Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[docjames]

Following mrsdoc on QF479 tonight. Boarded "on time" and no delay announced in terminal.

Sched departure: 1845: Sched arrival 2020
Qantas website updates gave the following sequence

"Scheduled to depart at 1900" (timestamped on my phone @ 1858)

"Departed at 1858 and scheduled to arrive in Melbourne at 2035" (came though a few mins later)

"Rescheduled to arrive at 2035" (a few mins later)

""Rescheduled to arrive at 2020" (about 15 mins later)

"Landed at 2021" (arrived on my phone 2022)


Looking at FR24 I noted two earlier SYD-MEL (one QF one TT) flights did a 360 (at 28,000 and 30,000ft) somewhere between mansfield and bright.

Interesting sequence of times and updates.

Looks like to fit into the MEL arrival sequence and based on planned flight time, they needed to "lose" 15mins and had set a 15min delay, but then pushed at 13min delay, got airborne with "block" time still in the system, then after departure the actual planned time (and planned arrival time) uploads to the system and updates arrival time.

And by pushing 2 mins short of the 15 mins, they keep their "on time departure" stat (as industry defined <15 min delay). And arrived "1 min late" (again, "on time arrival").

 

[Melburnian1]

....then after departure the actual planned time (and planned arrival time) uploads to the system and updates arrival time....

From observation the QF website (and presumably any 'real time' updates such as to your smartphone or other device) tends to update the estimated arrival time (time of landing, not gate arrival) once the aircraft is cruising, or just before. It can sometimes be a substantial adjustment if the aircraft has been delayed receiving ATC clearance for takeoff.

If the weather is stormy or otherwise difficult, even that estimate can be inaccurate as we saw this morning a few posts above with QF804 having a missed approach into CBR due presumably to fog. The converse is that when the weather is benign and other 'traffic' is predictable, the forecast landing time on the QF website is normally very accurate.

Very good report that goes into much detail.

QF653 (22 June 2035 hours MEL across to PER, A332 VH-EBC that was in the sky at 2126 hours mid evening) should pull in at 2326, 41 late. QF481, the earlier scheduled 1915 hours departure on the same route is also delayed with stablemate VH-EBB suggested as arriving at 2205, 40 minutes down.

 

[Melburnian1]

Interesting spread of guesses. The ETAs range from 17:40 to 18:30. Adding the departure time to the flight plan, and you end up with an even earlier time. Allowing for ATC, I'd expect it to be slightly earlier than scheduled. Let's see how 17:50 goes.

It landed at 1745, so allowing a nominal five minutes to get to the gate makes it 1750 (although as previously noted many taxiing periods upon landing can be longer, as all of us know only too well.)

 

[Melburnian1]

In what is a virtual repeat of yesterday, due to fog in CNR QF804 (B738 VH-VXR, the 0700 hours MEL - CBR that was in the sky at 0727) and QF1543 (B717 VH-YQV, the 0615 hours BNE - CBR that was airborne at a prompt 0623) remain in holding patterns to CBR's south as at 0833. Both are due to arrive as per the timetable at 0805 hours so each will be at least half an hour late if they manage to effect a landing. QF804 already had one missed approach by the look of FR24.

QF706 (B738 VH-VXC), the 0645 hours early morning ADL across to CBR that took off expeditiously at 0652 is also in a holding pattern but further southwest. Its scheduled arrival is 0850 hours.

B717 VH-YQS on QF1511 (0620 hours SYD - CBR) took off at 0830 so arrival is predicted at 0913, 113 minutes late.

UPDATE: QF1543 appears to have had a missed approach at 0846 hours. QF804 is still at 12,000 feet in a holding pattern to CBR's south.

On a predicted foggy morning that turned out to be so in CBR, what would tend to be the approximate number of minutes holding at which the crew of these two differently sized aircraft (B738 and B717) would be likely to make a decision to divert to SYD, MEL or somewhere else? We don't have a window into how much extra fuel each is carrying but doubtless on such days flight crew are conservative and prudent.

It was interesting that QF's MEL - CBR took off at 0727 hours this morning but VA's identically timed flight was held in MEL until a takeoff at 0832. Presumably the QF operations centre staff thought that QF804 might be able to get into CBR without too much trouble, but VA's outfit were more cautious.

