Thousands of Air New Zealand passengers will be affected by cancellations and rescheduled flights until the middle of next week because of urgent engine maintenance.
An Air New Zealand 787-9 Dreamliner at the Boeing Delivery Center in 2014. Photo: AFP / STEPHEN BRASHEAR / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
The Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines the airline uses in its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet have been plagued with problems since last year.
Air New Zealand says European regulators have asked operators to do earlier-than-usual maintenance checks on a specific part of the engine.
Nine Air New Zealand 787 Dreamliner planes have been caught out in the latest global issue with Rolls Royce engines.
Rolls Royce said about 380 Trent 1000 Package C series engines throughout the world were affected - nine of those here.
It has not gone into detail about the compressor issue - but now requires a maintenance check after 300 cycles - down from 2000.
A cycle is defined as when a plane takes off then lands again.
The changes couldn't come at a worse time.
Air New Zealand said it was a very busy time of year for travel.
It said the checks it is doing today will disrupt international and domestic flights, and it apologises to the 6500 passengers who will be affected.
It said they are all being contacted.
