Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Still on Friday 11 May, QF465 (1900 hours from SYD down to MEL) was in the sky at 2014 with VH-VYK, a ubiquitous B738. Arrival is suggested at 2130, 55 minutes late.

Its northbound opposite number QF462 (VH-XZM) is worse, having taken off at 2058 so arrival should be at 2210 hours, 105 minutes late.

 

[Pushka]

Which flight are you on and what's its anticipated delay?

I noted a sample above but it's impossible for me to record every delay. Certainly as the day has worn on, they've become worse, which is unsurprising as the weather in Melbourne was bleak this arvo to put it mildly (although from media, far worse down in Hobart.)

It really does show Pushka that these days if there are major disruptions in SYD or MEL, at least 40 per cent of domestic flights are adversely affected, and probably more given passengers connecting, planes rotating BNE - SYD - MEL and so on.

You do a great job! MrP trying to get to Adelaide from Melbourne. They keep putting back the flight but currently he will be fine for the curfew.

 

[Melburnian1]

You do a great job! MrP trying to get to Adelaide from Melbourne. They keep putting back the flight but currently he will be fine for the curfew.

Yes, Mr P still has two hours to get to ADL given the time difference.

QF701, the 2040 hours MEL - ADL is showing as departing at 2140. This gives a 65 minute late likely arrival at 2235. Clock ticking.

Interesting to read some dispensation reports tabled in Federal Parliament in late March 2018:

https://infrastructure.gov.au/aviat...ationReports/2018/files/Webreport-03-2018.pdf

https://infrastructure.gov.au/aviat...ationReports/2018/files/Webreport-04-2018.pdf

I don't know why but the flights relevant at ADL (all were given a curfew dispensation) are presented in a table whereas the SYD ones are each separate.

One of the things I found fascinating was how low the passenger numbers were on evening PER to ADL flights. Of course these flights are only a small sample, but it is a 'random' one in the sense that the request for exemption from the curfew wasn't known by the airline days in advance.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 11 May, QF2132 (1805 hours MEL - CBR) was cancelled as was QF478 (1845 hours MEL up to SYD.) OF490, 2000 hours MEL - SYD also got the boot.

QF492, the 2030 hours MEL - SYD is expected to commence pushing back in a few minutes at 2145 and given SYD arrival is estimated at 2315, it presumably has a dispensation from Minister McCormack's unseen delegate. These require three criteria to be satisfied.

QF133, the 1830 hours MEL - CHC departed 80 minutes late with arrival suggested as 0130 hours on Saturday 12, 95 late. Waits for ATC to give takeoff clearance have been pretty lengthy given the bad weather.

 

[Melburnian1]

The big news for the evening is that because on Friday 11 May QF701, the 2040 MEL - ADL managed to become airborne at 2206 hours, arrival at 2236, 66 late will mean that thanks to B738 VH-VZX, its crew and ATC, Mr P may be tucked up in a warm bed with his dearly beloved by 0030 hours South Australian time on Saturday 12.

QF583, the early evening 1945 hours transcon from SYD across to PERA332 Vh-EBA) took off at 2104 so arrival is delayed from the mandated 2250 to 2338 hours.

 

[Pushka]

The big news for the evening is that because on Friday 11 May QF701, the 2040 MEL - ADL managed to become airborne at 2206 hours, arrival at 2236, 66 late will mean that thanks to B738 VH-VZX, its crew and ATC, Mr P may be tucked up in a warm bed with his dearly beloved by 0030 hours South Australian time on Saturday 12.

Aww. That’s synergy and teamwork.

 

[Melburnian1]

Earlier on Friday 11 May, A388 VH-OQA on QF35, the 1155 hours MEL - SIN took off at 1303, arriving SIN at 1859 hours, 64 minutes late.

Happy to be corrected, but it is fairly unusual that tonight both VH-OQC and VH-OQD are in Sydney.

A332 VH-EBE on QF497, the scheduled 2205 hours last of the night's SYD - MEL was at 2300 hours still on the tarmac in SYD but was starting to taxi by the look of things, so one presumes it has a curfew dispensation.

Meanwhile northbound QF494 (VH-EBR) and QF492 (B738 VH-VYJ) looked to be landing in SYD at respectively about 2310 and 2315.

These all breach curfew.

According to the guidelines for dispensation, it's not clear to me (except by number of passengers affected) how they'd qualify for a dispensation as adverse weather is not usually sufficient grounds.

 

[JessicaTam]

Single runway operations at SYD have meant some delays and cancellations.

The 0700 QF408 is now due to depart at 0750
QF412, 420 and 442 have been cancelled

 

[Melburnian1]

The 0700 QF408 is now due to depart at 0750
QF412, 420 and 442 have been cancelled

Funny, I was looking at that: QF408 departed at 0800 and should arrive in SYD at 0935 hours, 70 minutes late.