FURTHER UPDATE: By 0853, it appeared that QF1543 had begun to divert to MEL.

QF804 diverted to SYD. QF814 (B738 VH-VXD, the 0830 hours MEL - CBR that took off at 0848) remained in a hold southeast of CBR at 1016.

QF1511 had a missed approach at 1017. It cannot hold forever! By 1025 hours it looked to be diverting back to SYD, but QF814 from MEL was following VA257 into CBR which landed at about 1024, so the QF814 should hopefully be at the CBR terminal at roughly 1035, an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 22 June's QF8 departed DFW four minutes early at 2211 hours but its Saturday 24 June arrival in SYD is expected at 0635, half an hour behind schedule.

Friday 23's QF23 departed SYD conincidentally 23 late at 1013; arrival in BKK is predicted as 1720 hours, 40 minutes behind schedule.

The 1200 'high noon' QF117 from SYD departed 49 minutes tardy. It should pull in to its allocated airport gate in HKG at 2015 hours, 35 minutes late.

The B744 on the long sector from SYD to SCL, QF27 departed 53 minutes late at 1323 this afternoon. SCL arrival is suggested as 1155 hours, 45 late which will at least slightly delay QF28 back to olde Sydney town.

Thursday 22's QF10 commenced its LHR pushback at 1457, 87 minutes past the allotted, which is fairly unusual as it has a better timekeeping record than its opposite number QF9. QF10 arrived DXB at 0038 hours this morning (23 June), which was 63 minutes tardy but lost further time on the ground as pushback was not until 0322, 107 minutes late. Arrival in MEL tonight is forecast to be 2205, 70 minutes tardy so the 23 June QF9, the scheduled 2255 hours will be unable to depart until at least 2345 on its long trip back to DXB and LHR.

UPDATE: The Friday 23 June QF9 (A388 VH-OQK) has been amended to expected departure at 0010 on Saturday 24 - a two hour turnaround in MEL.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Friday 23 June, QF457 (B738 VH-VYK, the 1745 hours SYD down to MEL that was in the sky at 1814) looks like arriving in the southern capital at around 1953 hours, 33 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Very late on Friday 23 June, QF2115, the 1950 hours from CFS down to SYD (Q200 VH-TQG) that took off at 2154 is technically breaking the 2300 hours curfew as it looks to be landing at about 2315 hours compared with its timetabled at gate time of 2115 hours. Given that every one of these 'dispensations' sought (successful or not) has to be narrated in a report to the Commonwealth Parliament, in a few months (it is not quick) we can have the joy of reading why any granted dispensation occurred. There are supposed to be three criteria to satisfy before the Federal Minister for Transport's delegate will say 'yes.'

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 24 June, QF12 into SYD (ex LAX) is arriving at approximately 0909 hours with A320 VH-OQI, 169 minutes late as it did not take off from LAX on Friday morning 23 June until 0135 hours. In contrast QF16 to BNE and QF94 to MEL were not affected.

QF8 ex DFW was 46 minutes late into SYD on 24 June at 0651 hours.

QF1514 (0800 hours CBR - SYD that was airborne at 0906, VH-YQV) should arrive at 0957 hours, 62 minutes late.

QF1463 (Q400 VH-QOH), the 0815 hours SYD - CBR is arriving at about 0951 hours, 41 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 24 June, QF81 from SYD to SIN is expected to depart 80 minutes late at 1145, with consequent arrival at 1815, 85 minutes behind schedule.

QF127 from SYD to HKG, the 1000 hours, is worse with estimated pushing back to occur at 1200 'high noon' for a projected arrival in the SAR at 1850 tonight, 90 late.

QF23 departed 26 minutes late from SYD at 1016; BKK at gate arrival is forecast for 1720 hours, 40 minutes tardy.

The 1050 hours SYD - JNB B744, QF63, departed 18 minutes late but is expected to arrive half an hour behind at 1730 this afternoon local time.

UPDATE: QF81 departed a little later at 1151 than forecast, and is suggested as arriving SIN at 1835, 105 minutes tardy. Plane is A332 VH-EBQ.

