Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

After I wrote a contribution above praising much of the weekend for timely ops, blow me down but media featured a 'bad start' this morning for QFd, JQd and VAd with multiple flights cancelled 'largely on the SYD-MEL and return' route.

This afternoon (Monday 1 August 2022) QF9 (1515 hours ex MEL, B789 VH-ZND) took off at 1610 with suggested PER arrival at 1758 hours, 43 minutes behind schedule.

A333 VH-QPF on QF156 (1355 hours AKL - MEL) was airborne at 1533, arriving at gate at 1712 hours, 62 minutes behind.

Colleague VH-QPJ on QF104 from HNL down to SYD should arrive 37 late at 1802 hours.

VH-ZNH (B789) on QF7 (1540 hours ex SYD) was in the sky at 1634 hours so a same day 1637 hours arrival (37 late) is the suggestion.

 

[Melburnian1]

Our aviator's salient point about late running is epitomised by how B738 VH-VYE first ran tardy on Monday 1 August on QF679, the 1045 hours MEL - ADL arriving at gate at 1257, 82 minutes late. On subsequent trips QF682 ADL-MEL and the return MEL-CNS QF704/705 it's been unable to pick up much of the lost time with arrival of the last flight in MEL tonight estimated as 2333 hours, 73 minutes behind schedule.

It is variable for each aircraft in say the B738 fleet depending on rostered 'tours of duty' and to be fair, some QFd flights today were on time or just a few minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Tuesday 2 August 2022, QF69 (A332 VH-EBQ), the 0815 hours MEL - DEL took off initially at 0854 hours, arriving ADL at 0936 hours, 31 late. However the scheduled 1005 hours continuation has hit a snag, as the aircraft hadn't departed by the amended QFi-advised time of 1210 as AFAIK is still sitting in Adelaide. Needless to say, if it operates, QF70's overnight back "express" to MEL will be very late arriving tomorrow afternoon.

QF1 on Monday 1 (A388 VH-OQK) was only 25 minutes late arriving at its Singapore gate at 2240, but departure this morning was delayed, so takeoff at 0118 means suggested LHR arrival of 0741 hours, 66 minutes behind schedule.

QF9 last night (B789 VH-ZND was in PER from 1830 hours (75 late) to when it became airborne at 2021, so arrival today at LHR should be 0627, 82 minutes tardy.

QF10 from LHR is reputedly arriving PER at 1248, 68 late with VH-ZNC.

Earlier, QF151 (B738 VH-VZX, the 0710 hours MEL - AKL airborne at 0843) arrived at its gate in NZ at 1356 hours, 71 late. QF156 returning, the 1340 hours, took off at 1542 with suggested arrival becoming 1711 late this afternoon, 76 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF69 on Tuesday 2 August finally took off from ADL at 1301 hours so DEL arrival should be at around 2031 mid evening local time, 151 minutes behind the timetable. QF70 returning (the 2005 hours) could depart from roughly 2200 onwards.

Today's arriving QF70 is not a huge amount better, as A332 VH-EBS is slated for MEL arrival at 1428 hours, 88 behind.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on 2 August, QF1 (A388 VH-OQK) was in the sky at 1736 with predicted at gate SIN time becoming 2311 hours, 56 minutes behind the timetable.

QF63 this morning (0935 hours SYD across to JNB) took off at 1017 so expected arrival is 1635, 55 late for B789 VH-ZNG.

 

[encryptededdy]

Man, QF1 is really quite unreliable.

I've booked a flight to KUL later this month on QF1 + MH610 (leaving SIN 00:05). Looks like there'll be a 50% chance I'll have no chance to visit the lounge since I have a <60min connection, and a 10% chance I'm going to have to deal with Qantas to put me up overnight in SIN, since QF1 arrived after MH610 has left (last SIN to KUL of the night).

 

[exLXCXFF]

Man, QF1 is really quite unreliable.

I've booked a flight to KUL later this month on QF1 + MH610 (leaving SIN 00:05). Looks like there'll be a 50% chance I'll have no chance to visit the lounge since I have a <60min connection, and a 10% chance I'm going to have to deal with Qantas to put me up overnight in SIN, since QF1 arrived after MH610 has left (last SIN to KUL of the night).

Wouldn't it work like Jetstar where you can organise your own hotel and then get reimbursement for a certain amount of costs? I would always prefer to make my own arrangements (asap) rather than dealing with Qantas/waiting for them.

 

[encryptededdy]

Wouldn't it work like Jetstar where you can organise your own hotel and then get reimbursement for a certain amount of costs? I would always prefer to make my own arrangements (asap) rather than dealing with Qantas/waiting for them.

Yeah, it's just Qantas is taking months to get back to people for reimbursement requests right now, so I'd avoid if possible. We'll see.

