Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

B737 VH-HYE may be having troubles this morning (Friday 30 October 2015). It was the aircraft on the first of the morning, QF401, the 0600 from SYD to MEL that departed at 0651 and arrived in MEL 38 minutes late at 0813. It then occupied gate 21 until 1040 when it departed on QF814, the 0900 hours to CBR, where arrival at 1135 will be 90 minutes behind time. In turn, QF853 is expected to be 40 minutes late, departing CBR at 1210 and arriving in MEL at 1320. A few years ago these CBR - MEL southbound timetables used to be 65 minutes, not 70.

At this stage, subject to change, it then looks to be forming QF685, the 1355 to ADL ex MEL that barring any further delays should be able to depart on time, though not with much of a margin.

Having a plane occupy a gate at MEL for way in excess of its alloted time can create problems given that the new T4 is not being used by JQ until 10 November 2015, so depending on the time of day, gates can be at a premium in the QF/ JQ terminal.

UPDATE: QF853 ex CBR has been delayed until at least 1330 hours (which was a few minutes ago.) QF685 from MEL to ADL is to be delayed from 1355 hours to a 1410 departure, using another aircraft. QF440, the 1430 hours from MEL to SYD has been cancelled.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Friday 30 October QF35 (A333 VH-QPD) is timetabled to depart MEL at 1220 but did not take off until 1341, meaning a likely 68 minute late arrival in SIN at 1833 this evening.

VH-OJS, the B744 operating QF127 from SYD to HKG took off 68 minutes after its 1235 departure with the result that it should be 31 minutes late into HKG - 1816 hours - tonight.

 

[Melburnian1]

The B744 flights to and from SCL (QF27) tend to be pretty punctual but that was not the case on Friday 30 October. QF27 departed SYD at 1508, 138 minutes behind the eight ball and is forecast to arrive in SCL at 1315, 115 minutes late. Strangely the inevitable delay to the timetabled out at 1335 hours QF28 today is yet to publicly display on the QF website - my guess is for a departure at around 1500 hours local time.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF51 from BNE to SIN took off about an hour late at 1311 hours (VH-EBV) on sat 31 October and hence is due in SIN at 1857 not 1755 local time.

 

[Melburnian1]

Storm cells above SYD seem to have led to some delays early this evening, with not many departures, if any for a while and perhaps other delay-causing problems such as inability to unload or load luggage from B738s or A320s and smaller aircraft.

QF459, the 1800 hours B738 departure for MEL is still, at 1852 hours, several minutes from taking off. QF2231, the 1820 to WGA is approaching the start of the queue, as is QF743, the 1810 hours to ADL.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF12 on Sunday 1 November departed LAX 58 minutes late but with time regained en route QF suggests that it will be only 40 minutes late at 0910 hours when it arrives on Tuesday 3 November's morning. The B744 operating QF16 departed LAX an hour late but should be only 25 minutes late upon arrival in BNE on Tuesday morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Sunday 1 November 2015 QF2 from LHR to DXB and SYD did not depart until 2133, 58 minutes late, but with a bit of time made up at both the DXB stop and en route is expected into SYD at 0700 tomorrow (Tuesday 3 November) showing how easy it can be to make up time on what for a week have been the new, slower timetables (even accounting for the time change in the UK) on the QF1/2/9 and 10 flights.

Fog caused problems yesterday and today is doing the same at LHR, but the Monday 2 November QF1 arrival from SYD and DXB managed to get in at 0551, more than an hour early, while QF9 is running 55 minutes early at this stage:

Fog hits UK travel: British Airways cancels more than 100 flights and London City Airport 'closes' | News & Advice | Travel | The Independent

Earlier today, QF29 from MEL to HKG departed 61 minutes late at 1226 with expected arrival 50 minutes late at 1845 hours, while QF29 from MEL to SIN was an even hour behind when it departed at 1320 with arrival forecast at 1805 local time (which was five minutes ago as I write.) Both these flights are A330s.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF10 from LHR on Monday 2 November departed a minute early at 1204 on the new, slower timetable but was delayed in taking off due to many other aircraft being unpunctual due to the above testy weather. It arrived DXB at 2349 hours, 34 minutes late and departed 43 minutes behind time at 0143. QF suggests that it will be in MEL half an hour late at 2150 hours tonight so the Tuesday 3 November 2015 QF9 carring happy and not-so-happy punters ex the Melbourne Cup will be late away, though hopefully less than half an hour behind time.

