Qantas Delays/Cancellations

Delays on all 5 LAX to Australia flights on Friday night. The longest delay is on QF18, which is Sydney bound, and currently has a 4.5 hours delay.
 
VH-OQH refurb off to a rocky start with its first flight QF17 already showing a 2+ hour delay
So after last night’s 5 hour delay out of SYD, the return was also delayed by 5 hours. And now has been returned back to LAX after circling and dumping fuel.
 
Also on Sunday 22 December, QF79, the 0920 hours MEL up to NRT (A333 VH-QPE) took off at 1038 with a 43 late arrival at 1823 the estimate. In the past week, this flight has been more than an hour late arriving twice, and more than 20 minutes late also twice.
 
On Monday 23 December, QF19, the 125 hours SYD to MNL departed at 1358, taking off at 1411, so A333 VH-QPC should arrive at about 1842, 72 late, delaying the returning 1900 hours QF20.
 
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So after last night’s 5 hour delay out of SYD, the return was also delayed by 5 hours. And now has been returned back to LAX after circling and dumping fuel.
VH-OQF ex DRS-SYD (18.5hr nonstop flight), then SYD-LAX (delayed) then LAX-SYD as QF18 returned to LAX after a significant delay
Here is the altitude/speed profile:

D2C5152D-3F1D-4A58-8742-3B3042916623.jpeg

The descent from FL300 to FL100 took 15 minutes.
If I recall correctly, the @jb747 QF30 emergency descent over MNL took 7 minutes for the same altitudes.

It appeared that the aircraft turned around before making an altitude descent change. The “spike” in the speed is likely due to a turn into headwinds before a significant reduction in speed and altitude.

would be interesting to find out what happened to cause the pilots to take so much kinetic and potential energy out of the aircraft.
 
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The Sunday 22 December scheduled QF18, 2010 hours mid evening ex LAX has been delayed to a projected 0830 hours Monday 23 meaning Tuesday 24 SYD arrival at 1830 not 0615. Good that most passengers will be at their destination for Christmas Eve. The exceptions would be those booked on connecting flights to places like ARM, ABX and DBO.
 
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VH-OQF ex DRS-SYD (18.5hr nonstop flight), then SYD-LAX (delayed) then LAX-SYD as QF18 returned to LAX after a significant delay
Here is the altitude/speed profile:

......

The descent from FL300 to FL100 took 15 minutes.
If I recall correctly, the @jb747 QF30 emergency descent over MNL took 7 minutes for the same altitudes.

This isn’t an emergency descent. They aren‘t even trying. It’s just a normal descent profile. It also has a small level period at FL200. You don’t stop an emergency descent until you get to 10,000’ or the MSA.

For what it’s worth, we could have achieved a greater rate of descent on QF30 if we’d been prepared to accelerate...which I wasn’t. The 380 can actually slightly outdo the 747 when it comes to emergency descents.

It appeared that the aircraft turned around before making an altitude descent change. The “spike” in the speed is likely due to a turn into headwinds before a significant reduction in speed and altitude.

The speed you’re showing is the ground speed. The spike is associated with a turn that gives them a tailwind. The reduction in speed over the rest of the graph corresponds to the reduction that happens on all descents as the IAS and TAS slowly converge. The other bumps in speed are also associated with turns, as the aircraft holds off LA.

would be interesting to find out what happened to cause the pilots to take so much kinetic and potential energy out of the aircraft.

There’s nothing all that notable about the energy state. The only item of note is the the descent to about 6,000’ followed by a small climb to 8,000’. I wonder if the original plan was to land on 07R, with that later changing to 25L.
 
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The overnight delayed QF18 (A388 VH-OQH) pushed back in LAX at 0902 hiurs on Minday 23 December so anticipated SYD arrival has blown out to 1840 hours on Tuesday 24, 745 minutes late.
 
Christmas Day 2019 sees tinekeeping woes continuing for QF79, as it departed MEL 55 minutes behind schedule at 1015 with projected arrival 49 late tonight at 1829 hours. This flight is due to be replaced by a daily to HND come March. At present it is sonetines formed by QF61 ex BNE then QF80, but there is no clear pattern.

