When they run a Ground Delay Program (GDP) you need to get a Calculated Off Blocks Time (COBT) from the Network Ops Centre (or most airlines can do it themselves).
Even still- airborne holding of up to 20 mins can be expected even when a GDP is running or not.
Seems a little wasteful but then again, how an aircraft can fly for 14+ hours (sometimes half of which can be inside the Australian airspace - even at max speed to make up for a delay) and then still get told to hold for 10-30 mins about 100 miles from Sydney is beyond me. The delay program into Sydney and the feeder fixes - even on a normal good weather day is incredibly complex and confusing.
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