The 2 November QF2 did not depart LHR until 2112, 37 minutes late on its slowed timetable and is therefore due in DXB 55 minutes late at 0830. The delay could not be avoided as many other planes departing from LHR for most compass points were an hour or even two and a half hours late thanks to the bad weather. However QF2 may reduce its stop in DXB if all goes well - hence it may only be marginally late into SYD on Wednesday 4 November.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF23 has a good punctuality record but that is not the case on Tuesday 3 November when departure ex SYD for BKK has been delayed from 0955 hours to an expected 1400. QF suggests that BKK arrival will be at 1940 instead of 1535 hours, local time.

Once again, although it is obvious that a return flight (in this case QF24) will have to be delayed from its usual 1815 hours departure until at least 2050 hours, that advice has not yet been placed on the QF public website. This goes on quite a lot: one would think that the software would be programmed to reflect alterations to arrival times that result in the flight being formed of necessity running late, but perhaps a degree of human intervention is required before the updated return flight information publicly displays.

Depending on available aircraft, this may also mean that a Wednesday mid to late morning QFi departure is delayed ex SYD but it is impossible to tell which one yet as no SYD aircraft gate allocations have been publicised for tomorrow.

 

[Hvr]

QF23 has a good punctuality record but that is not the case on Tuesday 3 November when departure ex SYD for BKK has been delayed from 0955 hours to an expected 1400. QF suggests that BKK arrival will be at 1940 instead of 1535 hours, local time.

Once again, although it is obvious that a return flight (in this case QF24) will have to be delayed from its usual 1815 hours departure until at least 2050 hours, that advice has not yet been placed on the QF public website. This goes on quite a lot: one would think that the software would be programmed to reflect alterations to arrival times that result in the flight being formed of necessity running late, but perhaps a degree of human intervention is required before the updated return flight information publicly displays.

Depending on available aircraft, this may also mean that a Wednesday mid to late morning QFi departure is delayed ex SYD but it is impossible to tell which one yet as no SYD aircraft gate allocations have been publicised for tomorrow.

Geez I dodged a bullet there departing on QF24 last night (02 Nov) we arrived on time this morning so not my fault it's late departing today.

 

[Melburnian1]

No Hvr, indeed not your fault, but for whatever reason QF23 has now been further delayed to an expected 1420 hours ex SYD. The resultant delay to tonight's QF24 has still to be publicly disclosed.

How well patronised in each class was QF24 last night?

 

[Hvr]

<snip>

How well patronised in each class was QF24 last night?

J was full. Didn't see the others but the waiting area seemed full.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF23 (A333 VH-QPE) pulled away from the gate at 1432 and is supposedly due at BKK at 1955, four hours and 20 minutes late. Sometimes the latter prediction is further adjusted once the plane has taken off. Based on the QF prediction, it will be difficult for tonight's QF24 to leave before 2105 hours local time which will mean a likely SYD arrival on Wed 4 November of 1035 to 1050.

At present the QF24 Wednesday morning arrival is forming the 1050 hours QF129 departure for PVG which if it held true would mean a delay of at least an hour, but as many of us have noted before aircraft can be switched around for numerous reasons including to try to minimise delays so an appearance of this refurbished aircraft QPE on QF19 to MNL or QF41 to CGK tomorrow could not be ruled out, even though neither constantly has QFi (as distinct from QFd) refurbished A333s.

 

[Melburnian1]

QF now expects the late running QF23 to arrive in BKK at 2025 with QF24 departing for SYD tonight at 2135, meaning arrival in the Harbour City at 1100 on Wednesday 4 November.

 

[Melburnian1]

Monday 2 November 2015's A388-operated QF12 departed LAX at 2333 hours, 63 minutes behind time with arrival expected in SYD at 0910, 40 minutes late.

Interestingly the B744 flight QF18 departed LAX at 0000 - 27 minutes behind the QF12 - but QF suggests that it will arrive in SYD at 0915, on time and only five minutes after the A388. An esteemed AFfer previously commented that the A388 typically cruises about six kilometres an hour slower than the B744 but this does not account for all the difference. Perhaps the A388 waited for longer for takeoff permission, or the estimated times for the B744 flight have yet to be adjusted since its late takeoff.

Melbourne bound QF94 departed 57 minutes late and is expected into MEL 45 minutes late on Wednesday 4 November. These delays were not due to the JFK - LAX QF12 'tag' flight as it arrived at LAX 22 minutes early at 2043 hours on Monday 2 November.

 

[Melburnian1]

The Wednesday 4 November QF11 departed SYD 27 minutes late at 1157 this morning but then diverted to AKL where it arrived at 1826. It is scheduled to depart at 2030 from AKL - in 10 minutes' time. The QANTAS Source | is silent on this diversion as yet - was it for a medical reason and did the flight go a bit beyond AKL before turning back? I could not see this on FR24 or FlightAware.

