Air NZ leases extra aircraft to cover for Dreamliner maintenance

  • 05/06/2018

Air NZ is going to lease two Boeing 777s to cover for the 787-9 Dreamliners affected by the on-going Rolls-Royce engine maintenance issue.

The compressors in the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines aren't lasting as long as expected, requiring inspections and forcing airlines to ground aircraft while the checks take place.

Air NZ CEO Christopher Luxon confirmed the lease agreement to Reuters while attending an airline conference in Sydney.

Air NZ planes affected by engine issue.

Pictures reveal damage to Air New Zealand 787 engine.

"Any one point in time we are planning to have between zero to two aircraft that will be cycling off to have aircraft inspections and/or maintenance," he said.

"Therefore, we will have two dry lease aircraft we can operate so we can restore the schedule and keep our customers moving."

'Dry lease' means only the aircraft is being leased, and Air NZ will have to staff the crew, pilots and ground staff. 

This arrangement is different to the one Air NZ currently has with Hi Fly, which not only supplies aircraft, but pilots and crew as well.

Reuters/Newshub.