Regional Express Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

On Thursday 11 December 2025, SAAB 340B VH-ZRI ran badly late all afternoon and evening, operating return trip from SYD to OAG and then separately to DBO, before ZL6681, the 1855 hours SYD-WGA that wasn't airborne until 2121 hours, arriving WGA at 2219, 129 minutes late.

I'm guessing Rex no longer has pilots based in rural cities such as WGA - to be confirmed - so it may have been a motel for the night, coupled with a requirement for a minimum number of hours off duty that led to Friday 12's ZL6658, the 0630 hours taking off at 0909 hours and arriving SYD at 1024 hours, 164 minutes behind schedule. The stormy weather in Sydney would not help and may have caused further loss of time.

This plane is next operating ZL6812, the 0905 hours SYD-PKE (and subsequently, DBO) that was in the sky at 1130. Expected arrival becomes 1235, 172 minutes late. There is some recovery time possible in the breaks this aircraft has today, but it probably will be delayed all day.

This can be one of the traps in travelling on an early morning flight from a rural city in say NSW: if the evening QF/ZL or other flight is badly delayed, travellers may also experience this the next morning.

 

[Melburnian1]

Storms are approaching Melbourne, so ZL3469 (SAAB 340B VH-ZLG, the 1230 hours Saturday 13 December MIM-MEL) is diverting of all places to ABX just over the border in NSW. The aircraft had taken off from Merimbula NSW at 1442.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Sunday 14 December 2025, ZL6477, the 1855 hours evening SYD-GFF (SAAB 340B VH-ZRZ) took off at 1958, arriving Griffith at 2124 hours, 59 late.

When these evening ZL or QFd rural offerings are delayed, often the first flight next morning is also tardy as the crew requires minimum rest in their motel.

And so it is that the 15 December ZL6454, the 0630 hours, took off at 0727 and given a holding pattern is likely to arrive SYD at about 0854 hours, 64 minutes behind.

This is the fourth time in seven days this morning flight has been approximately an hour late arriving in SYD. Hard to recommend using it to connect to a midmorning international flight from Sydney.

 

[Melburnian1]

Thursday 18 December 2025 has seen SAAB 340B VH-ZRI operate normally on its first flight of the day, ZL6355, the 0700 hours PQQ-SYD that took off at 0707 and arrived at 0810 hours, exactly on time.

However the plane must have then replaced a failed sister, as it was pressed into service on ZL6852, also an 0700 hours but ex SYD for DBO and then BHQ. It was airborne at 0902 hours, eventually arriving 'The Hill' at 1136 hours, 111 minutes tardy.

It then operated back to Sydney as ZL6855, arriving at 1458 hours, 103 minutes behind schedule before replacing another failed aircraft, running ZL6528, the lunchtime 1205 hours SYD across to PKE that wasn't in the sky until 1554 for arrival at 1643 hoyurs, 213 minutes late. It is presently returning to SYD as ZL6529 that may arrive at 1807, 212 minutes late.

An adventurous day for the ageing, little critter.