Four Dreamliners grounded: Air New Zealand travellers face summer disruption

Monday, 18 November 2024

Air New Zealand has grounded four of its 787 aircraft due to engine issues.

Air New Zealand has grounded a fourth 787 Dreamliner.

It is due to ongoing issues with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines .

The airline’s schedule through to the end of January 2025 has now been changed.

Travelling overseas for the holiday season may be impacted for some Kiwi travellers as Air New Zealand grounds a fourth Dreamliner aircraft.

In an email to affected passengers, the airline said as of this week, the “unexpected change” had forced it to review its planned schedule through to the end of January 2025 due to ongoing issues with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. One of the affected routes is Auckland to San Francisco.

Air New Zealand uses a high-tech 787-9 Dreamliner simulator to train its crew for emergencies, including engine failures and medical incidents, enhancing safety and preparedness for real-world scenarios.

Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran told Stuff Travel in a statement, it was significantly impacted by global engine challenges across its fleet.

“This is not unique to Air New Zealand; several airlines worldwide are similarly impacted. As of last week, our fourth 787 Dreamliner went out of service, meaning four of our 14 787 aircraft are now unable to fly.

Are your holiday plans now up in the air by this change? Email us at travel@stuff.co.nz

“Our team has been closely managing these challenges to limit the impact on our customers as much as possible.”

Four percent of customers travelling internationally with the airline during December and January have had their travel changed, Foran said.

Air New Zealand said changes were spread across the international network to minimise the impact on any one route.

Affected passengers have been given the option to cancel their flight and request a full refund or any portion of the ticket that goes unused.

Passengers have already been rebooked but they were asked to accept the changes or select another option that better suits.

“We are deeply sorry for any frustration or stress this may cause our customers,” Foran said. “We share their frustration, as we know how important it is to deliver on our promise of connecting our customers with each other and the world, especially over the holiday period”.

It’s not just the Rolls-Royce engines that have caused issues for the airline. In September 2023, it was revealed 700 engines from US aircraft engine maker Pratt & Whitney would need to be removed from planes worldwide for quality inspections after it discovered a “rare condition” in powdered metal which could lead to microscopic cracks.

It has seen Air New Zealand change, pause or cancel routes over the last year and in its future schedules, including domestic routes.

Clarification: The grounded Dreamliners are due to Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, however the airline is also enduring ongoing troubles due to the Pratt & Whitney engine troubles. The article has been updated to clarify.