As a result, the flight should arrive LAX at 1115 instead of the normal 0625. Presumably passengers for New York will be placed on American Airlines flights with spare seats.

QF129 from SYD to PVG departed at 1309 in lieu of 1050 hours today. PVG arrival is forecast as 2040 instead of 1830, meaning that departure of the returning QF130 'red eye' is likely at 2200, an hour and 55 minutes behind time with SYD arrival on Oaks Day, Thursday 5 November 2015 at 1140 not 0945 hours.

 

[Dmac6345]

The Wednesday 4 November QF11 departed SYD 27 minutes late at 1157 this morning but then diverted to AKL where it arrived at 1826. It is scheduled to depart at 2030 from AKL - in 10 minutes' time. The QANTAS Source | is silent on this diversion as yet - was it for a medical reason and did the flight go a bit beyond AKL before turning back? I could not see this on FR24 or FlightAware.

As a result, the flight should arrive LAX at 1115 instead of the normal 0625. Presumably passengers for New York will be placed on American Airlines flights with spare seats.

QF129 from SYD to PVG departed at 1309 in lieu of 1050 hours today. PVG arrival is forecast as 2040 instead of 1830, meaning that departure of the returning QF130 'red eye' is likely at 2200, an hour and 55 minutes behind time with SYD arrival on Oaks Day, Thursday 5 November 2015 at 1140 not 0945 hours.

I think QF29 has a problem also.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you Dmac6435, it must have a major problem as QF29 from MEL to HKG today (4 November) was cancelled.

QF98, the 1915 hours from HKG to often sunny BNE is delayed until a forecast 2200 hours departure meaning arrival at a likely 0855 hours instead of 0610 on Thursday 5 November.

The new addition to the QF stable of HKG flights, QF118, has been cancelled this evening from HKG. It normally departs at 2135 hours and was presumably going to be formed by the arrival ex MEL that similarly did not operate. Reports from passengers as to how they are getting to SYD or other booked destinations would be interesting, including whether they have been rebooked for tomorrow or the day after that.

In these circumstances, it may be a long shot that QF has a total spare (say) 200 seats on its three flights ex HKG this evening (one each to BNE, MEL and SYD not counting any flights to PER.) However it is midweek so that may increase the chances of vacant seats, and it is also not school holidays.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to the late arrival of QF10, the Tuesday 3 November QF9 departed MEL 69 minutes late at 0034 early this morning (Wednesday 5.) It then arrived DXB at 0733, 63 minutes behind the schedule but after some quick footwork departed at 0857, 22 minutes late with arrival in LHR antcipated shortly at 1220, 35 minutes early.

While every flight will differ, this one has effectively taken up to 104 minutes - almost two hours - out of the new, slower European winter schedules.

This begs the question: has QF been too conservative and slowed these LHR flights by too much?

Longer timetabled elapsed trip times might be welcomed by those not in a hurry - and this may include some businessmen and women - but there will be many others who for reasons ranging from urgent business deals to minimising the duration of travel in cattle class who would like the shortest possible trip, conversant with safety as a given.

These slower schedules also make the offering of competitors such as SQ look even more attractive, as it is quicker in some cases to travel to LHR (and potentially other European airports) via pleasant Asia than via the Middle East.

Slower timetables might also cause costs to rise (or not decrease by as much as they could) with time in the air or on the ground at an intermediate stop expensive, additional crew time on duty having to be paid and even (although not in the QF LHR case) a requirement for an additional aircraft or more on a route due to slower rotations.

Conversely, although QF2 departed LHR on Tuesday 3 November at 2055, just 20 minutes late and arrived at DXB this morning at 0753, 18 minutes down, it substantially overstayed compared with the timetabled allowance, departing at 1108 - 93 minutes late and being now expected in SYD at 0735, 65 minutes late on Thursday 5 November. However most airlines worldwide seem to be able to manage a timetabled two hour intermediate stop so that is no argument to slow the flight time (or the stop at DXB, unless the extension to three hours or more was happening with such regularity that it was impossible to ignore.)

Many of us who are laymen in matters meteorological might assume that SIN with its tropical rain and HKG with its typhoons have more 'weather issues' than Middle Eastern airports but the reports of fog and sandstorms at DXB (and, earlier this year, quite a few required QF diversions) might cause a rethink on that layman's assertion.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

An esteemed AFfer previously commented that the A388 typically cruises about six kilometres an hour slower than the B744 but this does not account for all the difference.

lol... you know what they say about Airbus... the only aircraft capable of suffering bird-strike... from the rear!