Qantas Delays/Cancellations

The 1235 hours lunchtime Thursday 23 May 2019 SYD to DFW very lengthy flight. QF7 is not expected to depart until 1900 hours in the early evening. Resultant at gate arrival should be at around 1855, 355 minutes late. Fortunately 'the 8' returning is not timetabled ex DFW until 2225 so in theory it should be punctual.
 
QF743 (Thursday 23 May, the timetabled SYD to ADL due to push back at 1820 hours) was airborne an exact hour later. Expected arrival for B738 VH-VZL is 2037, 37 minutes tardy.
 
QF79 (Friday 24 May 2019, the 0910 hours MEL - NRT) departed 99 late at 1049 with arrival in Japan at a projected 2010 hours tonight, 95 late. The aircraft, A333 VH-QPJ had arrived in MEL at 0814, 39 late on redeye QF30 ex HKG so it pretty much turned around to run 'the 79' in an unexceptional ground handling time.

As a result, QF62 from NRT to BNE is predicted to depart 90 late at 2125 meaning Saturday 25 arrival in the capital of the Sunshine State at about 0710, 75 late. The rostering for QF61 (ex BNE) and QF79 varies: quite often, they swap with the arrival ex BNE going back down south to MEL and vice versa. At other times, QF79 forms QF80.

QF29, the 0940 hours MEL - HKG was cancelled on Friday 24. QF30, the 2010 hours redeye HKG - MEL tonight has also been canned.

QF's SYD - JNB B744 flight, 'the 63', has what could politely be described as a variable timekeeping record. Friday's pushed back in Sydney at 1233, 98 late and took off at 1248 so same day JNB arrival is estimated as 1906, 126 late. This will mean a delayed arrival for tonight's QF64 when it is off blocks in SYD tomorrow afternoon.

Another Friday B744, QF27 from SYD across to SCL was off its blocks 51 late at 1326 with same day arrival likely 80 late at 1225. Aircraft is VH-OEG that had arrived a minute late - essentially on time - at 0606 hours this morning on QF74 ex SFO, so no obvious reason for the delay to QF27. Perhaps connecting flights were late?

The Thursday 23 late night 2320 hours B789 from LAX to BNE, QF16, is expected to depart at 0100 hours on Friday, arriving on Saturday 25 a suggested 95 late at 0740 hours. This is due to QF12 pushing back in distant JFK at 2013, 123 minutes tardy with its predicted arrival in LAX becoming 2335, 155 late. (Earlier, QF11 from LAX across to JFK had arrived at 1810, 90 late after pushing back in LAX at 0914 hours, 54 late).

The second sector QF12, the A388 aircraft is obviously being held as departure from LAX has been deferred until a claimed 0015 on Friday 165 late with consequent SYD Saturday arrival at a forecast 08090, 90 late - a gain of a net 75 minutes gate-to-gate.

Often when there's significant late running of QF12 across the USA westbound, QF94 to MEL ( at this time of year a scheduled 2230 hours off blocks in the movie capital) is not held, but on Thursday, it looks to be delayed for connecting passengers. Its departure is estimated at midnight for Saturday morning arrival in MEL at an estimated 0845, 75 down. Interestingly that's only a net projected 15 minute gain gate-to-gate, quite different from the SYD bound same model of aircraft's estimate.

QF447, the 1600 hours SYD - MEL on Friday 24 has been cancelled as is QF455, the 1730 hours. QF467, the 1930 hours southbound also has the bullet.

Earlier, QF406 (0645 hours morning MEL up to SYD) was cancelled while QF468, the 1615 hours is also to suffer the same fate. So is QF464, the 1730 hours northbound, matching its southbound cousin. The 1815 hours MEL - SYD (QF474) has also got the boot, as has QF490, the 2000 hours scheduled from MEL on Australia's busiest air route up to SYD.

As at 1430 on Friday, mid afternoon, winds at MEL were 44kmh with gusts to 57kmh so I don't know if the large number of MEL - SYD - MEL cancellations this afternoon/evening (three southbound, five northbound) is a reaction by QF operations staff looking at the forecast of possible Melbourne thunderstorms tonight, or whether it's low bookings or some other reason. May is not the busiest month for travel but three to five cancellations post 1200 'high noon' on a Friday is a lot when more often than not flights are full or very close to it on the second busiest worldwide domestic air route.

