Air New Zealand provides update on global Rolls-Royce engine issue

Air New Zealand provided (23-Apr-2018) a further update on the Rolls-Royce engine issue, noting that the impact is confined to two key US routes (Los Angeles and Houston) as well as Japan services operating to/from Tokyo Haneda International Airport and a limited number of trans Tasman and Pacific Island services. All other services are expected to operate as normal. As Air New Zealand continues to respond to a global issue affecting some of the Rolls-Royce engines that power its Boeing 787-9 fleet it expects around 9000 customers to be affected by re-timed international services during the week of 23-Apr-2018. The number of customers likely to be impacted by these changes is less than 3% of all customers travelling with Air New Zealand in the week. Weight restrictions included in an FAA directive issued also mean some 787-9 services to Asian destinations will be required to make refuelling stops. Chief operational integrity and standards officer David Morgan stated depending on en route weather conditions, some flights may not be able to depart with all the fuel they require, prompting the need for the fuel stop. Over the weekend, 787-9 flights made fuel stops at Sydney, Cairns, Darwin and Guam. "Having the flexibility to make a short fuel stop means we are more likely to be able to take a full contingent of customers and cargo. The alternative would see us potentially having to disappoint significant numbers of customers by moving them to later flights. We are committed to doing everything possible to avoid this, particularly during this busy school holiday travel period", he said. [more - original PR]