Regional Express Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

B738 VH-RYU was out of service from 1334 hours on Thursday 2 March to today (Tuesday 7) at 1000, when it headed ZL42 but did not take off until 1157 hours, arriving in SYD at 1258 hours, 88 minute slate. It then ran ZL540/545 to the Gold Coast and back, arriving in SYD at 1845 hours, 165 late, and is now on its final rostered flight for today, ZL368, the 1715 hours SYD-BNE up up and away at 1948 for suggested at gate arrival of 2002 hours, 137 late.

I've noted in the last two or three days how aircraft swaps must be occurring as on at least two occasionals, aircraft have come in on a main line service scheduled to arrive after the next one is due to depart. This is a sign that a sister plane may have failed, or be significantly delayed itself.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 23 March 2023, while perhaps brief by Sydney and especially FNQ standards, MEL and environs has had thunderstorms at about 0845 AEDT.

Initially, delays for inbounds were not huge, but depending on the number of aircraft around, they tend to compound. As a micro example, ZL9, the 0700 hours SYD-MEL (B738 VH-RYU) did not become airborne until 0805, about 45-50 minutes late, and as at 0908 hours was holding in the oft-favoured position above Mt Buller, with a nominal displayed arrival of 0941 hours, 66 minutes tardy.

I wonder if ATC controller 'shortages' are also playing their part in the late takeoff from Sydney?

ZL often has a very good punctuality record despite its very small 'main line' fleet.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Wednesday 19 April 2023, ZL6526, the 1615 hours SYD across to PKE (SAAB340B VH-PRX) looks to have got as far as Parkes but may not have landed, and has returned to SYD landing at approximately 1813 hours. BOM says conditions are 'clear' at Parkes town, so apparently no fog. Was there a problem with the aircraft?

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 5 May 2023, a B738 must have developed problems as ZL139 (VH-MFM), the 1645 hours SYD down to MEL arrived at 1845 hours, 25 minutes late and quickly formed ZL152, the 1715 hours MEL-SYD airborne at 2009 for arrival in Sydney at 2118 hours, 153 minutes behind schedule. The aircraft is currently operating ZL171, the 2000 hours SYD-MEL up up and away at 2217 hours for predicted arrival in the southern capital at 2333 hours, 118 behind time.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 9 May 2023, B738 VH-RYU on ZL9, the 0700 hours SYD-MEL was airborne at 0743, taking off to the south, but was then routed above Campbelltown, Bankstown, Parramatta, Castle Hill and North Ryde so appears to be returning to SYD by about 0808 or thereabouts in landing.

 

[Melburnian1]

I am not in Sydney but on Sunday 21 May 2023 at 1730 hours - peak period - it appears SYD may be down to only using the east-west runway.

As at 1740 hours, ZL139 (B738 VH-MFM, 1645 hours SYD-MEL) was still taxiing with a few aircraft including two other ZL B738s ahead of it, so it will easily be more than half an hour late arriving in the Victorian capital.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 28 May 2023, ZL6477 (1900 hours evening SYD-GFF) took off at 2030 hours with VH-ZLJ, the usual SAAB 340B.

Highly likely that on Monday 29, the 0650 hours return flight to SYD (ZL6454) will depart late due to mandatory crew rest requirements. My guess is it'll depart more than an hour late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Highly likely that on Monday 29, the 0650 hours return flight to SYD (ZL6454) will depart late due to mandatory crew rest requirements. My guess is it'll depart more than an hour late.

On Monday 29 May, 'the 6454' took off from GFF at 0727 hours with SYD arrival suggested as 0841 hours, 31 late.

 

[Melburnian1]

ZL3554 (Tuesday 30 May, the 0630 hours early morning BWT-MEL) was not in the sky until 0837 hours, so SAAB 340B VH-ZLS is arriving at 0939 hours, 114 minutes behind schedule. This is due to last night's ZL3579 not arriving Burnie until 2158 hours, 153 minutes late as the aircraft had previously been badly late on the 1455 hours MEL-MQL and returning 1700 hours back to MEL.

Irrespective as to whether it's QFd or ZL, enabling on-time early morning departures at these rural city/town airports can be challenging as often the pilot(s) and cabin crew need more official time off should the inbound run late, as often they're based in capital cities not the rural centres.

