Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Flyerqf, thanks. Do you know what is wrong with VH-OJT?

Also on Friday 3 November, QF1 departed at 1811 hours from SYD for DXB.

 

[Flyerqf]

Flyerqf, thanks. Do you know what is wrong with VH-OJT?

Not specifically, the flight was originally rescheduled for 1515 before being delayed until tomorrow.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 3 November, QF10 (scheduled at 1155 hours from LHR to DXB and MEL) is expected to depart at 1400 hours with DXB arrival at a suggested 0115 hours, 130 minutes late, and incidentally ten minutes after the flight is due to depart for the southern capital.

QF9 passengers tomorrow night (Saturday 4) in theory might expect to be at least 45 minutes late departing, but QF10 may pick up some time including from reducing the duration of the DXB intermediate stop and from time between gates.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Saturday 4 November, the overnight delayed QF63 (B744 VH-OJT) departed SYD at 0849 hours with JNB arrival to be at about 1320 this afternoon South African time. QF64 is predicted to depart JNB at 1530 hours with SYD Sunday 5 arrival at 1215.

Friday's QF10, the 1155 hours was not as badly delayed as predicted, departing LHR 90 late at 1325. The intermediate stop in DXB became 0011 (Saturday 4), 66 minutes late to 0133, only 28 late with projected arrival tonight in MEL at 2131 hours, only six minutes late, again showing how much time can be shaved out of the schedule, especially if the intermediate stop duration can be reduced. So as it turns out the delay to QF9 tonight ex MEL should be minimal, provided all goes well during the turnaround.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 4 November, QF35, the 1225 hours MEL - SIN first of two for the day did not depart until 1321. Arrival estimate has become 1825 hours, an hour late, thus softening the blow in terms of 'hours lost' for AFF member Dannyism who found JQ7 cancelled, only to then be transferred to the much later QF37 given that QF 35 was booked out.

QF1504, the scheduled 1220 hours HBA - MEL was cancelled. This may be due to continuing 'protected industrial action' by Cobham Aviation flight crew, who as noted above are allegedly dissatisfied with their remuneration.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 5 November's arriving QF8 (DFW - SYD) is expected to be 40 minutes late at 0645 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

The overnight delayed QF63 arrived JNB at around 1330 hours on Saturday 4 November.

QF64 then did not depart until 1645 hours, five minutes shy of 20 hours late. However it looks to be diverting to MEL where an intermediate stop is forecast from 1305 to 1405 hours, giving a SYD arrival much later than had been suggested above of 1540 hours, 24 hours and 10 minutes tardy.

This aircraft (B744 VH-OJT) then looks to be on the 1250 hours SYD - SCL, QF27, that is forecast to depart on Sunday 5 November at 1730 hours for a Chilean arrival (same day) at 1535 rather than 1110 hours. Today's 1335 hours SCL - SYD, QF28, the 1335 hours will be unable to depart until at least 1720 (and that would be a fast turnaround) so with the potential for one or more of these stops to take longer than anticipated, there must be a fair chance of QF28 being unable to arrive before Monday evening's 2300 hours SYD flight curfew.

Meanwhile the scheduled Saturday 4 QF64 (B744 VH-OEF) departed JNB at 2020 hours, 90 minutes late but is showing as only five minutes late into SYD on 5 November at 1535 hours.

Also on Sunday 5, QF702 (0820 hours MEL - CNS, B738 VH-VYI) did not trake off until 0937 hours. Arrival should be at about 1143 late this morning Queensland time, 63 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Sunday 5 November, the 0905 hours morning BNE - CBR did not take off until 1050 hours. B717 VH-YQU should arrive at 1115 hours, 85 minutes late.

QF1798 (VH-YQV), the BNE - ASP 0950 hours scheduled pushback was in the sky at 1027 hours. Arrival should be half an hour behind schedule at 1255.

 

[Melburnian1]

The diverted, 24 hour late QF64D (B744 VH-OJT) on Sunday 5 November 2017 was airborne from MEL at 1445 for SYD so arrival should be at about 1600 hours.