It rained in Melbourne this morning despite BOM advice to the contrary so even with its advanced modelling, it isn't always correct.
 
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In more on Friday 24 May 2019, QF9's first sector (1515 hours mid afternoon from MEL to PER that has a good punctuality record) is predicted to depart an hour late, arriving in the botanical wonderland at 1820, 65 down. This will delay the departure for LHR timetabled for 1845 by a suggested hour.

The 1315 hours lunchtime AKL across to SYD (QF144) departed 78 minutes behind schedule so arrival is likely at 1605, 70 late. B738 VH-XZB is the operating aircraft that had arrived only nine minutes late at 1224 hours on QF141 ex SYD.

Thursday's QF1 ex SIN departed at 0021 hours on Friday, 26 late with LHR arrival projected shortly at 0715, 50 late.

Q400 QF-QOD on QF2116, the 1540 hours mid afternoon SYD up to CFS was still taxiing as at 1623 in Sydney, so will be at least half an hour tardy.
 
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B717 VH-NXR on QF1578, the 1630 hours Friday 24 May SYD - MCY took off at 1712 so arrival should be at around 1835, half an hour late.

The DRW - MEL QF839 is similar, with B738 VH-VYZ likely to arrive at 1811, 31 late.
 
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An announcement has just been made that there will be delays of 5-30 minutes out of MEL due to earlier weather disruptions.

JessicaTam, arrivals to MEL are broadly similar. It's a north wind at MEL of around 41kmh gusting to 44kmh, so not quite as strong as earlier in the day, but by no means calm.

It looks like MEL is down to single runway ops that as you know better than me is never good at busier times for punctuality. From memory some airport document suggested that MEL tended to have such operating restrictions for part of a typical 60 to 80 days per year, but it's highly seasonal if I recall.
 
Delayed by holding into MEL, QF453, the 1700 hours SYD - MEL airborne at 1729 (B738 VH-VXT) should arrive at about 1910, 35 late.
 
Delays are one thing but some pax travelling to Tasmania look like overnighting in Melbourne as an announcement has just been made cancelling the scheduled 1905 Qlink MEL-DPO flight due to a technical issue with the aircraft. Passengers have been advised to the QF sales desk at MEL, presumably for rebooking to tomorrow.
 
Delays are one thing but some pax travelling to Tasmania look like overnighting in Melbourne as an announcement has just been made cancelling the scheduled 1905 Qlink MEL-DPO flight due to a technical issue with the aircraft. Passengers have been advised to the QF sales desk at MEL, presumably for rebooking to tomorrow.

If there are spare seats - not guaranteed - couldn't they be placed on a MEL - LST or even a MEL - HBA and then transported by road coach or other road transport?

If it's you affected, please keep us informed as to which hotel is used, how you get there tonight, meal allowances and so on.
 
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In more on Friday 24 May 2019, QF9's first sector (1515 hours mid afternoon from MEL to PER that has a good punctuality record) is predicted to depart an hour late, arriving in the botanical wonderland at 1820, 65 down. This will delay the departure for LHR timetabled for 1845 by a suggested hour.,,

The delay resulted in MEL pushback at 1712 so PER arrival was at 1905, 110 minutes behind the timetable. Departure for LHR should be at 2030 (105 late) with Saturday 25 LHR at gate arrival 0655, also 110 minutes trdy.
 
Although the Saturday 25 May arriving QF12 was displaying previously (see post #10143 above) as likely to be 90 late into SYD, the projected deficit has lessened to 58 minutes. QF94 had been forecast to arrive MEL on Saturday 75 late but this has been trimmed to 54 (0824 hours).

However 'the 16' (LAX - BNE) has become a forecast 96 late into BNE, not 90.
 
If there are spare seats - not guaranteed - couldn't they be placed on a MEL - LST or even a MEL - HBA and then transported by road coach or other road transport?

If it's you affected, please keep us informed as to which hotel is used, how you get there tonight, meal allowances and so on.
I was travelling on the similarly-timed MEL-LST service; there were no spare seats showing on the airport kiosk self-checkin when I did bag drop...and the aircraft was indeed full (Q400)
 
QF135 BNE-CHC 24/05 18:55 'delayed' to 25/05 08:00 due to fog in Christchurch. Very well handled at the airport last night. Hotels organised straight away. We just went home. Try and claim lost hotel night cabs to and from home at some staff in the future. Our short weekend over there is now even shorter. Sat on a very lightly loaded 738 pushing back.
 