 

[servicerequired]

ZL3554 (Tuesday 30 May, the 0630 hours early morning BWT-MEL) was not in the sky until 0837 hours, so SAAB 340B VH-ZLS is arriving at 0939 hours, 114 minutes behind schedule. This is due to last night's ZL3579 not arriving Burnie until 2158 hours, 153 minutes late as the aircraft had previously been badly late on the 1455 hours MEL-MQL and returning 1700 hours back to MEL.

Irrespective as to whether it's QFd or ZL, enabling on-time early morning departures at these rural city/town airports can be challenging as often the pilot(s) and cabin crew need more official time off should the inbound run late, as often they're based in capital cities not the rural centres.

If only QF would re-establish their MQL base ... !!

They dead-head the hosties and pilots that live in MQL to work out of MEL and SYD bases now, and overnight MEL and SYD crew in MQL ... seems like an absolute waste of $$$.

 

[Melburnian1]

If only QF would re-establish their MQL base ... !!

They dead-head the hosties and pilots that live in MQL to work out of MEL and SYD bases now, and overnight MEL and SYD crew in MQL ... seems like an absolute waste of $$$.

From the airline's perspective, if it did this, maybe it's worried that if a flight to 'get the staff home to Mildura' was cancelled, then those staff would have no airline way to get home. V/Line has three daily coaches to/from Swan Hill, mostly connecting with trains there but one does this in Bendigo, while six nights a week V/Line also has an overnight coach via Donald, but presumably these staff even if they have a few days off want to get home what they perceive as 'quickly'.

The funny thing is V/Line would carry far more passengers between Melbourne and Mildura than Qantas, as all airlines combined in March 2023 caried fewer than 200 a day in each direction, and QFd has competition from ZL and new (infrequent though) AB. I have been on fully booked V/Line coaches numerous times, but on air journeys between MEL and MQL found quite a few seats empty on various occasions.

No wonder air fares are so high when airlines have to pay (even at discounted rates) for accommodation, presumably a separate room for each staff member, plus meal allowances, and travel to and from airports. It all adds up to a hefty annual sum for one route, especially when ground staff are also needed at outstations like Mildura. The latter are shared between routes but it's not as if Mildura has 20 flights in an eight hour period by one airline.

While the markets may be different, I wonder if the $4.60 one way maximum fare since 31 March 2023 on V/Line is affecting the MQL route at least a little from those who have the time to travel on surface transport electing to forego air, given the fare differential has increased?

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 30 June 2023, (thank you to Himeno!), in the morning, SYD has been down to one runway, the east-west.

ZL6355 (SAAB 340B VH_TRX), the 0640 hours PQQ down to SYD wasn't airborne until 0833, perhaps as a result of the runway situation. Arrival on apron is shortly at 0948 hours, 118 minutes tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Dealys are continuing into the afternoon of 30 June given SYD remains stuck on single runway ops.

ZL817 (B738 VH-RQG_, the 1145 hours very late morning SYD across to ADL was not in the sky until 1412 hours, so arrival should be at about 1527 hours, 122 minutes late. The rest of its flights today will be badly delayed as a result.

 

[Melburnian1]

With westerly winds proving to have plenty of strength, Sydney Airport has been on single runway operations for most of Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 July 2023.

This didn't create too many severe delays yesterday, given Saturdays tend to be quiet domestically unless there's a major football, racing or concert on somewhere, but on Sunday, ZL139, the 1645 hours latish afternoon from SYD down to MEL (B738 VH-RYU) was still second in the takeoff queue as at 1740 hours, so is likely to be more than half an hour late arriving in Melbourne.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Tuesday 8 August 2023, there must have been fog in Burnie and Launceston as apart from the below, a QF mail freighter bound for the latter had to turn back to MEL.

ZL3554, the 0630 hours BWT-MEL was in the sky at 0725 and as at 0817 was in a hold above Wonthaggi. A 67 minute late arrival (0852 hours) for SAAB 340B VH-ZLX is likely.

 

[Harrison_133]

Ouch. 10 hour delay for the MEL-OOL flight today.

Scheduled for 9:00am, now estimated at 7:15pm.