Qantas Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Monday 3 August, QF3 (B789 VH-ZND) had an uneventful initial sector from SYD across to AKL, but the second leg from AKL to JFK should see an arrival at about 40 minutes late - 1700 hours. This may slightly delay the 1920 hours return QF4 from JFK back to AKL.

This '40 minute' delay was sourced from JFK Airport's site, as FR24 and QFi's flight status pages for some reason were not updated.

However it turned out to be inocrrect, as QF3 with B789 VH-ZND arrived at JFK at 1846 hours on Monday 3 August, 146 minutes late.

QF4 (the 1920 hours) was airborne at 2116 with Wednesday 5 August AKL gate arrival forecast as 0528 hours, 33 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

A388 VH-OQK is on the Monday 3 August 2255 hours QF12 from LAX down and across to SYD. It was airborne at 0130 hours on Tuesday 4 with Wednesday 5 gate arrival likely at about 0822 hours, 87 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 5 August, QF23 (0950 hours SYD-BKK, A333 VH-QPH) was in the sky at 1046, so gate arrival late this afternoon should be roughly 17134 hours, 33 minutes behind the eight ball.

 

[wamut]

Follow-up to the recent diversion to Melbourne of the SYD-SCL flight that my partner was on...

He also received 20k complimentary FF points!

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 6 August, QF67 (scheduled at 0905 hours SYD to BLR in India) did not take off until 1211 hours,. so gate arrival tonight becomes a forecast 1905 hours, 150 minutes late. Something must have gone wrong with another A332 as VH-EBR arrived as QF164 from AKL in SYD at 1006 hours, four minutes early and formed 'the 67'.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Thursday 6 August, QF147, the evening 1750 hours SYD-AKL was airborne at 1856. BH738 VH-XZK should arrive at gate at approximately 2336 hours, 41 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

There are many departure delays from SYD on the morning of Friday 7 August 2026.

As examples, QF512, the 0920 hours SYD-BNE (B738 VH-VYA) was not airborne until 1030, with forecast gate arrival 1134, 39 minutes late even with a very generous gate-to-gate timetable of 95 minutes.

Sister aircraft -VZX is on QF121, the 0930 hours SYD across to ZQN in the sky at 1034 for suggested arrival at about 1517 hours, 47 late.

QF578 (0940 hours to HTI), QF1993 (0805 hours across to ADL), QF433 (1005 hours SYD down to MEL) and QF790 (0955 hours SYD-ASP) were a sample of the flights that hadn't begun to taxi in Sydney by 1040 hours.

Afternoon delays will vary from nothing to significant: it depends as to whether the roster features a 'nap' between flights around noon (probably less likely on Fridays) and allowed turnaround times.

Has at least one SYD air traffic controller suddenly gone off sick?

 

[LionKing]

There are many departure delays from SYD on the morning of Friday 7 August 2026.

As examples, QF512, the 0920 hours SYD-BNE (B738 VH-VYA) was not airborne until 1030, with forecast gate arrival 1134, 39 minutes late even with a very generous gate-to-gate timetable of 95 minutes.

Sister aircraft -VZX is on QF121, the 0930 hours SYD across to ZQN in the sky at 1034 for suggested arrival at about 1517 hours, 47 late.

QF578 (0940 hours to HTI), QF1993 (0805 hours across to ADL), QF433 (1005 hours SYD down to MEL) and QF790 (0955 hours SYD-ASP) were a sample of the flights that hadn't begun to taxi in Sydney by 1040 hours.

Afternoon delays will vary from nothing to significant: it depends as to whether the roster features a 'nap' between flights around noon (probably less likely on Fridays) and allowed turnaround times.

Has at least one SYD air traffic controller suddenly gone off sick?

QF127/7 Aug is now running 45 minutes late and is estimated to arrive HKG at 1840 HKT.
QF81/7 Aug is now taking off and has been 80 minutes late.
QF23/7 Aug is now running 45 minutes late and is estimated to arrive BKK at 1725 IndoChina Time

I am very concerned of the delay at SYD during some peak periods and I honestly think a major expansion at SYD is urgently needed. Just demolish Kogarah Golf Club at Wolli Creek, and the industry area at Shep's Round would have provided a lot more apron space, which together with a Tunnel and some Chinese made self driving Shuttle Bus, this could have improved efficiency at SYD during peak International Departure periods.

 

[Melburnian1]

I am very concerned of the delay at SYD during some peak periods and I honestly think a major expansion at SYD is urgently needed. Just demolish Kogarah Golf Club at Wolli Creek, and the industry area at Shep's Round would have provided a lot more apron space, which together with a Tunnel and some Chinese made self driving Shuttle Bus, this could have improved efficiency at SYD during peak International Departure periods.

I suspect delays have more to do with the hourly 80 movements per hour and 20 movements per 15 minutes maximum, and also how air traffic controllers appear to take non-genuine sick leave willy-nilly.

As one pilot I know a couple of months ago said to me 'there's an element of CFMEU-style tactics among the air traffic controllers in Sydney', referring to how (mysteriously) sick leave is taken during school holidays and when weekends approach.

 

[Harrison_133]

The Guardian is reporting today's delays are due to staffing shortages.

Delays of up to 120 minutes were recorded across 75 Qantas and Jetstar flights, as well as four cancellations. Virgin Australia saw delays across 50 flights, while Rex was forced to off-load passengers after delays of up to an hour on the tarmac.
Airlines were advised the disruption was caused by staffing shortages at Airservices Australia.

