Another Tarmac Delay for Qantas

[zig]

Another long tarmac wait for Qantas A380 passengers


The 2010 annus horribilis continues for Qantas, with passengers stuck on the tarmac in another Airbus 380 for hours on end, this time in Los Angeles.


Another journalistic triumph ! The year is only 6 days old, but this journalist has already labelled it annus horribilis - the Queen has a lot to answer for when she coined that now misued phrase. :shock:

 

[anat0l]

This is nuts.

So if I deduce this correctly, this fault did not occur on the same A380 as that was held in Melbourne. Which just makes things ridiculous as these A380s can't be failing all the time like this given the age of the aircraft. Unless QF maintenance aren't following the proper procedures, Airbus have a lot to answer to.

I wonder if EK and SQ are experiencing any similar faults.

 

[zig]

I wonder if EK and SQ are experiencing any similar faults.

If they are, it certainly isn't getting the same level of media scrutiny.

 

[Mrmaxwell]

If they are, it certainly isn't getting the same level of media scrutiny.

Being the national carrier Qantas will always be under the media spotlight. Some may think this unfair but I think it is a good thing - keeps the company in check!

With QF's entire 380 fleet seemingly failing all over the place I would say this is news...but I hope more emphasis is also placed on Airbus and whether or not this is an Airbus issue or QF engineers are not doing their job properly.

 

[mannej]

I wonder if EK and SQ are experiencing any similar faults.

AF aswell perhaps?

 

[Kendall Roy]

I wonder if EK and SQ are experiencing any similar faults.

I believe so, however unlike QF, keeping to schedules is priority #1 for SQ/EK.

 

[dajop]

I believe so, however unlike QF, keeping to schedules is priority #1 for SQ/EK.

Well known theory, and I can't comment on EK, but SQ there have been at least two returns to CDG after inflight probs. There have also been well publicised LHR delays, and less well publicised SIN delays. I've seen the A380 delayed out of MEL a couple of times by several hours, and its only been flying there since end of September (mind you have also seen QF9 744 delayed quite a few times as well, which isn't really newsworthy, becoz 744's have been around for years ...).

Probably SQ and EK have advantage in that they don't (currently) fly to US with A380 (EK pulled their JFK services IIRC, but will be reinstating), so don't feel compelled to hold pax on their plane for hours because of the resources/time need for extra pax screening.

 

[Mal]

AF have also had 2 extensive delays in the last month with their A380. It's not just a Qantas thing.

 

[medhead]

I wonder if EK and SQ are experiencing any similar faults.

Yes they all are experiencing similar problems including airfrance. I read a detailed story in the paper about all the support being provided by airbus to the airlines to work through these "teething" problems. Including dedicated airbus teams in all countries and direct hotlines linking them all back to toulose.

However I can't for the life of me remember where I read this

oh, the queen didn't coin the phase annual horiblis. She just spoke in Latin.

 

[straitman]

Yes they all are experiencing similar problems including airfrance. I read a detailed story in the paper about all the support being provided by airbus to the airlines to work through these "teething" problems. Including dedicated airbus teams in all countries and direct hotlines linking them all back to toulose.

However I can't for the life of me remember where I read this

Between this and the A400M saga, it must be costing them a fortune :!:

 

[markjb]

safe bet the stay off the a380 for a while!! unless a potential delay does not matter in your time frame etc.

bring on the 787!!

 

[oz_mark]

bring on the 787!!

We shall wait and see how its introduction into service goes!

 

[Reggie]

safe bet the stay off the a380 for a while!! unless a potential delay does not matter in your time frame etc.

bring on the 787!!

Mmmm, I have a 1 hour connection from QF32 in an A380 to QF72 at SIN mid next month. Me thinks I might not be making said connection.

Maybe QF will hold QF72.

 

[harvyk]

Mmmm, I have a 1 hour connection from QF32 in an A380 to QF72 at SIN mid next month. Me thinks I might not be making said connection.

Maybe QF will hold QF72.

Or it'll work out just fine (which is my guess)... Besides provided they are both on the one ticket you'll be fine, QF will ensure you get to PER.

two A380 flight have been delayed in a week out of how many flights per week?