Air NZ and Trent 100 engines on B787

[RooFlyer]

Story in the Oz. Air New Zealand flights forced back due to engine trouble

Air New Zealand experienced two separate issues with engines on Boeing 787-9 aircraft this week that forced the planes to turn back to Auckland.

The airline said today it was cancelling and rescheduling some flights over the next few days after Rolls-Royce advised that some of the Trent 1000 engines used on the planes would require maintenance earlier than expected.

“It’s not uncommon for long-term engine programs to experience technical issues during their life and we manage them through proactive maintenance. Trent 1000 is now approaching six years of revenue service, ” a Rolls-Royce spokeswoman said in a statement.

Two Air New Zealand planes had to turn back from flights to Tokyo and Buenos Aires this week. Investigators inspected the engines on the two aircraft within an hour of their landing, according to a spokesman for New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

Air New Zealand didn’t disclose the nature of the two events, but the TAIC website said it is investigating two events involving “engine abnormalities.” The airline said Rolls-Royce doesn’t have any replacement engines available while maintenance work is undertaken so schedule changes are unavoidable.

 

[juddles]

Rolls Royce doesn't have any replacement engines?? Hmmmmm.....

 

[OZDUCK]

Rolls Royce doesn't have any replacement engines?? Hmmmmm.....

I understand that there have been a number of problems with, I think, excessive wear on these engines - fan blades? Several airlines have a couple of planes already grounded waiting for replacements so any more "breakdowns" are just exacerbating the shortage.

 

[OZDUCK]

Because of the engine problems with their B787-9 fleet Air new Zealand is leasing an A340 & A330 from Hi Fly of Portugal to fly the Akl/Per & Akl/Syd routes Air New Zealand leases aircraft from Hi Fly in Portugal after Dreamliner problems

I am rather amused by the line about " customers travelling on the leased aircraft would notice some difference in product and service style.". However, if you have the choice of not flying at all, near Christmas, or flying in a poorer equipped aircraft then you will probably be prepared to accept the lower level of amenities.

EDIT: Looking at the photos & seat maps of Hi Fly - in the A340 there are 2 rows of 6 across "Business seats" very old style. The rest of the cabin is 8 across economy. So pax who bought PE or J tickets will not be happy. But Y class pax might actually be better off for shoulder room at least. The A330 looks to have about 30 "Business Seats" set out in a 7 across pattern. They look like old style PE seats or possibly economy with extra legroom.. Economy again has 8 across. There appears to be no in-flight entertainment on many of their aircraft. However there are photos on-line with various seat layouts including 3 - 3 - 3 with seat back monitors so I think it is a unclear what layout will be provided.

I would think that some compensation would be offered if you are put on these aircraft - but what do I know?

 

[AviationNZ]

EDIT: Looking at the photos & seat maps of Hi Fly - in the A340 there are 2 rows of 6 across "Business seats" very old style. The rest of the cabin is 8 across economy. So pax who bought PE or J tickets will not be happy. But Y class pax might actually be better off for shoulder room at least. The A330 looks to have about 30 "Business Seats" set out in a 7 across pattern. They look like old style PE seats or possibly economy with extra legroom.. Economy again has 8 across. There appears to be no in-flight entertainment on many of their aircraft. However there are photos on-line with various seat layouts including 3 - 3 - 3 with seat back monitors so I think it is a unclear what layout will be provided.

I would think that some compensation would be offered if you are put on these aircraft - but what do I know?

The A340 on route from Lisbon looks like 9H-FOX, which is a 12F, 42J and 213Y seat configuration, so more than enough premium seats to cover the usual 18J and 21PY seats on the NZ 787 - A340-300 | 9H-FOX - Fleet | Hi Fly. Still a difference in product, but for a short/medium haul flight it doesn't look too bad.

Not sure what the A330 plane/configuration will be.

 

[OZDUCK]

The A340 on route from Lisbon looks like 9H-FOX, which is a 12F, 42J and 213Y seat configuration, so more than enough premium seats to cover the usual 18J and 21PY seats on the NZ 787 - A340-300 | 9H-FOX - Fleet | Hi Fly. Still a difference in product, but for a short/medium haul flight it doesn't look too bad.

Not sure what the A330 plane/configuration will be.

I assume, wrongly maybe, that this is costing RR a pretty penny, worldwide, in compensation payments.

 

[AviationNZ]

I assume, wrongly maybe, that this is costing RR a pretty penny, worldwide, in compensation payments.

Yes, I'd say so!!! I always wonder how they work things like this out. I guess on a much larger scale it is similar to ACCC in that if you buy a fridge, you expect normal operations for an acceptable period of time, and if it fails to meet that, you can be compensated (replacement, refund, etc).

 

[OZDUCK]

Yes, I'd say so!!! I always wonder how they work things like this out. I guess on a much larger scale it is similar to ACCC in that if you buy a fridge, you expect normal operations for an acceptable period of time, and if it fails to meet that, you can be compensated (replacement, refund, etc).

Well they definitely are causing money problems £30 Million set aside so far but with more to come - according to the Financial Times of a few days ago. (It is behind a paywall but I read it via a search.) It seems that figure is just for the cost of replacement blades and I bet airlines are clamoring for compo - Thai certainly is Thai seeks compensation from Rolls-Royce over grounded B787s

 

[Mattg]

Looks like Air NZ is sending a Boeing 777-200 to Adelaide on Friday.

@AustraliaPoochie interested in a quick trip to AKL?