Air NZ action on B789 problems

[Melburnian1]

The schedule changes - some significant, such as on occasion retiming a night LAX - AKL flight 11 hours and 40 minutes earlier - and downgrading of aircraft - such as a B789 to an A320 - as a result of the worldwide B789 Rolls Royce engine problems are well laid out on the Air NZ website.

Given the at times massive inconvenience to passengers, the likelihood of Air NZ losing business and hence revenue, will this airline and others affected sue Rolls Royce notwithstanding that the aircraft involved are being gradually examined and modified?

 

[oz_mark]

Given the at times massive inconvenience to passengers, the likelihood of Air NZ losing business and hence revenue, will this airline and others affected sue Rolls Royce notwithstanding that the aircraft involved are being gradually examined and modified?

Don't know if they need to sue - they are having discussions around compensation.

 

[juddles]

It is astonishing to me , as a devout lover of 787's, the chaos this whole RR engine maintenance issue is causing worldwide. Not sure if such a huge issue of similar nature has arisen??

 

[Melburnian1]

It is astonishing to me , as a devout lover of 787's, the chaos this whole RR engine maintenance issue is causing worldwide. Not sure if such a huge issue of similar nature has arisen??

That might be a good question to pop into the 'ask the pilot' thread.

It's how this issue seems to have 'multiple heads' if you know what I mean that intrigues me.

Was the lithium battery problem almost as widespread? (It came earlier in the 'aircraft family's life' if I recall.)

 

[moa999]

It's looking more expensive for RR than the A380 engines though

 

[Must...Fly!]

That might be a good question to pop into the 'ask the pilot' thread.

It's how this issue seems to have 'multiple heads' if you know what I mean that intrigues me.

Was the lithium battery problem almost as widespread? (It came earlier in the 'aircraft family's life' if I recall.)

50-odd, all grounded for around 3 months.

 

[juddles]

That might be a good question to pop into the 'ask the pilot' thread.

It's how this issue seems to have 'multiple heads' if you know what I mean that intrigues me.

Was the lithium battery problem almost as widespread? (It came earlier in the 'aircraft family's life' if I recall.)

I doubt pilots know/care about these issues. Especially here on AFF - are there any 787 pilots aboard?

 

[trooper]

Its an interesting question....... I flew back last Tuesday..... the 1050 AM departure.... it had 96 pax total...yet the evening flights still operating both Monday and Tuesday were PACKED. NZ3 Tuesday had 66 in Y...20 in Y+ and 10 in Biz.... no wonder my Silver RU cleared!!!!!

I do have to say though a day flight across the pacific is not my cup of tea....

 

[NZflygirl]

Air NZ apparently putting Hifly on the Hawaii route. Whew!! I'm happy about that one (because it's nowhere near me). Just hanging out to see what the other replacement aircraft is and what route it will fly but hopefully it has NZ crew.

 

[UP4014]

The schedule changes - some significant, such as on occasion retiming a night LAX - AKL flight 11 hours and 40 minutes earlier - and downgrading of aircraft - such as a B789 to an A320 - as a result of the worldwide B789 Rolls Royce engine problems are well laid out on the Air NZ website.

Given the at times massive inconvenience to passengers, the likelihood of Air NZ losing business and hence revenue, will this airline and others affected sue Rolls Royce notwithstanding that the aircraft involved are being gradually examined and modified?

Lawyers at 50 paces yes, but I would think there will be an agreement reached prior to court. If RR ended up in court and lost the precedent would be set, hence settlement prior is far more pragmatic.

 

[Mattg]

There is a list of upcoming schedule and aircraft changes on the NZ website: Travel alerts - Travel alert information - Flight information - Plan | Air New Zealand

There are literally hundreds of affected flights, and that's just for May. Ouch!

 

[docjames]

SOme of the US flights have 12hr time changes. Ouch.

Some of the downgrades are ouch too, AKL-APW or AKL-SYD was 772 now 320 but others eg. RAR go from 772 to 787(v2).

What a nightmare of logistics for NZ.

 

[Melburnian1]

...What a nightmare of logistics for NZ.

Not to mention loss of revenue to competitors, and temporary damage to reputation. If some passengers like the alternative airline on which they travel, could be hard to win them back.

Logic tells me financial losses to NZ airline must be in the millions. Eventually it will be quantified.

 

[trooper]

I take your point... but if everyone received the care in rebooking that Claire at the NZ call centre provided ME then the experience will not have been bad....(And I'm only Silver)

The "standard" rebooking NZ were making (day flight/overnight AKL/on to SYD following day) could not work for me.... I was travelling with gear that required PERMITS to enter NZ..which I didn't have, as I had had no intention of doing anything other than transiting. The evening flights were chockers... so it was a bit of a problem...but she kept at it and we got a result.

.....and yes I HAVE sent an appropriate message of commendation through....

 

[Himeno]

Was the lithium battery problem almost as widespread? (It came earlier in the 'aircraft family's life' if I recall.)

On Jan 7 2013, a battery in a parked empty 787 at BOS started a fire.
2 days later, UA reported finding damaged wiring under a battery in the same area.
On Jan 16, an in flight ANA 787 had fire indications in an electrical compartment and made an emergency landing.
Afterwards, ANA and JAL both voluntarily grounded their 787 fleets.
The FAA then ordered US based 787s grounded.
DGAC (Chile), DGCA (India) and EASA then followed with MILT making the JL and NH groundings official.
The remaining operators outside those areas voluntarily grounded their fleets the same day.

By Jan 17 2013, all 50 in service 787s were grounded. On the 18th Boeing halted deliveries.
At the time only NH, JL, UA, AA, QR, ET, LA, AI and LO had 787s with the Japanese carriers owning 24.

The FAA and MILT allowed the aircraft to return to service on April 19 2013 after Boeing reworked the batteries.
The NTSB reported on the BOS fire in November 2014.
The JCAB called the changes made by Boeing to be "beyond the recommendations" made by the NTSB and JTSB following the Jan 2013 battery incidents.

The battery problem impacted the entire fleet of 50 aircraft. The Trent 1000 problem impacts ~30% of the fleet of 670 aircraft.

In late 2013, a software issue in the GEnx engines was found that caused increased risk of engine icing when near thunderstorms. This is why JAL pulled 787s from SIN. The problem was fixed within a couple of months.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Logic tells me financial losses to NZ airline must be in the millions.

Nothing some fuel surcharges can't fix

Overnight, Air New Zealand confirmed, via a communication to travel agents, that it will increase its domestic fares by 5%, also from Thursday 17-May-2018. In this instance, Air New Zealand is citing more than just fuel cost rises, instead insisting the increase is “in response to operational cost pressures, including labour, fuel, goods and services,” which the airline believes it is unable to continue to absorb.

 

[NZflygirl]

Nothing some fuel surcharges can't fix

I totally wondered about that. But then other info suggests fuel prices are actually increasing. Even when it comes to filling your car up at the gas pump and that's not just Australia and New Zealand.

And I think I read somewhere Air NZ took out some form of insurance. So it's Rolls Royce picking up the tab?

 

[AviationNZ]

But then other info suggests fuel prices are actually increasing. Even when it comes to filling your car up at the gas pump and that's not just Australia and New Zealand.

Definitely increasing! Check out the price increase since Jan-16...we're almost double those levels now.