Virgin Australia Delays/Cancellations

[Melburnian1]

Bird strikes are not uncommon but not all are reported in detail like this one on Saturday 9 March 2019 at ABX:

Virgin Australia plane hits galahs coming into Albury

The cancelled flight was VA1175, the scheduled 1010 hours Saturday 9 ABX - SYD. ATR72 VH-FVR remained overnight in ABX but on Sunday may be operating VA9904, also at 1010 hours, back to SYD.

Not sure why VA didn't give the 19 stranded passengers the option of travelling on the NSW TrainLink overnight XPT train from Albury to Sydney if there were seats available.

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on Sunday 10 March 2019, VA679, the 0915 hours morning MEL across to PER (A332 VH-XFD) was still taxiing at 1056 so arrival will be at least 85 late at 1155 hours.

The aircraft had arrived at 0817, 13 early on VA68 from HKG but another A332 is likely to have failed as it would not be normal for a scheduled 0830 hours international arrival to be forming an 0915 hours domestic flight.

Sunday's 1205 hours from PER back to MEL, VA686 s likely to be delayed until about 1300 in its pushing back.

UPDATE: VA679 took off from MEL at 1100.

 

[Silvia]

VA171 SYD-WLG (B738 VH-YIJ) turned around back to Sydney due to an engineering issue (faulty air conditioning unit). It ended up departing at 12 02, 197 min tardy, arriving at 17 10, 190 min late. This impacted VA172 WLG-SYD which was airborne until 18 01, now with revised arrival of 19 12, 162 min late.

 

[Melburnian1]

... This impacted VA172 WLG-SYD which was airborne until 18 01, now with revised arrival of 19 12, 162 min late.

I think you mean '...which was NOT airborne until 1801...'

 

[Melburnian1]

Also on 10 March 2019, VA172 (1450 hours WLG across to SYD airborne at 1801) is arriving at 1938, 188 late with B738 VH-YIJ.

 

[Melburnian1]

The LAX to SYD VA2 (B773ER VH-VOZ) should arrive on Wednesday 13 March at 0825, half an hour tardy.

 

[Melburnian1]

Later on 13 March, VA742 (B738 VH-VOL, the 1400 hours OOL down to MEL that was up up and away at 1453) is arriving at 1804, 44 late.

 

[Silvia]

14th of March sees another weather related delayed in Sydney which has been usual over the summer period.

VA556 PER-SYD (B738 VH-VUI) departed at 15 11, with revised arrival at 22 07. 257 min late.
VA1535 HBA-SYD (B738 VH-YFZ) was airborne at 18 03; however, seems to be diverting back to HBA as it's been airborne for close to 3 hours.
VA871 MEL-SYD (B738 VH-YWA) had a similar outcome and diverted back to MEL.
VA1192 PQQ-SYD (ATR72 BVH-VPJ) departed at 19 29, expected to arrive at 21 10, 135 tardy.

The following were cancelled
VA863 MEL-SYD 16 30 hours service
VA661 CBR-SYD 17 05 hours
VA867 MEL-SYD 17 00 hours
VA883 MEL-SYD 19 00 hours

This is obviously a very small proportion of the delays, may the force be with you if you are flying in and out of Sydney.

 

[Melburnian1]

In the end it looks like on Thursday 14 March 2019 that VA1535 (B738 VH-YFZ) mentioned by Silvia above is diverting to MEL not HBA, with projected MEL arrival at 2134, so its unfortunate passengers may be "enjoying" a night in Melbourne this evening.

VH-YID on VA875, the 1800 hours MEL - SYD that was airborne at 1910 is diverting to CBR, arriving at 2145 instead of its timetabled Sydney arrival of 1925 hours.

 

[Melburnian1]

As at 2200 hours on Thursday 14 March, many aircraft were wending their way to the SYD airfield but the extensive delays mean it is extrremloy busy.

As one example, VA437, the 1825 hours ADL across to SYD took off at 1940, roughly an hour late. B738 VH-VUG should arrive at around 2242 hours, 112 late.

VA672 (2035 hours SYD - CBR, ATR72 VH-VPJ) was in the sky at 2230.

 

[Himeno]

VA562 delayed out of PER due to medical and toilet issue.
Held over Wagga due to SYD storms and landed in MEL.

Pax told no hotels in MEL.

VA is going to want the A330 in SYD for the HKG flight.

 

[Melburnian1]

VA562 delayed out of PER due to medical and toilet issue.
Held over Wagga due to SYD storms and landed in MEL.

Pax told no hotels in MEL.

VA is going to want the A330 in SYD for the HKG flight.

A332 VH-XFE arrived MEL at 2245 on Thursday 14 March. It appears to still be there. Lack of flight crew may be an issue?

 

[Melburnian1]

In the end it looks like on Thursday 14 March 2019 that VA1535 (B738 VH-YFZ) mentioned by Silvia above is diverting to MEL not HBA, with projected MEL arrival at 2134, so its unfortunate passengers may be "enjoying" a night in Melbourne this evening...

This aircraft then positioned to BNE, taking off from MEL at 2247 as VA9903 - probably empty - and arriving BNE at 2340. This morning it is on VA908, the 0600 hours BNE down to SYD that is on time.

 

[Himeno]

A332 VH-XFE arrived MEL at 2245 on Thursday 14 March. It appears to still be there. Lack of flight crew may be an issue?

It landed MEL at 0030. It was meant to land in SYD at 2240.
Aircraft appears to be heading to SYD now as a ferry flight.

Friend on that flight was rebooked via BNE, but is now going via ADL.

 

[Melburnian1]

On Friday 15 March, there have been storms in Brisbane. VA346, the 1755 hours took off at 1922 with arrival for B738 VH-VUE expected at 2228 hours, 73 late.

VA748 is worse, with VH-VOT on this 1700 hours OOL down to MEL taking off at 2012. Arrival should be at about 2314 hours, 174 late.

The 1935 hours BNE down to SYD, VA988, took off at 2024. VH-VUC should be at its arrival gate at 2240, half an hour late.

 

[Silvia]

Sat 16th of March sees VA679 MEL-PER (A332 VH-XFD) the 9 15 hours service, now with a revised departure of 11 05.
VA185 MEL-NAN (B738 VH-YIS) the 8 30 hours service has a tentative departure of 11 50, this will impact the return leg, VA184 NAN-MEL which is now scheduled for 18 35.

 

[Melburnian1]

In more on Saturday 16 March 2019, VA1161, the 0905 hours SYD up to CFS took off at 1105 with B737 VH-VBY. Arrival looks to be 113 late at 1203 hours. Since Thursday, this aircraft has had an 'adventurous' time with one diversion and yesterday being hours late on a trip from HBA to SYD. The FR24 are all over the place and worth a ten second look:

VH-VBY - Boeing 737-7FE - Virgin Australia - Flightradar24

 

[Silvia]

VA23 MEL-LAX (B777 VH-VPF) is badly delayed. Departure is suggested at 16 40, 250 min late.

 

[Melburnian1]

Continuing with Saturday 16 March 2019, VA679 (A332 VH-XFC, the 0915 hours MEL - PER) was in the sky at 1250 so arrival is delayed until a predicted 1341 hours, 191 late.

The 1005 hours OOL - SYD took off at 1121. VA516 has B738 VH-VUO and should arrive at 1330, 55 minutes down.

 

[Melburnian1]

Sunday 17 March has VA846 (the 1400 hours SYD down to MEL that did not take off until 1447) with B738 VH-VUI that is likely to arrive at 1607, 32 late.

This will delay VA233, the 1640 hours MEL across to ADL that is the next rostered flight for this aircraft.