 

[789nerd]

At 6:30 pm Local, a power black out caused Perth Airport to close all flights except QF9 PER-LHR. The airport had been publishing warnings of the likelihood of such a weather caused event from 3:00 p.m.
Around 8:00 pm power was restored, and some flights resumed by 10:00 pm.

 

[Melburnian1]

A332 VH-EBQ should arrive MEL (ex DEL overnight) as QF69 at 1453 on 3 August, 108 minutes late as QF69 was badly delayed from ADL yesterday (see above).

A388 VH-OQK took off from SIN at 0118 hours with LHR arrival suggested as 0735 hours, bang on an hour behind schedule.

B789 VH-ZNB took off from PER last night (QF9) at 2051 (see the post immediately above from 789nerd re this flight's 'good luck') so Wednesday 3 August LHR arrival is estimated as 0650 hours, 105 minutes tardy.

Colleague VH-ZND is on the southeast bound QF10 that yesterday was airborne from Heathrow at 1342 hours, so PER arrival this afternoon should be at about 1259 hours, 79 late. This will make an on time arrival in Melbourne impossible, and since the aircraft is forming QF93 (2110 hours mid evening up to distant LAX), this may at least slightly delay the latter's pushback. Tight turnarounds like this are presumably good for shareholders, and ultimately the achievement of KPIs by upper management meaning more shares are issued to some, but one has to pose the question: is the B789 fleet being worked a bit too hard, notwithstanding that these wonderful pieces of transport equipment are built for long trips?

Today's QF9 is expected to depart MEL for PER and LHR 75 minutes late at 1630.

 

[Melburnian1]

The expected pushback for QF9 ex MEL on Wednesday 2 August has ballooned to 1700, not 1630, meaning it will be at least 105 minutes late from origin.

 

[Melburnian1]

As predicted, QF10 is affecting the timeliness of QF93 tonight. The former from PER should arrive MEL at 2025 hours, 105 late as B789 VH-ZND did not take off from PER until 1529 hours. QF93 from MEL to LAX is optimistically displaying as a 2145 hours pushback, only 35 late.

Given how long it often takes to turn these birds around, a departure post-2200 hours is probable.

 

[Melburnian1]

While the Wednesday 3 August 2022 QF1 with A388 VH-OQD arrived SIN at 2227 hours, only 12 minutes late, it then was not airborne until 0115 hours so LHR arrival should be 0716 hours, 41 minutes late.

B789 VH-ZNJ on yesterday's QF9 was in PER from 1913 hours (118 minutes tardy) to when it became airborne at 2140. Arrival today at London Heathrow should be at 0720, 135 minutes behind the schedule.

Quite a few medium or long distance operators from Asia, the Middle East and the USA often have their planes arriving at the applicable LHR gate early or punctually despite air traffic into Heathrow being busy. QFi seems to have difficulty achieving this. Pre-COVID-19, this was a problem with 'the 1' but not so much 'the 9'. While the latter remains better than QF1 on this metric, its timekeeping has declined.

VH-ZNB on the 1155 hours QF10 ex London yesterday was in the sky at 1307 so today, Perth at gate time should be at about 1225, 45 late.

Last night VH-ZND was delayed as QF93, taking off from MEL at 2224 hours with same day LAX arrival estimated as 1900 hours, half an hour tardy due to how QF10 that it had been operating arriving late in Melbourne.

A332 VH-EBQ is on 'the 69', the 0815 hours MEL-ADL-DEL that arrived at Wine City's gate at 0941, 36 minutes behind, so it is unlikely to be punctual arriving tonight in the Indian capital.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 4 August's QF10, the 1155 hours, took off from LHR at 1302 with B789 VJ-ZNJ, so arrival on Friday 5 at PER should be 1233, 53 minutes behind schedule.

A333 VH-QPI as QF143 (0930 hours SYD - AKL) was airborne at 1032 so predicted at gate arrival becomes 1506, 31 minutes late.

QF341 from SYD yesterday to TBU, the 0930 hours was delayed overnight, with A332 VH-EBS airborne at 0732, arriving at 1423 hours, 1278 minutes late.

 

[Batterytraveller]

Anyone know why QF1975 CBR-ADL was on the ground at MQL just now?

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Wednesday 3 August, QF5 (B789 VH-ZNK) took off from SYD at 1824, arriving at PER at 2118 hours, 28 minutes late, but did not then become airborne until 2324, 64 minutes after scheduled pushback, so FCO (Rome) arrival yesterday (Thursday 4) became 0856 hours, 11 minutes tardy.

QF6, the 1050 hours from FCO did not take off until 1157 so on Friday 5, PER arrival was at 0914, 39 minutes tardy. The 1005 hours PER - SYD continuation was in the sky at 1119 hours so SYD arrival at gate should be 1639, 34 behind.

This B789 looks to be forming QF7, the 1540 hours SYD - DFW that optimistically is displaying as pushing back at 1810 hours tonight. AFFer Anna, no vacuuming for this one either.

