Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

In more on Tuesday 6 August 2019, QF9, the 1515 hours MEL - PER is expected to depart an hour late, while the second sector to LHR should push back 45 late at 1930 hours this evening for Wednesday 7 arrival at about 0555 hours, 50 late.

UPDATE: It left the MEL gate at 1639 (84 behind) with PER arrival estimated as 1848 hours, 93 minutes tardy.

While the QF website continues to show departure for LHR at 1930, the quickest observed intermediate stop on this flight has been about 80-85 minutes with 80 really pushing it. Pushback is likely at around 2010 making LHR Wednesday arrival in the order of 0630 hours.

 

[jb747]

Any thoughts on what QF would use instead on the routes that A380's now fly?

Well, if the <redacted> CEO actually does something, it would be a toss up between A350 and 777. My preference would be for the 350.

And sadly the Chrome trick doesn't work on the HeraldSun site, not that they were ever worth reading.

 

[RSD]

Well, if the gnome actually does something, it would be a toss up between A350 and 777. My preference would be for the 350.

From vague recollection they are both twin engine/two aisle? Can they carry the numbers though to meet the demand or will more flights be needed?

And sadly the Chrome trick doesn't work on the HeraldSun site, not that they were ever worth reading.

Agreed - and if someone is going to have a www of news.com.au then I think they should be made to actually have a proper news content on there instead of stories titled "The Day I Figured Out My cough Was the Wrong Shape" etc.

 

[Silvia]

In more today, QF476 PER-MEL (A333 VH-QPC) is expected at 19 15, 60 min tardy. This aircraft tends to be utilised as the 19 30 hours MEL-SYD service as QF464 MEL-SYD. This service now has a tentative departure at 19 55, 25 min behind.

 

[JessicaTam]

<snip>

If you or others are able to paste the story in full on AFF that would be interesting.

[mod hat]
That would contravene copyright.
[/mod hat]

 

[Kangol]

Are all the A380 issues now solved? I wonder what routes have the highest priority... or the lowest. Assuming a breakdown happens in Australia.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Monday 5 August 2019, QF94 departed LAX 26 late at LAX, conveying some of the passengers who have been stranded for two days as above. On Wednesday 7, expected ME arrival is 31 minutes behind schedule at 0801.

 

[Melburnian1]

Are all the A380 issues now solved? I wonder what routes have the highest priority... or the lowest. Assuming a breakdown happens in Australia.

A good question, but 'it depends' on where the fault occurred because QFi A388s at present only operate to or from DFW, LAX, LHR, MEL, SYD and SIN.

If a problem develops in London, it's inevitable that QF2 will get the bullet. QF cannot normally rustle up a spare A388 at LHR. The change to QF9/10 to a far smaller B789 limits the number of 'own metal' seats ex and to there to provide rerouting for affected passengers at short notice. Load factors on 9 and 10 are apparently good most days.

Fatigue regulations mandating particular rest periods, and limits on how many hours per month air crew can work, may come into play.

Aircraft have so many cycles (takeoffs and touchdowns) before they need various maintenance. QF spent millions to build new hangar(s) in LAX, and that's some of the reason why the MEL and SYD QF11/12/93/94 flight layovers are so long. Other reasons may include airlines believing evening departures from LAX to Oz sell the best to businessmen and women occupying the costliest seats, and airlines considering the SYD curfew as it is a major constraint.

To hazard a guess, QF35/3, the MEL - SIN and return local flights may be the lowest priority because QF operates other flights ('the 1/the 2', plus QF37/38/51/52/81/82 and JQ7/8 to name some from or to our east coast) and it's fewer air kilometres than DFW, LAX or the through flight to and from LHR. The major competitor (SQ, including LCC TR) has more flights than QF on this popular route and while whenever I travel SQ seems to be close to full, published load factors show that in various months, one or occasionally both directions have at least 15-20 per cent of seats unoccupied. One assumes QF only puts its passengers on a key rival as a last resort.

I don't work for an airline, so there may be other determinants as well such as minimising inefficient aircraft usage or the number of affected passengers and keeping down extraneous costs such as having to provide hotel accommodation, meals and transfers. And there's the welfare of staff, who may have familial or other reasons not to want to be stranded for days a long way from home.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 4 August's overnight delayed QF8, the 2225 hours, departed DFW at 2253 on Monday 5 so on Wednesday 7, expected SYD arrival is 0658 hours, 1468 minutes behind schedule.

 

[jb747]

From vague recollection they are both twin engine/two aisle? Can they carry the numbers though to meet the demand or will more flights be needed?

They're both roughly 350 seaters. Varies a bit with model and intended job. The A350 in at least one variation may be able to do the sunrise gig. The Boeing, in a form yet to fly, might also be capable, but both will do so with reduced passenger loads ('cos they need the fuel).

 

[RSD]

They're both roughly 350 seaters. Varies a bit with model and intended job. The A350 in at least one variation may be able to do the sunrise gig. The Boeing, in a form yet to fly, might also be capable, but both will do so with reduced passenger loads ('cos they need the fuel).

Hmmm. How many seats do the QF A380's fly with?

 

[Melburnian1]

Hmmm. How many seats do the QF A380's fly with?

