QF2 departing LHR 4 March - why 13 hour layover in SIN?

[Mark1966]

OK, so it has been a totally cough day at the end of a cough trip to Europe cut short when a conference which was the main purpose of the trip got cancelled two days ago.

Arrived early at LHR, 1300, because I've just got to get some work done on an urgent matter before being stuck for a day on a plane.

Good news - staff at the desk and he checked me in early, so I'm now sitting in the lounge.

Every better news - he swapped me onto QF36 and routed me domestically via MEL rather than SYD because QF2 has a 13 hour 15 minute layover in SIN.

What ?

This is the same aircraft flying LHR - SIN - SYD, so presumably nothing wrong with the aircraft, I hope as I'm flying on it to SIN. Would this be due to crew rest requirements?

Feel sorry for the pax who do not get bumped to another flight from SIN.

 

[Mark1966]

OK, I have just seen this in The Australian - NoCookies | The Australian

"Qantas cancelled its Wednesday afternoon service from Sydney to London via Singapore to fully clean the A380 aircraft used following confirmation it carried a first class passenger with coronavirus.
Another Qantas flight from Singapore to Sydney, using an A330 was also identified by NSW Health as transporting a man who tested positive for coronavirus.

It is understood cabin crew who had direct contact with the passengers on each flight have been placed into self-isolation.

A Qantas spokesman said customers affected by the cancellation of QF1 would be moved to the next available flight.

“While Qantas Medical has assessed the risk as extremely low, we are doing some additional cleaning of those aircraft as a precaution,” the spokesman said.

“This is in addition to the normal clean that takes place after each international flight.”

I presume that there are knock on affects ?

 

[dylarr]

I presume that there are knock on affects ?

Absolutely. The Qantas A380 schedule has little to no wiggle room for events like this so there will be knock on effects.

 

[Mark1966]

Absolutely. The Qantas A380 schedule has little to no wiggle room for events like this so there will be knock on effects.

Which I understand BUT ...

VH-OQL arrived in LHR on 3 March (Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24) and is presumably the aircraft doing the flight tonight as VH-OQC is doing the current QF2 (Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24)

So it cannot be an issue of the aircraft? It must be crew [rest] related?

 

[dylarr]

There are a myriad of reasons.

For example, that aircraft may turn around at SIN and fly back to LHR so Qantas can keep pax moving between those ports as there are plenty of other options QF have to send pax between SIN-SYD (A330 services, route via other capital cities etc) but only a limited amount of aircraft that can do SIN-LHR.

 

[Mark1966]

There are a myriad of reasons.

For example, that aircraft may turn around at SIN and fly back to LHR so Qantas can keep pax moving between those ports as there are plenty of other options QF have to send pax between SIN-SYD (A330 services, route via other capital cities etc) but only a limited amount of aircraft that can do SIN-LHR.

Good points, thanks.

I'll watch the particular aircraft movements with interest when I get back - if not too jet lagged!

 

[dylarr]

Hope your journey home is a bit smoother. Sounds like your trip has been trashed by covid-19 (assume this is the reason for your conference cancellation, and now impacting your flights).

 

[Mark1966]

Hope your journey home is a bit smoother. Sounds like your trip has been trashed by covid-19 (assume this is the reason for your conference cancellation, and now impacting your flights).

Thanks and yes.

 

[jb747]

Which I understand BUT ...

VH-OQL arrived in LHR on 3 March (Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24) and is presumably the aircraft doing the flight tonight as VH-OQC is doing the current QF2 (Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24)

So it cannot be an issue of the aircraft? It must be crew [rest] related?

There are normally three crews that could potentially operate that flight. So, whilst possible, a crew issue isn’t the most likely of causes.

 

[Mark1966]

Hope your journey home is a bit smoother. Sounds like your trip has been trashed by covid-19 (assume this is the reason for your conference cancellation, and now impacting your flights).

As it happened - not only was I already transferred to QF36 but along with a number of other WP that were upstairs in economy on the LON - SIN sector I was upgraded at the gate for the SIN - MEL sector to Premium Economy (W?) with a spare seat next to me as well - luxury!