[maninblack]

QF 702 canceled on several days this week, much to my annoyance. (apparently some other services also canceled) Asked QF if the route is being cut back. Reply was no, certainly not...it is due to a, "shortage of serviceable aircraft due to maintenance backlog". Story is that nearly a dozen aircraft (above the normal) are still awaiting service/repair work and QF expects another 2 weeks of disruptions, and guess what, QF engineers are working overtime to clear the problem!

[serfty]

While Qantas are short of serviceable aircraft, there is more too it than that!

Where there are several or more flights on the same day between the same city pairs and there's enough seating capacity to removed one or more of the flights and reallocate those PAX booked on them t to another, this is being done (far more than in recent years).

Doing this:

1. Saves fuel
2. Reduces other direct travel related costs
3. Enables a greater proportion of premium fares to be charged for late bookings.

[straitman]

This is certainly an interesting twist on having aircraft sitting around without flight crew which is also a real problem.

[maninblack]

Originally Posted by serfty

While Qantas are short of serviceable aircraft, there is more too it than that!

Where there are several or more flights on the same day between the same city pairs and there's enough seating capacity to removed one or more of the flights and reallocate those PAX booked on them t to another, this is being done (far more than in recent years).

Doing this:

1. Saves fuel
2. Reduces other direct travel related costs
3. Enables a greater proportion of premium fares to be charged for late bookings.

I don't think that's quite the issue in this case. This was a last minute change (Sunday, relating to flights Tu, We,Th) which were heavily booked and was very difficult mess for QF reservations to deal with, routing everyone through SYD and BNE, according to them as all J cabins on alternates were nearly full and many irate customers, and loss of business to Virgin Blue, especially on last minute travelers! Services apparently back to normal next week.

[NM]

Originally Posted by straitman

This is certainly an interesting twist on having aircraft sitting around without flight crew which is also a real problem.

Its all about how you can blame someone else for whatever the real situation may be

[Harpoon]

I'm of the impression that a lack of pilots is also a reason for some cancellations?

[serfty]

Originally Posted by maninblack

... This was a last minute change (Sunday, relating to flights Tu, We,Th) which were heavily booked ....

Note that after such event as I have described, the remaining flight genernally become heavily booked in such a manner.

I have experienced this on the last two weekends ... both being on a canceled flight and on a (subsequently chockers) shoulder flight.

[simongr]

I wonder if more aircraft are not getting out of engineering as QF start to respond to questions arising from the recent spate of issues. I believe that there was another incident on Monday morning that has not been well publicised.

[straitman]

Originally Posted by simongr

I wonder if more aircraft are not getting out of engineering as QF start to respond to questions arising from the recent spate of issues. I believe that there was another incident on Monday morning that has not been well publicised.

It's hard to believe that in the current climate that the media would let one through to the keeper.

[docjames]

Originally Posted by simongr

I believe that there was another incident on Monday morning that has not been well publicised.

Care to elaborate?