In Reply to: Get use to it posted by Blinkybill on Friday, 10. July 2009 at 10:10 Bali Time:
I think you will find that all airlines in this day and age will operate on minimum fuel.
Perth airport does not have an approach to safely guide an aircraft down below 250 feet. Even if you get down to 250 feet you have to be able to see 800m and safely make out the runway ahead. If this is not possible a go-around must be initiated.
Alternates for Perth airport for a 737 are Learmonth and Kalgoorlie.
A diversion back to Learmonth and or to Kalgoorlie would be quite costly to the airline. Remembering the aircraft would have already flown 1596 nautical miles (2956km). Then the cost of the extra fuel burnt, accommodation for the passengers, refueling the plane etc all adds up.
Therefore operationally the airline decides to keep the aircraft at home base by delaying the flight a few hours to both benefit the passengers and the airline in the long run. You would arrive in Perth a lot later if the aircraft was to divert somewhere.
This does not mean the plane is unable to do a diversion enroute if something was to warrant it.
The plane has to be within 60minutes of a suitable aerodrome for the whole flight from bali. Therefore enroute alternates for the flight would be Port Headland and Learmonth.
It's not just Garuda who suffer from the fog in Perth during our winter months.
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=153449