Oddly, QF404 (the 0800 ex MEL) followed closely, departing just four late at 0804. QF418, the 0900 hours should depart MEL at 0930 hours.

The MEL - AKL 1045 hours departure, QF159, is expected to commence pushing back half an hour late.

QF2221 (0810 hours from SYD down to WGA, Q400 VH-LQH) had not taken off by 0914, but looked to be able to do that shortly, meaning at least a 45 minute late arrival in the inland city.

 

[jeza]

QF430 MEL-SYD scheduled to depart at 1200 has also been cancelled. Looks like I’ve been rebooked on QF434 which I only found out when going to check in.

Would have been nice to have been notified!

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 12 May, QF510 (0830 hours SYD up to BNE, B738 VH-VXD) was airborne at 0924, meaning suggested arrival at 1044 hours, 44 minutes late.

Opposite number, southbound QF509 (VH-VXB) should arrive in SYD at 1016, 36 late.

QF130 from PVG to SYD, the redeye, arrived at 0856 hours, 31 minutes late.

The early morning 0515 hours PER across to SYD, QF574 departed 68 late so arrival is estimated as 1229, 69 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

12 May 2018 is continuing to see extensive delays (and some cancellations) from or to SYD with the single runway ops.

QF1521 (B717 VH-YQY, the scheduled 0955 hours SYD - CBR was not airborne until about 1140 hours so arrival will be more than 80 minutes tardy.

The 1035 hours SYD - HKG (QF127) departed an hour late and is stuck in a long queue for a runway 25 departure to the west. A380 VH-OQK will be late but hard to say how much until it takes off.

QF1519 (1050 hours SYD - CBR, B717 VH-NXJ) is in behind QF127 so it may take off at around 1215 hours.

The 1050 hours SYD - BME, QF1042 (B738 VH-VXB) took off at 1213 so will be at least 50 minutes late into the Cable Beach area.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with the runway-25 (sole) morning of Saturday 25 May that is causing extensive delays, QF81 (1015 hours SYD - SIN) departed only 20 late but arrival is delayed to 1727 hours, 37 late.

QF19, the 1210 SYD - MNL is predicted to depart at 1300 hours.

The 1100 hours SYD - MEL, QF427 (A332 VH-EBV) took off at about 1227 hours, only eight minutes before it is timetabled to be at its MEL arrival gate.

 

[Melburnian1]

Still on Saturday 12 May 2018 with its single runway operations in Sydney, B744 VH-OEG is operating empty flight QF6015 bound for HKG. Takeoff may be at about 1325. Is this for planned maintenance?

QF567 is a couple behind QF6015. 567 is the 1125 hours SYD across to PER that has B738 VH-VXI, so it may take off at 1235 or so.

 

[Melburnian1]

In further on Saturday 11 May 2018, QF19 departed SYD at 1353 hours, 103 minutes late. MNL arrival should be at 2015, 105 late.

B738 VH-VZX on QF534 (1200 'high noon' from SYD up to BNE) was still queuing for takeoff at 1436 hours, so it will be more than 140 minutes late arriving in the Sunshine State capital.

QF63 (1055 hours SYD across to JNB) departed 84 late so arrival tonight is estimated at 1836, 96 minutes behind time.

Another B744-operated long haul offering, QF73 (1245 hours lunchtime SYD - SFO across the wide blue Pacific) was 53 minutes late off its blocks, so arrival is forecast as 34 minutes late at 0939 hours.

Earlier, QF33 from SYD to KIX departed relatively 'on time' (given today's single runway ops) at 1052 but arrival is predicted as 2005 hours, 55 minutes tardy.

QF107 (1210 hours SYD up to PEK, A332 VH-EBG) took off at 1330. Expected arrival is 2317 hours, 62 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Saturday arvo is the quietest daytime for domestic airlines in Oz, but delays on Saturday 12 May 2018 continue due to single runway operations at SYD.

QF438 (A332 VH-EBV, the 1400 hours MEL - SYD that was airborne at 1457) should arrive at roughly 1609, 44 late.

B717 VH-YQW on QF1584, the 1245 hours HBA up to SYD that took off at 1424 looks to be arriving at approximately 1555 hours, 80 late.

 

[docjames]

I noted a few of the “heavies” eg QF7 and QF73 took off to the south on 16R/34L....

 

[Melburnian1]

I noted a few of the “heavies” eg QF7 and QF73 took off to the south on 16R/34L....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is that because they are unsuitable for using runways 7 or 25?

 

[docjames]

The 380 can take off from 25 but would be payload restricted to some extent.

See the “ask the pilot” thread.

 

[Quickstatus]

No travel alerts from QF and JQ about today’s eruption of Gunung Merapi volcano in Central Java