Air New Zealand is set to suspend its nonstop service between Auckland and Chicago from March 31 to October 25, 2024. The discontinuation of the operation is related to availability issues with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, which are affecting airlines worldwide.
In previous years, the New Zealand airline had engine problems with its fleet of Dreamliners, forcing the company to ground several aircraft and lease aircraft from Wamos Air and Eva Air to meet its route schedules.
«We know this decision will disappoint customers traveling to and from Chicago during this period, especially those traveling during the upcoming April vacations. This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we regret making this change so close to the time when some customers plan to fly,» said Leanne Geraghty, Air New Zealand’s Chief Sales and Customer Officer.
«Unfortunately, Air New Zealand continues to have issues with the availability of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, which means we will now have up to three aircraft unavailable for an extended period, so we have had to revise our schedule,» added Geraghty.
Air New Zealand’s schedule will feature more than 30 weekly flights to North America, with services to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, New York JFK, and Vancouver. Customers booked to Chicago will be re-routed with connections through other U.S. airports to reach their destination.
See also: Air New Zealand Announces Schedule Changes Due to Pratt & Whitney Engine Maintenance