Perhaps this flight had some passengers moved from the Saturday 'normal departing' QF64 and was hence overweight to make it all the way to SYD without an intermediate stop. The relatively short stop in MEL indicates refuelling but as always confirmation from an AFF member would be appreciated. A medical emergency would be unlikely because PER would be a closer diversion given that the MEL stop was planned hours in advance.

Saturday 4's scheduled JNB - SYD QF64 arrived at 1717, 107 minutes late. As a result, B744-operated QF73 is forecast to depart SYD at 1910 tonight, 75 minutes late for SFO.

B738 VH-XZI on QF437 (1330 hours SYD - MEL that took off at 1428 hours) should be at its destination airport gate at roughly 1546 hours, 41 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

The delayed Sunday 5 November QF73 (scheduled 1755 hours SYD - SFO with B744 VH-OEF) was airborne at 1951 hours. Arrival is predicted an hour late at 1425 hours.

 

[JohnK]

Bad weather around Ballina and any northbound flights bound for BNE are told to stay on ground wherever they are to wait for new slots to be allocated.

On QF548 the 7:05pm SYD-BNE flight and we are still in SYD waiting for slot into BNE. Not sure why we rushed to board to sit inside well over 30 minutes now. Originally the pilots were delayed as they were coming up from MEL.

Looks like about to go now. Interesting to see the arrival time.

 

[Melburnian1]

JohnK, a valid point, but from previous occurrences, the airlines want to get everyone on board so that the minute ATC says 'you're right to go', they are.

QF548 departed 22 minutes late on Sunday 5 November at 1927 hours from SYD with BNE arrival suggested as 2015 hours, 40 minutes late.

Looking up the BOM site, Ballina NSW has had 92mm of rain since 0900 this morning including 53mm (more than two inches on the old scale) between 1919 and 2000, 41 minutes. That's a lot, especially for we Mexicans relatively unused to such torrents. No wonder flights were delayed.

QF27, the 1250 hours SYD - SCL on Sunday 5 November departed at 1820, 330 minutes late. Arrival is forecast as 1635 rather than 1110 hours, 325 minutes tardy. Although QF28 is displaying as departing from SCL at 1805 hours (270 late), a 90 minute turnaround of a B744 is faster than observations on this site, so the claimed arrival time of 2155 hours (255 late) tomorrow night back in SYD must be doubtful. Much more of a delay and the flight will miss curfew in SYD.

 

[Flyerqf]

JohnK, a valid point, but from previous occurrences, the airlines want to get everyone on board so that the minute ATC says 'you're right to go', they are.

QF548 departed 22 minutes late on Sunday 5 November at 1927 hours from SYD with BNE arrival suggested as 2015 hours, 40 minutes late.

Looking up the BOM site, Ballina NSW has had 92mm of rain since 0900 this morning including 53mm (more than two inches on the old scale) between 1919 and 2000, 41 minutes. That's a lot, especially for we Mexicans relatively unused to such torrents. No wonder flights were delayed.

From what I can see QF548 is further delayed to 2030

 

[Melburnian1]

Flyerqf, yes, in fact according to the QF website that shows a landing time in BNE of 2036 hours, it's even worse for QF548 because that will mean an at gate arrival of around 2041 - 66 minutes late. Our favourite son JohnK suffers yet again.

 

[JohnK]

QF548 departed 22 minutes late on Sunday 5 November at 1927 hours from SYD with BNE arrival suggested as 2015 hours, 40 minutes late.

Is this how they manipulate the statistics?

We pushed back when I posted above and had long taxi before take-off. Flight time was 1h 5m but further delay from BNE ATC meant we touched down around 20:35 or a little later. Over an hour late but not the end of the world.

I still don't understand how bad weather around Ballina caused so many delays. Not possible to go around? Another AFF'er boomy was on an ADL-BNE flight due to arrive at 9:15pm and they departed around the same time as our flight and arrived pretty much on schedule 10 minutes ago. Something doesn't quite add up.

