Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Tuesday 12 September 2017, QF23 was originally depicted as delayed from the usual 0950 hours departure until 1020 ex SYD. This became 1045 hours, but by 1110 it did not appear to have commenced pushing back. The aircraft was supposed to be A333 VH-QPF for the second consecutive day according to FR24 but this aircraft instead departed on QF129 to PVG.

QF24 patrons tonight ex BKK can therefore expect to be delayed in SYD arrival tomorrow morning, though by how much is the unanswerable question at this stage.

QF23/QF24 were previously incredibly punctual but in the last two to three months QF23 has been delayed by at least half an hour many times. It doesn't always seem to be a late arrival of an A333 ex an international flight that causes this. I assume the reasons are many and varied.

If any AFF member is at SYD international terminal at present, further information on the cause of the QF23 delay would be great.

 

[Melburnian1]

The 12 September QF23 ended up departing SYD at 1133, 103 minutes late with projected arrival into BKK at claimed 1700 hours, only 20 minutes late. It may be that QF's computer has not revised the arrival time as while a gain of 83 minutes on the schedule may be possible if the winds are extremely favourable, it's a lot less than the gate-to-gate schedule.

In contrast FR24 suggests landing at 1824 early this evening in the Thai capital (and hence an at gate arrival at about 1829) which may be a lot closer to the mark.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 12 September 2017, QF560, the 1635 hours SYD across to PER that was airborne at 1713 with B738 VH-VZP should arrive at 2010 hours, half an hour tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to the delay to QF23 yesterday, QF24 arrived SYD 76 minutes late at 0746 hours on Wednesday 13 September.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight from JNB to SYD, QF64 did not take off on Tuesday 12 until 2023 hours, 73 minutes after timetabled departure. Arrival on Wednesday 13 looks to be 1546, 51 late.

QF5 from SYD to SIN, the 1550 hours is expected to depart 70 late on 13 September.

 

[gaz0303]

Qf2022 cancelled on the 14th. Was assigned a row 7 when I checked in, and couldn't select closer to front. On the dash-8's, this normally means a low load. Cancelled due to a low load or another 'technical issue'? Waiting for the call back in 42 to 54 minutes for new flight details.

Update...no seats available on the rest of the 14th on qf. Corporate TA earning their money, rebooked on Rex. Apparently a flow on effect of winds in Sydney.

 

[sudoer]

Some flights cancelled in Canberra tonight, and many others delayed due to strong winds and a backlog of air traffic in Sydney.

QF1522 passengers are being put on a bus and driven to Sydney. The lounge angel reports no accommodation is available in Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney tonight, and no rental cars available either.

I'm on QF1494 which is currently delayed by 2 hours, expected departure 9:56pm.

 

[Flying mermaid]

QF961 BNE-CBR was 1/2 hour late taking off due to a problem with two unaccompanied minors. They were allowed to board and then it was discovered that the Medical permission paperwork wasn't there. After a bit of faffing around, the minors were off loaded and then their luggage had to be found and off loaded. Landed 1/2 hour late and then sat on the Tarmac for another 10 minutes as there were no free bays, probably due to the Sydney problems.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 14 September, QF6 (A332 VH-EBM), the redeye from SIN to SYD should arrive at 1045 hours, 55 minutes late. This delay is because yesterday QF5 had been advised as departing 70 late at 1700 hours but did not end up taking off until 1737.

The 0935 hours MEL - NRT QF79 is usually punctual (like all the Japan-bound flights of all three nonstop operators) but on 14 September is suggested as instead departing at 1045 for a suggested NRT arrival of 1925, just 25 minutes late.

QF23 (0950 hours SYD - BKK) is again late with takeoff at 1055 for A333 VH-QPC meaning suggested arrival at 1725, 45 late and in turn a tardy departure for tonight's QF24 back to SYD.

The 1025 hours SYD - SIN, QF81 is expected to depart half an hour late on Thursday 14.

QF63 from SYD to JNB has a revised departure time of 1135, 45 late so it will be at least half an hour late into the South African major centre.

QF117, the 1125 hours SYD - HKG is forecast to depart 70 late and arrive 65 late at 2010 this evening.

Wednesday 13 September's transcontinental USA QF12 (B744-operated) departed JFK 61 late at 1911 so the late evening departure of QF12 (A388-operated) from LAX to SYD will be delayed. The latter is the Friday morning arrival in SYD.

QF7 (long flight from SYD to DFW) is predicted to depart half an hour tardy on Thursday 14 at 1300 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Thursday 14 September, QF488, the 0845 hours MEL - SYD did not become airborne until 1109, so arrival should be at around 1202 early this afternoon instead of the scheduled 1010 hours. Plane is B738 VH-VZS that had earlier arrived in MEL on time on QF405 at 0805 (ex SYD) so it had plenty of time to turn around. Not sure what went wrong.