Also on Saturday 25 May, A388 VH-OQJ is returning from maintenance in Busan, South Korea with arrival in SYD (ex PUS) likely at 0932 hours, although at 0908 the aircraft was in a hold west of Mangrove Mountain, NSW. It had been in Busan since 8 May for repainting into the 'Silver Roo' livery so one other website suggests.
 
Further on Saturday 25 May, as class leader A333 VH-QPA on the 0955 hours SYD up to KIX (QF33) did not become airborne until 1215 hours, so expected arrival is 2051, 111 late. QF33 usually has pretty good punctuality. To run almost two hours late is unusual on this route (unlike JNB or BKK to name a couple of QF's poorer performers). This evening's QF34 will be tardy.

Earlier, Friday 24's QF2 (SIN down to SYD) departed at 2058, 88 late, arriving on Saturday morning at 0617, 67 minutes behind schedule.

After its cancellation yesterday, QF29, the Saturday 0940 hours MEL up to HKG is expected to push back at 1250 for at gate arrival of 2035 tonight, 195 late.

The 1210 hours lunchtime SYD - MNL, QF19, is expected to push back 70 late with arrival 75 late at 1945, delaying tonight's QF20 redeye.

'The 1' (ex SYD on Friday) pushed back in Lion City SIN at 0011, 16 late on Saturday but LHR arrival has become an estimated 0725 hours, an hour late. With the all day turnaround, this won't (on a standalone basis) adversely affect the evening QF2.

UPDATE: QF29's forecast pushback in MEL has become 1320 hours, but a few minutes later this still had not occurred.
 
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Friday 24 May's QF27 was tardy out of SYD as noted above, arriving in Chile's SCL at 1226, 81 late. The return flight, QF28, departed at 1450, 80 late so Saturday 25 arrival is a predicted 1835. 45 down. As often occurs, this aircraft looks to be then on tonight's redeye QF25, the 2050 hours SYD up to HND, so in theory it ought not be tardy.

Another B744, QF64 was delayed due to 'the 63' being late yesterday so on Saturday it is suggested as arriving Sydney at around 1633 hours, 98 late. This plane should then proceed to SFO on QF73 with pushback anticipated as delayed by an hour to 1840. Same day arrival should be at 1505, 65 late.
 
The delayed Saturday 25 May QF29 has just departed MEL at 1335, 235 minutes behind schedule. VH-QPF arrived in MEL this morning at 1119, 104 minutes late on QF415, the 0800 hours ex SYD that took off at 1008. Prior to that it operated QF24 that arrived in SYd (ex BKK) only four late at 0629, so the plane would have had to transfer across from QFi to QFd.

The delayed QF29 has all the hallmarks of the A333 brought down from SYD substituting for a failed aircraft.
 
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The delayed Saturday 25 May QF29 has just departed MEL at 1335, 235 minutes behind schedule. VH-QPF arrived in MEL this morning at 1119, 104 minutes late on QF415, the 0800 hours ex SYD that took off at 1008. Prior to that it operated QF24 that arrived in SYd (ex BKK) only four late at 0629, so the plane would have had to transfer across from QFi to QFd.

The delayed QF29 has all the hallmarks of the A333 brought down from SYD substituting for a failed aircraft.

QF29 departed as indicated but from what I can see, got as far north as a few hundred kilometres east of ASP and then returned to MEL.

Perhaps milehighclub or someone else well informed can let us know why.

It has turned into a redeye and is displaying as departing MEL at 2130 but had not done so by 2210 on Saturday evening 25 May. Estimated HKG arrival is (Sunday 26) at 0455 hours, 695 minutes late.

Saturday evening's QF98, the scheduled 2015 hours HKG down overnight to BNE has become a suggested 0600 hours ex HKG, although in practice this will be later. BNE arrival is optimistically showing as Sunday 26 afternoon at 1650 hours, 585 minutes behind schedule.

UPDATE: The QF29 aircraft has become A333 VH-QPG and departed at 2215 hours, becoming airborne at 2237 hours. HKG arrival should be at about 0540 hours on Sunday 26 morning, so 'the 62' may well be BNE-bound (if all goes well) at around 0650 to 0700 hours.

If VH-QPF remains inoperable for a while, it may mean either more international A330 QF flights cancelled, or substitutions with A332s leaving the domestic network one down.
 
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