Engine troubles set Air NZ scrambling
Air New Zealand is scrambling to find aircraft after problems with RollsRoyce engines on its Dreamliners forced flight cancellations and delays over the next four days.
Disruption could stretch for weeks after turbine blade problems forced two flights to turn back to Auckland this week.
The airline is consolidating some flights and approaching other airlines to see if they have spare aircraft to make up for the shortfall of capacity as its Dreamliners with older engines are worked on.
The airline has notified the stock exchange that there will be international flight cancellations and delays each day over the coming weeks.
Rolls-Royce told the airline some of its engines on the Boeing 787-9 fleet would require maintenance sooner than previously advised and that it does not have any spare engines available while work is undertaken.
Last year, corrosion and cracking problems were identified in RollsRoyce Trent 1000 engines on Japanese airline ANA Dreamliners. The engine maker undertook to replace the small turbine blades at the back of the engines around the world.
An engine had to be shut down on a flight to Japan on Tuesday and on Wednesday a flight to Buenos Aires had to return to Auckland International Airport. The engine was not shut down in that case.
Air New Zealand’s chief operations integrity and standards officer, David Morgan, told the Herald that on the Japan flight the blades failed and exhaust gas temperature rises indicated problems with the engine. The second case was not as serious.
The aircraft were flown within safety parameters, he said.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the incidents involving the Trent engines.
Passengers affected by the changes will be contacted with new travel information.