Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

QF409 (0700 SYD to MEL), QF1471 and QF1473 (0955 and 1045 hours SYD to CBR) are cancelled on Tuesday 8 March.

So are the identically timed QF7940 and QF2110, the 1000 flights from SYD to CFS but at the same time, QF2112 is running. Is this a programming error or is a special event going on in Coffs Harbour? There are not normally three identically timed flights scheduled on one airline route by one carrier!

Furthermore, QF420 (0930 hours MEL northbound to SYD) is cancelled as is the early morning QF1760 (0615 BNE to recently flooded MKY so this cancellation may be more to do with inability to land than anything else.)

QF2012 from SYD to TMW, the 0700, is delayed in departing until an expected 0800 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Monday 7 March QF130 ex PVG did not depart until 2349 local time, three hours and 44 minutes late. SYD arrival is forecast for Tuesday 8 March at 1330, three hours and 45 behind time.

As a result the second of the day to HKG, QF117 is expected to depart at 1445 this afternoon (8 March) rather than 1340 with arrival at 2110 in lieu of 2005 hours. QF118, the 2135 hours tonight from HKG to SYD will therefore be unable to depart until about 2215 (assuming the late runing on QF117 is as forecast) but this evening delay ex HKG is yet to be shown on the QF website.

UPDATE: QF129 from SYD to PVG departed 61 minutes late at 1151, with arrival predicted as 1920 hours this evening, 50 minutes late.

QF117 (see above) had not departed by 1515.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 8 March, the delayed QF117 (SYD - HKG) eventually departed at 1618, two hours and 38 minutes late. Forecast arrival at 2235 tonight will be 150 minutes behind time. QF118 tonight returning from HKG to SYD will be unable to leave prior to 2340 hours but the QF website still maintains that it will pushback at the scheduled 2135 hours.

At present, from what one can work out as this flight's approximately 1200 arrival back in SYD on Wednesday, it may delay the 1225 hours QF19 from SYD to MNL. As always, gate numbers can change if QF decides to swap A333 aircraft.

In quick succession ex SYD this afternoon, QF1515 (1525 hours to CBR), QF2006 (same time to TMW) and QF2030 (1530 to ARM) were cancelled. QF451 (1715 SYD - MEL) also got the flick. as has the 1840 to CBR, QF1525. Not a good afternoon for Qantaslink.

 

[OATEK]

On Tuesday 8 March, the delayed QF117 (SYD - HKG) eventually departed at 1618, two hours and 38 minutes late. Forecast arrival at 2235 tonight will be 150 minutes behind time. QF118 tonight returning from HKG to SYD will be unable to leave prior to 2340 hours but the QF website still maintains that it will pushback at the scheduled 2135 hours.

At one stage FlightRadar had QF117 taxi out and then return to the terminal. Not sure if that actually happened or not.

 

[milehighclub]

At one stage FlightRadar had QF117 taxi out and then return to the terminal. Not sure if that actually happened or not.

It did due to engineering.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Tuesday 8 March QF653, the 2035 hours flight from MEL to PER is expected to be airborne at 2150 this evening.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF19 (1225 SYD - MNL, A333 VH-QPC which has been travelling there a lot lately) was late away on Wednesday 9 March, departing at 1316 due to the inbound delay of another flight as noted above. Arrival is expected to be 42 minutes late at 1812. QF20 will be at least marginally late departing for SYD as it is timetabled off blocks at 1900 hours.

QF512, the 0905 SYD - BNE did not depart until 1046. QF2024, the 1045 SYD - ARM was cancelled as was QF1568 from SYD to OOL, the 1105 hours flight.

QF81, the 1115 SYD - SIN did not depart until just before 1600 this afternoon. It should arrive in the Lion City at about 2045 this evening, four and a quarter hours late.

QF862, the 1345 SYD to OOL departed at 1428 with arrival at 1442 this afternoon, still 32 minutes late. QF2172, the 1420 SYD to PQQ, was cancelled: Qantaslink has been having many problems with its NSW intrastate flights to and from SYD in the last few days. QF1515, 1525 SYD short haul to CBR also got the gong.

The 1400 hours SYD - CGK is often most punctual but that was not the case on 9 March when it took off at 1758 in the early evening (or late afternoon depending on one's 'preference' in nomenclature.) QF42 back overnight will be late departing CGK. Overall, a poor day for the QFi A333/A332 fleet.

QF1768 (1425 hours BNE to very wet MKY) was cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Tuesday 8 March 2016 QF9 departed MEL at 2346, 21 late - nothing particularly unusual - but lost time and arrived DXB today (Wednesday 9) at 0750, 80 minutes late. The QF website suggests that it was meant to depart this city in the desert at 0925 hours, 50 minutes late although it subsequently amended the supposed departure time to 1030, which again was now hours ago as I write.)

FlightAware - Flight Tracker / Flight Status / Flight Tracking is silent as to whether it has yet departed DXB even though the time there is 1330 in the early afternoon. www.flightradar24.com similarly suggests that the plane remains in DXB.

The aircraft may be A388 VH-OQC. Advice as to what if anything untoward is going on in DXB would be great. The airport seems to be operating quite normally: some flights are 45 minutes late but again that is nothing particularly 'worrying.'

