Is Qantas becoming less reliable?

[Homer]

Firstly let me declare that I am a fan of QF and a loyal customer; this isn't a rant from a disgruntled passenger with unrealistic expectations.

In each of my last three flights on QF the aircraft has experienced issues prior to push back that delayed departure. The longest delay occured last night from BNE-SYD. The 6.15pm departure was delayed for an hour while a faulty black box was fixed/replaced at the gate. The crew were excellent throughout. The captain provided frequent updates and the cabin crew (in J at least) handed out snacks (nuts) followed by dinner while we were on the ground.

Yesterday morning my flight from SYD-BNE was delayed about 30 minutes because they needed to get the aircraft engines started externally using some machine. Last week on a different SYD-BNE flight we were similarly delayed when a switch was stuck in the off position and engineers needed to make repairs at the gate.

I have experienced these types of things before but never so many in such a short time. Has anyone else noticed a change in the frequency of this type of maintenance issue or is this just a coincidence?

 

[JohnK]

I have noticed reliability issues on some of the bigger aircraft. Early January QF074 SYD-MEL aborted take-off and was delayed for 2 hours while the engineers looked at problem.

In late January I had 17 flights in a week, admittedly most on Dash 8s, and only 1 minor delay SYD-BNE on 767 was due to late arrival.

 

[codash1099]

I think they are definitely feeling the pressure and suffering the consequences of:

* increased pressure on staff
* delays in the delivery of new a/c.

It does not auger well for the medium term future.

 

[dajop]

In each of my last three flights on QF the aircraft has experienced issues prior to push back that delayed departure.

Funnily enough last week I had 6 QF flights, of these 5 were delayed (4 of those upon departure, 1 before) due to various reasons. Of course Mr Murphy was hanging round because the 6th and last flight of the week departed 5 mins early, and I arrived at the airport 10 mins before departure and of course was off loaded (had checked in online).

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

And JQ is even worse.

Next week I'll be flying MEL-DRW (hopefully), and I've been checking JQ's recent punctuality on this route (via www.Qantas.com.au).

It seems an hour late isn't unusual. Why bother issuing timetables?

 

[Evan]

If you check the OTP for QF it has dropped recently, but then again so did every other major domestic airline in Australia.

I think all are feeling the presure with older aircraft and more stretched fleets due to more routes etc.

E

 

[simongr]

I could also surmise that in the short term OTP has been impacted by the ongoing adverse weather as well.

 

[Expon]

I could also surmise that in the short term OTP has been impacted by the ongoing adverse weather as well.

I hate it when they use that excuse. They add in at least 25mins fat on a Sydney/Melbourne flight, even more on longer legs for weather and holding etc.

 

[dajop]

I hate it when they use that excuse. They add in at least 25mins fat on a Sydney/Melbourne flight, even more on longer legs for weather and holding etc.

Yes but they don't allow for thunderstorms that shut SYD down for an hour or so.

 

[HardieBoys]

I flew from the NSW north coast to Sydney last week, during terrible weather, and we arrived 1:45 late. On arrival, the crew apologised for the late arrival, but the apology was interrupted by the plane bursting into applause. Up the coast, we'd seen the Virgin flight get cancelled as the plane couldn't land, and heard the roar of military planes trying to get down as well. Somehow, our Dash-8 made it down. Down in Sydney, there were delays landing, but I'd rather be almost 2 hours late than not at all. Stuff happens.

 

[Evan]

Dash-8's are rather hardy planes i am told.... except for the odd landing gear issue

Its a great feeling when you get lucky like that.... just like out of China week before last ! very lucky to get on a plane that was flying.