 

[Flyerqf]

Is this how they manipulate the statistics?

We pushed back when I posted above and had long taxi before take-off. Flight time was 1h 5m but further delay from BNE ATC meant we touched down around 20:35 or a little later. Over an hour late but not the end of the world.

I still don't understand how bad weather around Ballina caused so many delays. Not possible to go around? Another AFF'er boomy was on an ADL-BNE flight due to arrive at 9:15pm and they departed around the same time as our flight and arrived pretty much on schedule 10 minutes ago. Something doesn't quite add up.

Presumably ADL to BNE flightpath is not over Ballina? Maybe the flights that had to go over Ballina needed to be rerouted thus causing congestion.

 

[Melburnian1]

One other remote possibility might be that because some other flights were delayed - which I didn't check - available gates at BNE for aircraft to use were known to be suffering a 'shortage' at the time QF548 would have originally been meant to arrive.

The delayed QF27 arrived SCL at about 1642 hours on Sunday 5 November. By 1825 hours local time (0825 hours Monday 6 AEDT), QF28 still had not departed, although it is still displaying as an 1805 hours delayed departure.

UPDATE: B744 VH-OJT commenced its pushback in SCL at 1906 hours local time (0906 AEDT) and took off at 1924 hours. QF estimates it will touch down in SYD at 2245 hours tonight, so in terms of meeting the 2300 hours curfew it will be a pretty close run event.

 

[Melburnian1]

What look to be quite ferocious storms around Sydney mid morning on Monday 6 November 2017 are resulting in quite a few aircraft holding onm approach. QF414 (A332 VH-EBO), the 0800 hours MEL - SYD took off about half an hour late at 0844 and is arriving at a suggested 1013 hours, 48 late.

QF26 (VH-OEI, the usual B744) is rarely late but on Sunday 5 November it took off from HND at 2243, 43 minutes after scheduled pushback. After holding west of Polkobin NSW, it is arriving on Monday 6 at about 1015, 40 late.

The 0940 hours SYD - WLG, QF161 (B738 ZK-ZQH) had not taken off by 1032 so should be at least half an hour late in its capital arrival.

QF860 (B738 VH-VYI, the 0945 hours SYD - OOL) was still only taxiing in SYD at 1036 hours so it will also be at least half an hour behind schedule.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 6 November 2017, QF1583 (0940 hours SYD - HBA that was not pointing skywards until 1117) with B717 VH-NXR should arrive at about 1247 hours, 67 minutes behind schedule.

Apologies for the late pickup, but QF8 (A388 VH-OQK) ex DFW diverted to BNE on Monday, from where takeoff occurred at 1039 hours. The flight is arriving in SYD at approximately 1312 hours, 427 minutes late. It had spent from about 0600 to 1012 on the ground in BNE. My guess is that the crew were out of permitted hours with replacement staff having to fly up from SYD to BNE.

While not the first time that this lengthy flight has made an intermediate stop in BNE, it is extremely unusual for QF8 to be seven hours late into SYD. On previous observed occasions, the delay in BNE has been less on the ground, but today may have been a case where the weather was suddenly worse than anticipated around SYD and the crew made a relatively late decision to divert. FR24 suggests that the A388 was roughly east of Port Macquarie NSW when it turned and commenced heading towards BNE.

QF426 (1100 MEL - SYD, B738 VH-VXN) was in the sky at 1149 hours. It is arriving at roughly 1306 hours, 41 minutes late.

QF81 (1135 hours SYD - SIN) has been cancelled so one assumes if there are seats available passengers will be transferred to this afternoon's QF5 timetabled to depart at 1645 hours.

The 1915 hours redeye from SIN down to SYD, QF82, has also got the boot tonight.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 6 November, QF19 (A3332 VH-EBN, the 1225 hours SYD - MNL) took off at 1319. Arrival is predicted at 1821 early this evening, 51 late.

As at 1330 AEDT, Quickstatus suggests that SYD is on hold 'at the ramps' due possibly to thunderstorms.