Air New Zealand Puts Auckland-Chicago Service on Hold, Cites Engine Availability Issues

The carrier says it will have up to three aircraft out-of-service 'for an extended period.'

An Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner (Photo: AirlineGeeks | Katie Zera)

[ News ]March 11, 2024 11:57 pm ET

By Ryan Ewing

Air New Zealand announced on Tuesday that it will be pausing its service between Auckland and Chicago O’Hare from March 31, 2024 to Oct. 25, 2024. The airline inaugurated the route in 2018.

The carrier cited ongoing challenges with the availability of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, which power its fleet of 14 Boeing 787 aircraft, as the reason for the suspension. Air New Zealand is also facing similar issues with its A320neo-family aircraft, suspending short-haul routes as it grapples with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine woes.

“Unfortunately, Air New Zealand continues to be impacted by challenges with availability of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, meaning we will now have up to three aircraft unavailable for an extended period, so we’ve had to review our schedule,” the carrier’s Chief Customer and Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty said in a press release.

Other U.S. Routes

Air New Zealand emphasized that this pause will not affect their overall service to the United States and Canada. The airline says it will still offer up to 35 flights per week to six different destinations in North America. Passengers booked on the affected Chicago route will be rebooked on flights with connections through other U.S. airports to reach their final destinations.

In a news release, the Auckland-based carrier noted that Rolls Royce is unable to provide replacement engines to meet its operational needs. Maintenance technicians recently determined that the Trent 1000 powerplants would require more frequent inspections at 750-850 cycles instead of the standard 1,000.

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

Follow Ryan

Author

Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.
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