. Arrival is suggested at 0906 hours, 36 minutes late for A332 VH-EBD.

QF24 from BKK, the redeye, arrived 50 minutes late into SYD at 0820 hours.

Making four out of the last five weekdays, QF1529, the 0845 hours CBR - MEL due in the latter at 0955 has again been cancelled. When it runs, this flight is a B717.

Due to the very late arrival of QF16 at about 9040 this morning (210 minutes late), 24 October's QF15 is estimated to depart BNE at 1150, 90 late and arrive LAX (same day) at 0722 hours, 82 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In yet another delay affecting one of its 10 B744s, QF's flight 63 from SYD to JNB on 24 October, the 1150 hours, is expected to depart at 1400 for arrival (same day) at 1850, 110 minutes late. Inevitably this will mean a late QF64 overnight back to SYD.

QF27, the SYD - SCL B744 long flight has a briefer anticipated delay to 1300 hours - half an hour late with arrival also suggested as that amount tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Tuesday 24 October, QF1520 (B717 VH-YQV, the 1710 hours CBR - SYD) was airborne at 1828. Arrival should be at 1915, 70 minutes late.

The ARM down to SYD QF2031 (Q300 VH-SCE, a rare entrant to these delay pages) should arrive at roughly 1913 hours this evening, 53 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Wednesday 25 October is expected to see QF24 from BKK to SYD arriving at about 0820 hours, 40 minutes late after it departed BKK tonight half an hour late at 1840 (2240 AEDT.)

QF16 (B744 VH-OJS) from LAX to BNE is arriving at a suggested 0722, 37 minutes late.

The relatively rare working of a QFi A333 (VH-QPD) on QF409 (0700 hours SYD - MEL) did not take off until 0845 hours, so arrival was at 1006, 91 minutes late. This aircraft had previously operated QF82, the first QF overnight from SIN to SYD where it arrived a couple of minutes late at around 0707 hours, so one assumes it was required at short notice to travel down to Melbourne. It was quite a good effort to see it transfer from international to domestic and be ready for departure in about an hour and a half, although not so good for domestic passengers twiddling their thumbs. Has another A333 in MEL become defective, or did an A332 in Sydney suddenly fail with no other immediately available for this key, peak period business type flight down to Melbourne?

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on 25 October, QF93 (1015 hours MEL - LAX, A388 VH-OQK) was airborne at 1115 hours. Suggested arrival at gate is 0709 same day, 34 late.

Compatriot QF11 is often punctual, at least on the A388 leg from SYD to LAX but this morning with VH-OQB departed 32 minutes behind time at 1122; arrival is estimated at 0712 hours, 42 minutes tardy. QF15 was also tardy, departing BNE 44 down at 1104 (B744 VH-OJS) - arrival is expected at 0644, also 44 minutes behind the timetable.

The Tuesday 24 October timetabled QF64 from JNB (at 1910 hours) did not depart until 0021 this morning (Wednesday 25) so arrival is suggested in SYD at about 2043, 288 minutes tardy. It is very unusual for this flight to be this delayed. While Tuesday's QF63 arrived in JNB at about 1907 - 127 minutes behind schedule - something else must have gone wrong for the B744 to spend so long there.

QF has been having a large amount of trouble with its 10 strong B744 fleet in the past week. Perhaps it is just a string of random events, although as noted above when one fails on days such as Saturday or Sunday it can be especially problematic as the available fleet is normally fully utilised.