RSD, may I suggest that it's preferable to ask these questions in AFF's excellent 'Ask The Pilot' or similar? Such information requests have nothing to do with cancellations or delays.

In the above case, www.seatguru.com gives seat configurations (that for some operators and aircraft types do not show seats reserved exclusively for crew use):

SeatGuru Seat Map Qantas

For your next Qantas flight, use this seating chart to get the most comfortable seats, legroom, and recline on .

www.seatguru.com

 

[flyer89]

They're both roughly 350 seaters. Varies a bit with model and intended job. The A350 in at least one variation may be able to do the sunrise gig. The Boeing, in a form yet to fly, might also be capable, but both will do so with reduced passenger loads ('cos they need the fuel).

If we entertain the idea that sunrise becomes a reality, would the aircraft that’s selected require more flight crew per airframe than normal due to the length of the proposed flight(s) and the duty time limitations that will be eaten up quickly?

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 6 August 2019, QF636 (2010 hours evening MEL up to BNE airborne at 2058) has B738 VH-VXE and should arrive at 2250 hours, half an hour late.

 

[Silvia]

QF464 MEL-SYD (A333 VH-QPC) was airborne later than expected, 21 27 to be precise. Now expected to arrive at 22 32, 97 min tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQC arrived in MEL on the delayed QF36 at 1102 hours on Tuesday 6 August, 327 minutes late, then turned around and operated the 1155 hours QF35 from MEL to SIN, pushing back at 1325 and becoming airborne at 1351 hours. Arrival is estimated at 1941 hours, 106 minutes late, so QF36 tonight is unlikely to depart prior to 2130, which would be 75 late.

The delayed QF35 arrived at its SIN gate at 1933, 98 late. QF shows QF36 as a 2140 hours pushback (85 late) but with some snappy footwork, cooperative passengers and the OK from ATC, it may be off blocks a tad earlier.

Touch wood, but tomorrow morning QF93 and QF35 ex MEL should be punctual.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Tuesday 6 August 2019, QF9, the 1515 hours MEL - PER is expected to depart an hour late, while the second sector to LHR should push back 45 late at 1930 hours this evening for Wednesday 7 arrival at about 0555 hours, 50 late.

UPDATE: It left the MEL gate at 1639 (84 behind) with PER arrival estimated as 1848 hours, 93 minutes tardy.

While the QF website continues to show departure for LHR at 1930, the quickest observed intermediate stop on this flight has been about 80-85 minutes with 80 really pushing it. Pushback is likely at around 2010 making LHR Wednesday arrival in the order of 0630 hours.

As if on cue, the QF website has altered projected pushback ex PER to 2010 with 7 August LHR arrival at a suggested 0635 hours.

 

[Quickstatus]

I'm betting that right now someone at QF is writing a policy that no more than one A388 is ever scheduled to be off the run

Heavy maintenance is generally planned far in advance and the maintenance slot is similarly booked with the providers. Additionally aircraft cannot keep operating if hours/cycles are up to the regulated limits. An unintended consequence of “only one” is the route planning many have to change as well in order to accomodate the limitation

While it seems preferable to have 1 spare in a 10 aircraft route, airlines generally do not keep spares for the “ Just in case” contingency.

 

[Quickstatus]

Malaysian were trying to sell a couple of A380's a while back weren't they?

MH reversed that. They still have all 6xA380 which are being used for Pilgrimage to Mecca charters and short term Wet leases to other airlines.

Would QF consider a wet lease in this situation they are in?. How quickly can a wet lease be activated?

For example Mh could run the QF35/36 MEL-SIN-MEL sectors.

But Likely their A380 could do the longer range transpacific routes but at lower takeoff weight (therefore lower passenger loads) because of their lower thrust rating of their engines (about 7500lbs of thrust less in total)

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 6 August, QF36 departed SIN at 2140 hours, 85 late, arriving MEL on Wednesday 7, having made up time, at 0617, 42 late. This aircraft, VH_OQC (that has been yo-yoing on MEL - SIN - MEL) then took off on QF93 to LAX at 0926 so its schedules are back to normal after huge disruption.

QF29, the 0940 hours MEL - HKG is predicted to push back half an hour late. QF79 (0910 hours MEL - NRT) is worse, with departure suggested as 1000 hours and arrival at 1920 this evening, 45 late. While QF80 ex NRT was 325 late arriving MEL this morning at 0800 hours, QF30 from HKG arrived at its allocated gate at 0646 hours, 49 early.

The 1010 hours morning SYD to SIN, QF81 is another one forecast to push back half an hour behind the timetable. QF19 (1210 hours lunchtime SYD up to MNL) should depart at 1245.

Last night's delayed QF9 (see above) pushed back in PER at 2009 hours, 84 minutes tardy with Wednesday 7 LHR arrival suggested as 70 down at 0615.

Unusually, QF2 on Tuesday night, the scheduled 2105 hours ex LHR did not depart until the stroke of midnight. The SIN stop is expected on Wednesday 7 from 1935 to an as yet unpublicised time, but a likely departure at 2100 )90 late) with SYD arrival some time after 0615 tomorrow. I had read that strike action by Unite unionists on Monday and Tuesday planned for LHR had been abandoned so not sure why the delay.