Qf977 tsv-isa-bne 21/10/2015

[Dave Dale]

My partner who was supposed to travel Townsville - Brisbane on QF977 is now travelling via Mount Isa. Apparently to pick up stranded passengers.

A quick check of flight radar shows VH-VXB over Richmond heading to Mount Isa. ETA Brisbane 2335 hours. Was supposed to be 2125 hours.

While he was excited about re-routing, many others weren't!

I travel the BNE-TSV sectors often but have never seen this before!

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5804/22329395416_f31f96bf32_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A2aZj9) https://farm1.staticflickr.com/720/22342550912_ff1b3ed9e6_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A3kpZ3)

[Rowan McKeever]

VH-VZY (QF1078) arrived at ISA but QF1079 is cancelled, so seems to have gone tech.

[Dave Dale]

VH-VXB is still at Mt Isa. It too went tech. Some very disgruntled passengers out there. Qantas flight status now showing QF977 getting in at 1440 hours today. A usually 1 hour 40 minute flight appears now to take about 18 hours.

[Robert.M]

Well that went well! Not a very good look for Qantas, no doubt saving a few has turned out to have costed them dearly!

[Rowan McKeever]

Oops! Was a great idea while it lasted!? Wonder where they put all the pax & crew overnight... people in my team have travelled to ISA in the past and there's not a heap of accommodation at the best of times apparently, let alone with 2 B738s gone tech!

I'm also looking at the airport on google maps and wondering how on earth VA managed to get its E190 service in & out this morning with 2 B738s on the ground... the RPT apron has 7 parking positions - bays 1 & 2 look to be where jets would park, and bays 3-7 are in an area marked 'Max w'span 22m'. The E190 has a wingspan >28m. Meanwhile, this morning's QF1076 is delayed 45 mins and is now scheduled to land around noon, about the same time as last night's QF977 is due to leave. Interesting...!

[Dave Dale]

At about 7AM today, Qantas put the passengers up in hotels in Mt Isa. All paid for including transfers and meals. My partner just advised that they are making their way back to the airport with expected departure of 12.30PM. He says most people while upset took the delay well. A few apparently going overseas from Townsville now have had their plans thrown into disarray. He believed a handful went back to Townsville this morning on the Q400. Anyways fingers crossed everyone will eventually leave Mt Isa... sooner rather than later.

Oh and apparently crew were at the airport the whole night too! Dinner come off the aircraft and served in the airport.

[Rowan McKeever]

Not good for the international connections but no doubt QF will make up for it somehow. I laughed a little at the onboard dinner being served in the terminal! Don't suppose your partner was / is able to get photos of 3 QF 738s together!? Bit of a unique one!

[Dave Dale]

I've made the request for pictures so hopefully he will do his best

[Robert.M]

Don't suppose your partner was / is able to get photos of 3 QF 738s together!? Bit of a unique one!

Most 738s Mt Isa will see for awhile, well one shall hope!

[Dave Dale]

On the move...

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5826/22186823508_81783f89f2_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zNzgDN)

I'll post pics when I receive them. Apparently mobile data is bad at Mount Isa Airport.

[Rowan McKeever]

I'm sure it'll be good to have him home... albeit very late!

Today's QF1076 arrived at 1210L and apparently QF1077 hasn't yet left... still shows 1245L on Qantas.com... perhaps ISA is cursed!? :P

Edit: QF1077 just changed to departed as I posted...

Most 738s Mt Isa will see for awhile, well one shall hope!

One shall hope indeed... no doubt none moreso than the QF and ISA teams!

[Dave Dale]

I'm sure it'll be good to have him home... albeit very late!

One shall hope indeed... no doubt none moreso than the QF and ISA teams!

Yes, always good to be together :)

I recall maybe three years ago, a 767 diverted to Mount Isa and there were issues then (no stairs that would reach the door, so a forklift was used?)

Anyways, no doubt Brisbane traffic will add insult. I arrived back from Cairns after 3PM yesterday and as always, Brisbane traffic caused me to drive 18 kilometres (to home) over 70 minutes... grrr!

[Steve S... 2]

I have seen a QF aircraft operate between ISA & TSV recently - a couple of months ago. I am trying to recall the rego it was an aircraft I was tracking I have a feeling is was the number one 738 in the fleet - VH-VXA that specially went into ISA as I had tracked that one a lot.

[Dave Dale]

I know Qantaslink do the daily return run between Townsville and Mount Isa.

[Steve S... 2]

I knew the Q400's, but late one night I found a QF 737-800 operating between the two as a diversion - I am trying to find it on Flightaware logs, but I can't remember if it was two or three months ago though.

[Dave Dale]

Some photos as promised... thanks to my partner for his efforts.

QF7907 (QF977) arrived at 2.59PM.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/717/22191430009_25a9f89bf2_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zNYT1e)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/565/22190317410_09b19b77d1_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zNTbgu)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/694/21755529844_050aec858f_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/z9sM59)
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5736/22388993531_e263cf0092_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A7rrKR)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/767/21757129403_57ee398840_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/z9AYyK)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/695/21757109113_cdfba4483c_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/z9ASwV)
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5760/22191341219_f7a02c8992_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/zNYqBn)
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5766/21755398184_6981cb47a2_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/z9s6W9)
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5813/21755374294_3924c334e4_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/z9rYQf)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/614/21757021213_6274a13656_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/z9Aqpp)
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/661/22352618606_539d26912e_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/A4e1KY)

[Rowan McKeever]

Thanks for sharing! Glad you guys are finally in the same place :) Hope the traffic wasn't too horrendous!

[Dave Dale]

My partner was credited 10000 QFF points for the disruption at Mount Isa.

[Robert.M]

Great photos!

Nice! I hope he had a visit to Mt Isa on his bucket list, as he can tick that off! :)