This suggests that a B789 has failed somewhere (or is late out of maintenance) as it6 isn't normal for 'the 6' to form the earlier timetabled departure of 'the 7'. VH-ZNF has been in Sydney since arriving at 1544 hours, 21 minutes ahead of the timetable on Wednesday 3 as QF6 ex PER/FCO. It hasn't been used since, so may be the reason. AFfer 789nerd may be kind enough to correct me.

Thankfully, in Texas USA there's almost a seven hour timetabled layover for the QF7 aircraft to form the returning to Oz QF8, so if the delay's only a couple of hours, in theory QF8 from DFW on Friday night USA time ought not be tardy.

Another Friday 5 flight, QF23 from SYD to BKK has A333 VH-QPC that was in the sky at 1056 for mooted at gate arrival of 1721, 41 behind, delaying the 1810 hours redeye QF24 back down to Sydney.

This morning, B789 VH-ZNC arrived ex LAX in MEL as QF94 at 0844, 164 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Unsurprisingly, the suggested departure time of QF7 on Friday 5 August from SYD to DFW has been further put back to 1900 hours (see above), but as at 1914, the flight wasn't visible on FR24 and doesn't appear to have pushed back.

UPDATE: QF7 departed at 1923, 223 minutes late, so all being well should arrive DFW at about 1920 given the mammoth time difference.

This shouldn't mean a delayed departure on the Friday 5 August QF8, the 2255 hours (in theory).

FURTHER UPDATE: It was airborne at 1945.

 

[Melburnian1]

It's no exaggeration to suggest QF1 doesn't have great timekeeping at present, although as always it's highly variable.

On Friday 5 August, A388 VH-QOK on this 1555 hours ex SYD didn't become airborne until 1720, so expected SIN arrival becomes 2320, 65 minutes behind the timetable.

B789 VH-ZNJ on QF10 ex PER and earlier LHR arrived MEL tonight at 1921, 41 minutes late.

A332 VH-EBP on QF148 (1740 hours late afternoon AKL down to SYD but in the sky an hour later) is arriving 37 minutes late at 1957 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF1 on Friday 5 August arrived SIN at 2320 hours, 65 late (exactly as FR24 had predicted) but did not take off until 0132 hours this morning, so LHR at gate expected arrival has become 0729 hours, 54 minutes behind the schedule.

The delayed QF7 with B789 VH-ZNK should arrive DFW on Friday night at 1934 hours, 214 minutes late.

VH-ZNE on yesterday's QF10 was airborne from LHR at 1247 hours so PER at gate arrival will be about 1216, 36 minutes late. It could still be close to or even on time arriving in MEL tonight.

VH-ZNG on 'the 63' on Friday arrived JNB at 1616 hours, 41 late, so the returning overnight QF64 is identical, being predicted to arrive at its SYD gate this afternoon at around the 1351 hours mark compared to a timetabled 1310 hours. Quite rare for two consecutive flights to be exactly the same.

After QF23 (A333 VH-QPC) arrived in BKK yesterday late afternoon at 1724 hours, 44 behind, the redeye QF24 was back in SYD at gate at 0708, 38 late.

VH-QPD was only 14 minutes behind in arriving MNL as QF19 last night at 1904 hours, but the return 2035 hours QF20 took off an hour later so SYD arrival this morning was 34 late at 0704 hours.

B738 VH-XZH on this morning's MEL - AKL QF151 (the 0715 hours) took off at 0815 so will be at least half an hour late arriving. This seems to be Melbourne's version of QF143, the 0930 hours SYD - AKL. Both often run late: maybe a winter thing? Time will tell.

 

[789nerd]

This B789 looks to be forming QF7, the 1540 hours SYD - DFW that optimistically is displaying as pushing back at 1810 hours tonight. AFFer Anna, no vacuuming for this one either.

This suggests that a B789 has failed somewhere (or is late out of maintenance) as it isn't normal for 'the 6' to form the earlier timetabled departure of 'the 7'. VH-ZNF has been in Sydney since arriving at 1544 hours, 21 minutes ahead of the timetable on Wednesday 3 as QF6 ex PER/FCO. It hasn't been used since, so may be the reason. AFfer 789nerd may be kind enough to correct me.

Sorry, bit late with this reply re 789 VH-ZNK - the last paragraph seems to be a reasonable assumption, as VH-ZNF resumed service operating QF17 in line with what has become the standard continuation, after the completion of the triple QF5/QF6 rotations.

With the reduction of the QF17/QF18 to a once weekly 789 service on Fridays, the change in the QF18 departure time to 23:55 local - gives a 5¾ hour (345 minute) turn-around at LAX. This first operation on the new timetable still managed to be 33 minutes late leaving, despite QF17 being 28 minutes early !