The QF website has not updated a few QFi 'actual' times - for instance, an hour ago, it was suggesting that QF41 from SYD to CGK had not departed, yet it had, albeit late as noted above.

There is no indication on the QF website that QF2 from LHR to SYD tonight (Wednesday 9), the 2035 hours departure, is cancelled.

 

[Quickstatus]

DXB suggests that boarding is underway for QF9 and estimated departure 1430 local time - 6 hours behind schedule.

Arrival into LHR is 2.3 hours before its required to depart as QF2

Interestingly the 0940 EK29 to LHR was also late departing at 1415

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you Quickstatus. There must be a software error with the QF website as it had shown QF9 as departing (from DXB for LHR) at 1230 DXB time.

The DXB airport site suggests that QF9 (A388 VH-OQC) took off for LHR at 1510 hours after departing at 1439, six hours and four minutes late. At least it was not cancelled between DXB and LHR, although a delay of this magnitude means lost air or rail connections from LHR or central London railway stations for some travellers.

It landed at LHR on Wednesday 9 March at 1808 and was at the terminal at about 1820 hours, so it should have sufficient time to form the 2035 hours QF2 more or less on time. This assumes no other matters requiring attention, or other problems, emerge.

QF2 for SYD departed DXB today at 1104, an hour and 29 minutes late. This is fairly unusual for this flight. It should arrive SYD on Thursday 10 March at 0730, an hour behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Wednesday 9 March 2016 QF10 (1205 hours ex LHR for DXB and MEL) does not appear to have yet departed even though it is now almost 2030 in London.

The Heathrow Airport site suggests that it has been cancelled, but the QF website suggests that it was going to depart at 1505 hours. Did it run out of permissible crew hours?

The aircraft is A388 VH-OQE that may now be 'stranded' in LHR.

If so, this will lead to the 'rolling 24 hour delays' that AFF members such as JohnPhelan have previously noted in relation to the B744 fleet of QF - the comment is as true for the A380s when there is an unscheduled holdup such as this seems to be.

As a matter of interest a number of EK flights from LHR to DXB are also quite late.

Advice from any AFFer booked on the Wednesday QF10 (or QF2) either ex LHR or DXB would be appreciated. Combined with the above late running of QF9, it is an interesting situation.

 

[Quickstatus]

Timestamp
10/3 0839 SYD
10/3 0139 DXB
09/3 2139 LHR


It appears that QF1 (09/03) which departed 40 minutes late and arrived into at DXB at 0100 (+1) will now turn around at DXB to form QF10 to MEL(10/03). The estimated departure will be 0240 causing a 1.5 hour late arrival. (FA)

QF1 to LHR has been cancelled. The 09/03 QF9 may have to come to the rescue as it is on-time and due to land at 0600 (+1).

Therefore any passengers at DXB to LHR from the 1 shunted to the 9 will be 6 hours late. Similarly any passengers at LHR to DXB on the 10 shunted to the 2 will be about 6 hours late plus additional knockon back to OZ. Maybe not so lucky for others shunted elsewhere.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you Quickstatus. Excellent update: because of the multiple days at different locations these delays affect, it can quickly become confusing (except to delayed passengers: annoying to them.)

The Wednesday 9 March QF2, 2035 hours from LHR departed at 2110, 35 minutes late.

QF suggests that the DXB - MEL Thursday 10 March QF10 (using the terminated QF1 ex SYD on 9 March that has been cancelled between DXB and LHR) has yet to depart from DXB (time there is now 0240) so this will mean a post 2230 hours arrival in MEL this evening.

The Thursday 10 March QF9 from MEL to DXB and LHR will therefore be delayed, but no one can say approximately how much until QF10 is airborne ex DXB.

These delays must cause much dislocation: crews may be out of position, some passengers badly delayed and even the humble non self-loading freight would have to be transferred at DXB were it bound for LHR. While QF and other airlines have all had these scenarios become reality previously, it must create an enormous number of changed or new tasks for a wide range of QF employees. Very stressful.

Locally, QF775, the 0700 from MEL to PER was airborne at 0921 on Thursday 10 March. Arrival should be just over two hours late at approximately 1010.

QF418, the 0900 MEL to SYD has been cancelled.

 

[Quickstatus]

It is difficult for any airline to fly to a schedule one aircraft on long 2 sectors that has tight turnarounds. It does not take much for the holes to align in the Swiss Cheese. The engineering/technical/human resources that must be deployed to keep these birds progressing in the forward direction on long multisector routes is very fascinating.

Interestingly OQE spent 2.5 days in SYD between transpacific flights and this adventure to the west. (FA)

 

[Melburnian1]

QF612 (1005 MEL to BNE) did not take off until 1123 on Thursday 10 March. The QF website is not updating these times, so relying on it at present would be unwise. It should arrive at about 1206.

The delayed QF10 that started in DXB (see above) took off at 0405 from DXB (1105 AEDT) and should be in MEL at about 2320. The QF and www.melair.com.au sites are yet to disclose the arrival time so I am basing it on what Flight Aware suggests is the touchdown time of 2314 this evening.