QF410, the northbound same route scheduled 0715 hours MEL - SYD took off at 1126 with VH-VZC meaning arrival at a likely 1215 instead of 0840 hours, 215 minutes late.

Apparently gusty winds in Sydney have forced single runway only operations.

 

[Drpopper]

Pretty much everything out of Sydney today is either cancelled or delayed.... it's a complete cluster

 

[Melburnian1]

Emphasising Drpopper's point, QF429, the 1130 hours SYD down to MEL took off at 1356 hours with B738 VH-VXU. Arrival at 1514 will be 129 minutes late.

The earlier QF427 (1100 hours SYD - MEL) was cancelled, as is QF435, the 1300 hours scheduled southbound departure. Later, QF473, the 1415 hours has also got the bullet as has QF443, the timetabled 1500 hours mid afternoon ex SYD down to MEL.

QF445 (1530 hours SYD - MEL) is also not operating and nor is QF449, the 1630 ex the mainland harbour city. The 1715 hours SYD - MEL is another casualty as is the 1730 hours southbound, QF455.

Northbound from MEL to SYD, QF444 (1030 hours departure), QF428 (the 1130 hours), QF434 (1300), QF438 (1400), QF440 (1430 hours), QF436 (1445 hours), QF472 (1515 hours), QF444 (1530 hours) and QF466 (1945 hours) are among flights cancelled at this stage.

Sure it's not a Friday night or late Sunday afternoon, but Thursday is reasonably busy so how do the airlines expect to get all booked passengers to their destinations on the same day with this number of flights cancelled? From a quick count QF had 41 southbound SYD - MEL flights scheduled today including some widebodies, but even if every cancelled flight (a minimum of eight) is just a narrowbody B738 that's still more than 1300 seats that suddenly have become unavailable out of a normal daily one way total of around the 9000 mark. Will some passengers end up on JQ if its flights operate?

At least there's a few hours until tonight's NSWTrainLink XPT departs Sydney at 2032 hours for Melbourne, and it still has seats!

 

[Drpopper]

I just left the domestic j lounge and It's utter chaos there ...with big lines at the desk. I'm guessing I'm lucky to be sitting on QF437 which is already a hour late and hasn't pushed back yet.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sydney Airport flight arrivals and departures listings seem to have crashed.

Thank you for the fantastic up to the minute sit reps, Drpopper. Most amusing of you to have used that magical word 'cluster.' There's always someone adept at injecting a little levity into grim situations.

 

[Melburnian1]

Drpopper's QF437 on 14 September, the 1330 hours SYD - MEL took off at about 1450 so arrival should be at 1611. A332 VH-EBP is the aircraft.

The 1150 hours OOL down to SYD (B738 VH-VYL,QF863) took off at 1346; arrival should be at 1519, 119 minutes tardy.

QF761 (B738 VH-XZG, the 1450 hours SYD across to ADL) took off at 1615; arrival should be at 1724, 54 minutes tardy.

 

[Drpopper]

QF437 got in about 16.01 ...bumpy as *#%' on the take off and climb out from Sydney

 

[Melburnian1]

Long haul QF28 from SCL to SYD (B744 VH-OEJ) is arriving at 1810, half an hour late on Thursday 14 September.

QF541 (1605 hours BNE down to SYD, B738 VH-VYE) took off at 1701; arrival is estimated at 1817 hours, 37 minutes late.

QF446, the 1600 hours northbound on Australia's busiest air route (A332 VH-EBP) was in the sky at 1719, so estimated arrival has become 1813 hours, 48 minutes behind schedule.

The 1500 hours northbound on the same MEL - SYD route, QF442, is much worse affected with takeoff at 1735 for VH-EBE. Predicted arrival is 1824 hours, 119 minutes behind time.

QF826 (1640 hours MEL - CBR, B738 VH-XZC) pointed skywards at 1728; arrival is suggested as 1817 in the early evening, 32 late.

UPDATE: QF442 is suffering an even longer delay, with likely arrival at 1858, 148 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Although I noted at least eight in one direction above, more Thursday 14 September 'SYD strong winds - one runway ops' cancellations are occurring on the MEL - SYD route with QF490, normally the 2000 hours northbound yet another casualty.

In the southbound direction QF477 and QF489, respectively the 1845 and 2015 hours ex SYD have also had the bullet.

 

[moa999]

Reported on 7News that more one runway operations are expected tomorrow with winds expected to pickup at 8am and last most of the day

 

[Himeno]

Reported on 7News that more one runway operations are expected tomorrow with winds expected to pickup at 8am and last most of the day

This SYD wind single runway stuff reminds me of a delay I got a 4 years ago. Was meant to fly CBR-SYD-NRT. My CBR-SYD flight kept getting delayed to the point I'd miss the connection. Raised the issue with ground staff and after pointing out the international connection, they ended up rerouting me via MEL and CX.

I have another trip to Tokyo on Sat night. Sounds like booking the MEL JL flight is working out to be a good idea.