Qantas puts “safety first” as passengers rage over delay
Passengers on board a Qantas flight from London to Sydney via Dubai have been left to get their rage on after their Dubai stopover was a bit longer than expected.
Ok, a lot longer.
Like 44 hours longer.
Qantas Flight 2 was on track to making its schedule after it landed in Dubai on Monday morning, however hit a snag when the A380 was found to have a fault with its air-conditioning system.
Per a Qantas spokesperson, passengers were put up in hotels overnight in Dubai while engineers worked on the issue, but upon returning to the airport the next day, were faced with more delays as a second “engineering issue” was discovered.
Qantas made the decision to terminate the flight, and enlist a new A380 from partner Emirates to get passengers back to Sydney.
Qantas released a statement claiming that while the delay is regrettable, safety will always be their top priority.
“We appreciate this has been an extremely frustrating time for passengers and apologise sincerely,” the airline said.
“Delays like this are very unusual, and very regrettable, but we will always put safety before schedule.
“Qantas Flight 2 (QF2) operating from London to Sydney has terminated in Dubai due to technical issues.
“Passengers on this flight had already been delayed once, and were given hotels overnight in Dubai while engineers worked on a fault with A380’s air conditioning system.
“A further engineering issue the following day (25 July) meant that the flight faced additional delays. Rather than inconveniencing our customers any more, we commissioned an A380 from our partner Emirates to fly them home to Sydney.
“Our A380, once fixed on the ground in Dubai, will ferry back to Sydney.”
Passengers swiftly took to social media, because of course they did, with some praising the airline’s actions, and others lambasting the Aussie national carrier for keeping them in the dark.
#qantas yet again fails on setting achievable objectives. QF2 Dubai to Sydney has now been pushed from 9pm to midnight departure.
— Darren Stevens (@DarrenS68022438) July 25, 2017
Increasing impressed with #Qantas In the first class lounge here in Sydney really amazing space… and complementary facial. Thanks Qantas pic.twitter.com/5rK3pSTTeq
— Jason Nash (@j_k_nash) July 20, 2017
arrived on #Qantas flight which has been delayed for 2 days &luggage not here! Pathetic @Qantas. Cranky kids. Missed work. no luggage. ?
— Lauren Hockley (@LaurenHockley11) July 26, 2017
#qantas, Make a decision on QF2 flight to Sydney.
— Darren Stevens (@DarrenS68022438) July 25, 2017
All these people moaning about the #Qantas delay in Dubai would be the first people to bitch and moan if the plane plummetted into the ocean
— Todd (@dontcallmetoddy) July 26, 2017
@Qantas QF2 delayed in Dubai
As is the norm #Qantas customer care rates 0/10 when going gets tough— Ashok Chand (@ChandAshok) July 26, 2017
Yet again #Qantas tells us to go to gate when the plane is not ready. Bloody useless pic.twitter.com/kCxxqkZf14
— Feneley and Co (@FeneleyCo) July 25, 2017
@Qantas apparently “we are boarding now” means “down the stairs and back in your holding pen as we are late again already. #Qantas #saga
— The Owl Sanctuary (@OwlSanctuaryNR1) July 25, 2017
@Qantas Trying to establish info on QF2 Dubai. 16 year old daughter on booking but customer care can’t advise. Please help
— gerrybrazil (@gerrybrazil) July 24, 2017
@Qantas What on earth is happening with QF2 from Dubai? Delayed a whole day and now returned to gate the following day after 3 hr wait????
— Andrew Netherwood (@anetherwood) July 25, 2017
@Qantas QF2 update Dubai
Come on Qantas, get your act together and advise passengers what is happening to this flght please— Jean Young (@youngjean21) July 24, 2017
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