Australia news live: Attorney General warns women and children at risk of ‘harmful conduct’ from smartglasses users; major delays at Sydney airport

Follow live

www.theguardian.com

 

[elanshin]

QF127/7 Aug is now running 45 minutes late and is estimated to arrive HKG at 1840 HKT.
QF81/7 Aug is now taking off and has been 80 minutes late.
QF23/7 Aug is now running 45 minutes late and is estimated to arrive BKK at 1725 IndoChina Time

I am very concerned of the delay at SYD during some peak periods and I honestly think a major expansion at SYD is urgently needed. Just demolish Kogarah Golf Club at Wolli Creek, and the industry area at Shep's Round would have provided a lot more apron space, which together with a Tunnel and some Chinese made self driving Shuttle Bus, this could have improved efficiency at SYD during peak International Departure periods.

SYD airport (ATC) is just in meltdown mode today. Expanding the airport would just make it worse not better.

There were reports of people stuck on the tarmac after landing for ages because their pilots couldn't get ATC to give taxi instructions and basically parked on a taxiway for almost an hour.

 

[LionKing]

SYD airport (ATC) is just in meltdown mode today. Expanding the airport would just make it worse not better.

There were reports of people stuck on the tarmac after landing for ages because their pilots couldn't get ATC to give taxi instructions and basically parked on a taxiway for almost an hour.

I can see this from FlightRadar 24 this morning that SQ231 and NZ103 were stuck on Tarmac for more than 30 minutes before getting a gate.

I wonder whether AIr Services Australia should replace all Australian staff with foreigners on visa, which I am sure the threat of having their visa cancelled will prevent staff from taking non-genuine sick days.

 

[elanshin]

I can see this from FlightRadar 24 this morning that SQ231 and NZ103 were stuck on Tarmac for more than 30 minutes before getting a gate.

I wonder whether AIr Services Australia should replace all Australian staff with foreigners on visa, which I am sure the threat of having their visa cancelled will prevent staff from taking non-genuine sick days.

Not going to work. There's a global ATC shortage - the staff would just up and goto ither parts of the world. Its probably one of the most in demand jobs globally with an exceptionally strict requirements.

 

[Melburnian1]

Airservices Australia stated to 'The Australian' that by early afternoon, operations at SYD were back to normal.

However QF19, the lunchtime 1225 hours SYD-MNL (A332 VH-EBD) did not take off until 1334, so its gate arrival tonight becomes approximately 1929 hours, 39 minutes late.

A333 VH-QPC on QF59, the 1115 hours SYD-HND was in the sky at 1212 hours so gate arrival should be about 2046 hours, 36 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Friday 7 August, QF136, the afternoon 1635 hours CHC across to SYD did not take off until 1843. B738 VH-XZB is arriving at gate at 2008 hours, 118 minutes late. This was partly due to the outbound flight from Sydney, QF137 (the 1020 hours) not in the sky until 1140, arriving CHC 62 minutes late at 1627. However the aircraft then spent excess time on the ground in Christchurch.

 

[Melburnian1]

Due to the delays in Sydnery yesterday morning, on Saturday 8 August, QF24 from BKK arrived in SYD at 0655, half an hour late with A333 VH-QPA.

A332 VH-EBR was on 'the 20' fropm MNL to SYD that pulled in to its gate this morning at 0801 hours, 76 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

@Harrison_133 has kindly let us know that Airservices Australia says 'staffing shortages' on Saturday 8 August are again to adversely affect timekeeping of flights ex Sydney Airport.

I bet (again) some controllers have suddenly 'gone off sick'. Hmmm.

Some examples of delays include QF733, the 0925 hours SYD-ADL (B738 VH-VXA) that had not left its gate by 1032 hours, and QF1576, the 0940 hours SYD-MCY (A223 VH-X4D) that was similarly afflicted. So was the 0920 hours SYD-BNE QF512 with VH-VYI, another B738.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with the Sydney air traffic control-related delays on Saturday 8 August, QF63 (A388 VH-OQB, the 0935 hours SYD-JNB) was airborne at 1102 hours. Gate arrival should be at 1707 this afternoon South African time, 42 minutes late.

QF23 (0950 hours SYD-BKK, A333 VH-QPA, the class leader) wasn't in the sky until 1215 hours. Gate arrival is forecast for 1825 hours, 105 minutes behind schedule.

The 1010 hours SYD-HKG (QF127, A333 VH-QPE) was in the sky at 1227 hours. Gate arrival is suggested for 1940 hours, 105 minutes late.

QF81 (1020 hours SYD-SIN) has B789 VH-ZNB. It was in the sky at 1257 hours. Gate arrival should be about 1906 tonight instead of 1655 hours, so 131 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

In yet another Saturday 8 August 2026 delay, QF59 (1115 hours SYD-HND, A333 VH-QPH) was in the sky at 1323 hours. Likely gate arrival tonight becomes 2140 hours, 90 minutes late.

QF19 (1225 hours lunchtime SYD-MNL, A333 VH-QPK) took off at 1355 with gate arrival becoming 1955 hours, 65 minutes late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on Saturday 8 August, QF172 (B738 VH-VZS, the 1435 hours WLG across to MEL) took off at 1734, so gate arrival is becoming a forecast 1913 hours, 158 minutes late. QF171 was more than three hours late departing Melbourne so that explains the latest delay.