E

 

[Standby]

I hate it when they use that excuse. They add in at least 25mins fat on a Sydney/Melbourne flight, even more on longer legs for weather and holding etc.

delays and congestion can quiet often be caused by Govt legislation
the most obvious case is SYD airport . The Govt has caps on movements and a "share the noise" rule. Planes are made to taxi to the end of the 3rd runway even when wind direction doesnt require that configuration (always seems to be peak flights but Dom services wear the brunt of this )this can add at 10 mins taxi time which airlines have to build into their block schedules .
Of for the old days when from pushback to take off was 2 mins....the block time in 1980 was 1:10 between SYD and MEL.
Internationally you can wait 20mins at peaks due to infrastructure congestion..baggage/increased aircraft movements /lack of gates.
QF is the largest single carrier thru SYD and so most impacted by these issues
As for reliablilty...stretched resources ,infrastructure and planes fuller than ever make recovery from any delay worse.
Obviously delays to aircraft deliveries are a factor. Many have stated how unreliable the 743s that op to perth are for OTP. QF i'm sure would love to have those gas guzzlers sitting in the nevada desert and have other A330s in their place.
Oh and QF has had better OTP for months than DJ who has a much younger average fleet age

 

[QF WP]

Homer, you must have got a bad batch of planes....I'd have to agree with everybody in the ageing fleet issue (and perhaps run of bad weather being another valid point).

I had an issue on 1 Feb QF505 5.55am BNE/SYD flight where we were 1hr late leaving due to aircraft issues (the computer calculating the take-off weight wasn't working and the capt couldn't rely on his back of schedule calculations, so it had to be replaced/rebooted). Again like you, Mrs QF WP, mini-QF WP and I were in J (thanks to points), as we were connecting to LA in J over the ditch and wanted to stay in J the whole way. Alas, as a morning flight they didn't give us anything.

Bring on the new fleet...it can't happen soon enough

 

[serfty]

Coming home from BNE yesterday with straightman and tuapekastar, we were fascinated to be in VH-VZA on it's 10th day of operation.

This is Qantas' 34th 73H - all are under 6 years old. It is the first new one in two years.

It has the new coverings - the J millenium seats now have in-seat power.

Interestingly, Qantas have done away with the curtain divider between J and WHY.

 

[docjames]

Interestingly, Qantas have done away with the curtain divider between J and WHY.

That seems to be on all domestic now - i was on a 737-400 back from BNE recently and no curtain. Also recently MEL--> SYD and MEL --> BNE no curtains on 767 and 737-800 too.

I cant recall seeing a curtain for > 6 months.

 

[serfty]

The 734's with 5 rows of convertible seating have never had curtains AFAIK.

As for the 73H's, this is the first 73H aircraft I have travelled on this year sans curtains. I did travel on two Trans Tasman last year where the curtains had been removed temporarily - the mounting rails were still there; all other last year had curtains.

 

[oz_mark]

Isn't the lack of curtain something to do with the air marshalls wanting a clear line of sight down the aircraft?

 

[straitman]

That seems to be on all domestic now - i was on a 737-400 back from BNE recently and no curtain. Also recently MEL--> SYD and MEL --> BNE no curtains on 767 and 737-800 too.

I cant recall seeing a curtain for > 6 months.

Of my six flights last week three had curtains.

One flight had a significant delay as it cracked a windscreen enroute NRT - CNS. There was an a/c substitution and then a second one. We left 2 hr and 20 min late and QF did a pretty good job sorting everyone out.

 

[garyjohn951]

QF29 and QF 30 would have to be the least reliable flights. QF29 out of Melbourne last wed, was 1.00am, and QF 30 arrived 1.5 hrs late in HK - All due to Heathrow. Its a bugger for people just going to HK.

Unless I have to actually go to the UK I will fly into Frankfurt, Paris or Helsinki and to europe destinations from there.

 

[Cranky59]

I travel PER - PHE on a weekly basis along with numerous other Mining Contractors, it is commonplace for QF to be late - delayed on at least one sector / flight every other day.
Experience has taught us that if the first Flight ex Perth is 30 minutes late into Port Hedland it is guranteed that the last flight of the day will be at least an hour late, seems to be a lot of issues with reliability on the B717's?