If so, this will mean that QF9 tonight (Thursday 10 March) ex MEL is delayed until at least 0100, an hour and 35 minutes late.

The 1200 QF430 (MEL - SYD, A332 VH-EBQ) took off at 1308 and is about 55 minutes late, being likely to arrive at 1420.

QF1535 (the 1215 CBR- MEL, B717 VH-YQT) was airborne at 1324 and should arrive about 55 minutes late at 1420 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF440 on 10 March 2016 (1430 hours MEL to SYD) was airborne at 1555 so is about an hour late. Craft is VH-EBK, an A332.

QF686 (1340 hours ADL - MEL, B738 VH-VZR) took off at 1444 and should arrive at 1620, 55 minutes late.

 

[milehighclub]

I have been told an A380 was struck by lightning causing these disruptions in DXB.

Also the QF7 diverted to LAX for fuel because of thunderstorms in Dallas.

 

[Melburnian1]

milehighclub, great information. Unlucky to have a lightning strike. The media suggest that flooding of this magnitude in the Emirates is a 'once a year' event.

Elaborating on the Wednesday QF7 (SYD - DFW), it was in LAX from 1029 to 1134 on that day with predicted arrival in DFW 1640, three hours and five minutes late. As the return QF8 (DFW - SYD) is not timetabled to depart until 2010, that should be plenty of time to do so on time, fingers crossed.

 

[Melburnian1]

Our old 'friend' the B717 roster is again having problems between HBA and MEL on Thursday 10 March.

QF1506 is about to arrive in MEL some 100 minutes late at 1845 (B717 VH-NXK.) It is the 1550 ex HBA that took off at 1718.

The following QF1508, the 1710 hours departure, took off at 1731 but as with other flights ex Tassie is in a holding pattern over Korumburra and Inverloch so it should arrive at about 1905, 40 minutes late.

QF2286 (Q400 VH-QOU) from LST to MEL is in a similar position GPS-wise and should arrive at roughly 1911 hours, 41 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

The truncated QF10 (it had commenced in DXB not LHR - see above) normally timetabled to arrive in MEL at 2120 on Thursday 10 March arrived at 0019 this morning (Friday 11.) Departure as QF9 was at 0233, three hours and eight minutes late. The DXB stop is estimated as 0910 to 1010: this would be very fast, as the quickest I can recall is about 75 minutes and even that is probably a good effort given the crew change, baggage and catering to come off and on, passenger unloading and loading and so on. QF then suggests a 1430 hours arrival today in LHR, an hour and 35 minutes late so time will tell.

The Thursday 10 March QF10 ex LHR did not depart until 1402, an hour and 57 minutes late - quite unusual as this flight mostly departs on time or extremely close to it. DXB arrival is forecast as 0110, an hour and 57 minutes late (and also five minutes ago as I write) with departure at 0240 meaning a 2240 hours, 80 minutes late arrival in MEL tonight (Friday 11.) In turn this will mean that QF9 is once again delayed as turning around a large aircraft in 45 minutes is not possible.

The not as badly delayed QF2 (ex LHR 9 March) arrived this morning in SYD 63 minutes late at 0733.

QF405, the Friday 11 March 0630 hours SYD to MEL was cancelled. QF1513 from SYD to CBR is expected to depart 45 minutes late at 0900 hours.

The SYD to SIN QF81 (1115 departure) is forecast to depart today at 1245. QF expects arrival to also be 90 minutes late at 1800.

QF127 from SYD to HKG is suggested as likely to be two hours late with a 1335 hours changed departure time. QF117, the more recent addition to the timetable and normally a 1345 ex SYD also for HKG has been cancelled so it looks like some passengers on it are being transferred to QF127 and the latter held for such patrons. Connecting flight times may explain why it is not possible for QF to ask these passengers to turn up two hours earlier (and I do not know how much notice QF has had and hence been able to give travellers of the cancellation.) One wonders if there are insufficient spare seats on QF127 for the 'displaced persons' from the cancelled QF117 and hence whether any will be transferred to CX or other flights, or have to stay in SYD overnight at QF's expense.

QF1760 (0615 BNE to flood hit MKY) was cancelled, as are QF2454 (0940 hours BNE to MOV) and QF1706 (1050 mid morning BNE to GLT.)

QF674 (0650 ADL to MEL, B738 VH-VZU) was not airborne until 0731 and with a few other aircraft is in a holding pattern over Bendigo. It should arrive about 45 minutes late at 0920.

QF407 from SYD to MEL should arrive at about 0935, 45 minutes late. Aircraft is B738 VH-VZE.

QF605 (0600 hours BNE - MEL, VH-VXG) took off at 0632 and should be at the gate at about 0958, 38 minutes late. It is holding just east of Bendigo.

QF1529 (VH-NXN, a B717) took off at 0925 from CBR despite a departure time of 0840. It was in a hold above the Victorian Alps but should arrive about 62 minutes late at 1052.

QF461, the 0845 SYD - MEL (B738 VH-VZW) took off at 0946 and should arrive at about 1111, 51 minutes late. QF702, the 0920 MEL - CNS did not take off until 1028.