 

[Melburnian1]

Friday 23 June's QF8 departed DFW promptly at 2222 hours, only seven minutes late but Sunday 25 arrival in SYD is estimated as 0640 hours, 35 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 25 June's 0915 hours MEL - LAX departed 56 minutes late with A388 VH-OQL. LAX same day arrival is projected to be 0655, only 20 minutes behind.

The 0935 hours SYD short hop across to WLG is predicted to depart at 1120 rather than its timetabled 0935 hours.

QF23, the 0950 hours from SYD up to BKK has been delayed until at least 1045 with arrival suggested as 50 minutes behind schedule at 1730.

UPDATE: QF63 (1050 hours SYD - JNB, B744 VH-OEJ) did not take off until 1202 (just after 'high noon.') Arrival is estimated at 1805, 65 minutes tardy, so QF64 back this evening JNB time will be at least slightly delayed in departing.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Sunday 25 June, QF441 (1430 hours mid afternoon from SYD down to MEL, B738 VH-VZO that was in the sky at 1409) looks like pulling in to its designated MEL airport gate at roughly 1637 hours, 32 late.

QF1520 (1710 hours CBR short hop to SYD that was not airborne until 1827, B717 VH-YQS) should arrive at around 1900 hours, 55 minutes tardy.

The WLG - SYD QF164 (B738 ZK-ZQA) should arrive at roughly 1902, a significant 82 minutes behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday 24 June's QF12 from LAX to SYD is expected to arrive on Monday 26 at 0655, 35 minutes tardy. QF94 (LAX - MEL) is half an hour late with Monday arrival likely at 0725 hours. QF16 ex LAX to BNE is a forecast 45 minutes late with a suggested 0655 hours arrival. None of these by themselves should result in any delays to outbound A388s or B744s on Monday 26 ex SYD, MEL or BNE.

 

[defurax]

Friday 23 June's QF8 departed DXB promptly at 2222 hours, only seven minutes late but Sunday 25 arrival in SYD is estimated as 0640 hours, 35 minutes late.

DXB is an unusual diversion for QF8!

 

[Sdtravel]

Friday 23 June's QF8 departed DXB promptly at 2222 hours, only seven minutes late but Sunday 25 arrival in SYD is estimated as 0640 hours, 35 minutes late.

I was on this flight. We landed just before 7am.
You don't have any insight into why we were slower than normal do you? One of my colleagues who had roaming got a call from QF asking if he was interested in rerouting via LAX. Due to some weight issue they were trying to get a number of pax over to QF12.
He was advised to checkin as early as possible to avoid being offloaded. I got no call and had put my US sim in my booking. No one mentioned anything when we checked in at AUS.

Is this normal and just an overlooking thing or was there some special reason behind it all.

 

[jb747]

Is this normal and just an overlooking thing or was there some special reason behind it all.

Wind - fuel - weight. Adverse wind, needs more fuel. As that flight always departs at max weight, the extra fuel has to come from somewhere. I expect the 94 will involve some of the same maths tonight.

 

[yld200]

QF402 MEL>SYD due to depart at 7.45, now needing an aircraft change due to an issue identified with cabin pressure.

 

[Melburnian1]

DXB is an unusual diversion for QF8!

Indeed it is. My mistake - should be 'DFW' of course. I cannot alter it as it is more than 24 hours since it was posted. Apologies.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF402 MEL>SYD due to depart at 7.45, now needing an aircraft change due to an issue identified with cabin pressure.

QF402 appears to have been cancelled.

Whether connected or not is unknown, but QF412 (A332 VH-EBR), what should be the preceding 0730 hours MEL - SYD was not airborne until 0838 hours on Monday 26 June. Arrival should be at 0941 hours, 46 minutes late.

QF81 from SYD to SIN, the 1025 hours (A332 VH-EBN) took off at 1104; arrival is suggested as 31 minutes behind schedule at 1721.

 

[Melburnian1]

After departing SYD late yesterday on QF64, the Sunday 25 June QF764 from JNB to SYD (B744 VH-OEJ) is expected to arrive at 1544 on Monday 26, which would be 49 minutes late. It was not airborne last night until 2023 despite a timetabled departure of 1910 hours.