Continuing with the windy (SYD) and wet (MEL) Friday 18 August evening, northbound QF460, QF462, QF464, QF466, QF492 and QF494 (1830, 1900, 1930, 1945, 2030 asnd 2105 hours MEL - SYD) have all been cancelled.
QF490 (2000 hours MEL north to SYD) is however operating.
Southbound, QF469, the 1615 hours ex SYD, plus QF449, the 1630 hours and QF453/QF455/QF457/QF463/QF479/QF465/QF467/QF499 (respectively the 1700/1730/1745/1830/1845/1900/1930/2100 hours ex SYD) have all received the order of the Royal boot.
This is the most number of MEL - SYD - MEL cancellations in any peak period since I commenced the QF delays// cancellations thread.
QF551 (B738 VH-XZB, the 1835 hours early evening BNE down to SYD that was airborne at 1950) should arrive at around the 2147 hours mark, 97 late. The 1705 hours on the same route, QF545, took off at 2007 and as at 2129 was in a hold in the spot favoured by ATC above Pokolbin NSW with VH-VYD likely to arrive at approximately 2155 tonight, 195 minutes late.
The 1735 hours BNE - SYD (QF547, B738 VH-VXQ) was in the sky at 2018 so its 2208 suggested arrival post-holding pattern will be 178 minutes past what the timetable states.
QF2115 is more punctual, with arrival in SYD ex CFS suggested at 2151 hours, 36 minutes tardy.
Many visitors will be spending the night at one of these two airports, as one would have to doubt that even if QF could book passengers into hotel rooms that there would not be 1000 plus spare hotel rooms at either end of what is about the world's fourth busiest air route (especially given that other airlines are also cancelling flights.)
Badgery's Creek Airport won't necessarily solve problems like this.
As a general rule, high speed rail is far more reliable even in weather featuring high winds as was and is the case in Sydney today - but our bureaucrats and politicians refuse to build it despite similar routes overseas proving successful.
There may also be many flight and cabin crews (and perhaps aircraft) out of position tomorrow morning, although thankfully Saturday is the least busiest day overall on the major routes so that will aid recovery.
Perhaps there may have to be extra flights put on tomorrow (Saturday 19 August.)