700 or so air kilometres north, QF23 from SYD to BKK departed 82 minutes late at 1152 hours with suggested arrival at 1721, 71 behind meaning that QF24 early this evening will be tardy in pushing back.
 
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On Boxing Day 2019, QF11, the 1110 hours SYD to LAX pushed back 31 late, so expected same day arrival has become 0641 hours, 31 late. This should not delay the crosscountry USA QF11 across to JFK that is timetabled to commence its trip at 0820 hours.
 
Much later on 26 December 2019, QF20, the 1900 hours MNL to SYD creditably pushed back a minute early but 27 arrival is delayed to 0704, 44 late.

Christmas Day's QF12 pushed back in LAX at 2308, 38 behind, so Friday 27 expected SYD arrival has become 0905, half an hour behind.

On Boxing Day, QF55, the 1300 hours BNE to LAX departed 118 minutes tardy at 1458 hours so arrival should be 0945 hours, 115 late. Due to the limited turnaround time, the returning QF56 is predicted to begin its trek at 1110 hours, 70 behind, with Friday 27 arrival at 1900 hours, 65 behind. As B789 VH-ZNE had been in BNE since arrival at 0658 hours, 17 minutes early on QF16 ex LAX, there was no obvious reason for the outbound delay. It is good from a utilisation perspective to have some of these LAX flights with limited turnarounds, and also good to give an alternative to the traditional Oz to west coast USA schedules that are unsuitable for immediate hotel check ins, but unfortunately any delays of a couple if hours mean the return flight will be tardy.

QF49, the late night 2235 hours MEL to SFO was only 18 late off blocks but same day at gate arrival should be 1900 hours, 65 minutes delayed.

Earlier, QF63, the B744 from SYD to JHB departed 59 late so arrival should be 40 minutes behind at 1715 hours. This may slightly delay QF64.
 
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The projected delay to QF56 from LAX to BNE has increased with arrival on Friday 27 suggested as 1930 hours, 85 late. This makes it harder for the minority with onwards same night connections to make those flights.

Friday 27's QF63, the 1135 hours SYD to JNB did not depart until 1218 so estimated arrival is 1705, half an hour late.

QF11, the 1110 hours late morning SYD to LAX is similar with pushback 24 late but likely arrival half an hour tardy at 0635 hours same day.
 
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Friday 27 December saw QF17, the 1825 hours early evening SYD to LAX pushing back 57 minutes late with same day arrival expected at 1419 hours, 64 behind. In its short new life, this flight is experiencing a few tinekeeping problems.

QF1 left SYD 57 late at 1757 so forecast SIN arrival is 2250 late tonight local time, 50 behind, delaying its second sector to LHR.
 
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Saturday 28 December 2019 has QF79, the 0920 hours MEL - NRT (soon to be HND) again departing late, this time by 68 minutes, meaning likely arrival tonight is 1840 hours, an hour behind.

QF11, the 1110 hours late morning SYD to LAX is often punctual but it pushed back an hour late. Predicted arrival for the A388 is 0644 hours, 44 late.

The 0935 hours BNE up to HKG QF97 started its trip at 1110 with estimated arrival at 1755 hours this afternoon local time, 85 behind.
 
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Later on 28 December, QF1 pushed back in SYD 64 late at 1804 hours with suggested SIN arrival at 2250, 45 late. It is unusual for the flagship flight to be this late on two consecutive days.
 
Monday 30 December 2019 sees QF11, the 1110 hours late morning SYD to LAX estimated to push back 40 minutes late, similar to the ex MEL QF93. However arrival for both should be less than 20 minutes late. Schedules are padded.
 
Later on the same day, QF20, the 1900 hours MNL to SYD redeye departed 33 minutes late with suggested arrival on Tuesday 31 at 0656 hours, 36 behind.

QF45, the 1730 hours MEL up to DPS was only six minutes tardy, departing at 1736 but arrival became 2103 hours, 33 late.
 
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