British Airways has been forced to cancel a number of long-haul flights this winter, due to delays in the delivery of engine parts from Rolls-Royce. The delays have primarily affected the airline’s fleet of 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which are powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.
The delays in engine part delivery have been attributed to a variety of factors. This includes supply chain disruptions, manufacturing challenges, and quality control issues.
Rolls-Royce has acknowledged the problems and has been working to address them. Despite this, the delays have continued to impact British Airways’ operations.
Route Changes and Suspensions
The issue has reportedly affected hundreds of flights, with the British national carrier making route changes and axing flights. Up to 11 routes have been scrapped as a result.
According to the Sun, a Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur route is set to be delayed. It will now launch in April 2025 rather than the planned commencement in November 2024. Flights from London Gatwick to New York JFK have been suspended for the winter period from December 2024.
Five of the carrier’s Boeing 787 fleet have been grounded as a result of the Rolls-Royce engine parts supply issue.
In response to the challenges, British Airways has been taking steps to mitigate the impact of the cancellations. The airline has been working to accelerate the delivery of spare engine parts, and used its Boeing 777 aircraft to replace the grounded 787s.
Impact Across Aviation Sector
While British Airways has been particularly impacted due to the size of its 787 fleet, other airlines operating the Trent 1000-powered 787 Dreamliner have also experienced disruptions.
Some airlines, like Cathay Pacific and Air New Zealand, have had to cancel flights or ground aircraft due to engine-related issues.
Rolls-Royce has also been taking steps to address the engine part delays. The company has been investing in its manufacturing facilities, and improving its supply chain management. It has also implemented quality control measures to prevent future problems.
The cancellations will mean significant disruption to passengers’ travel plans, particularly during the busy holiday season.
British Airways has apologized for the inconvenience and has been working to rebook affected passengers on alternative flights or provide them with refunds.
Click the banner to subscribe to our weekly newsleter.
Click the photo to join our WhatsApp channel so then you can stay up to date with everything going on in the aviation industry!
