LONDON— The UK flag carrier, British Airways (BA) is canceling numerous long-haul flights this winter due to aircraft shortages caused by engine and parts delivery delays from Rolls-Royce.
The airline cites issues with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines on its Boeing 787 aircraft as the primary reason for these cancellations.
British Airways Cancels Long-haul Flights
The carrier has postponed the launch of a new London Heathrow (LHR) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) route and suspended daily flights between London Gatwick (LGW) and New York (JFK) and between London Heathrow and Doha (DOH).
To mitigate cancellations, British Airways has been utilizing Boeing 777 planes from its standby fleet. However, the increased use of these older aircraft necessitates more frequent routine maintenance and downtime, Bloomberg Reported.
Rolls-Royce acknowledges the problem extends beyond British Airways, highlighting ongoing supply chain constraints affecting the aviation industry. The engine manufacturer states it is working with all customers to minimize the impact of limited spare part availability.
British Airways’ recent decision to switch to General Electric (GE) for powering its new 787 aircraft deals a blow to Rolls-Royce, whose market share for this model has been declining.
The Trent 1000 engine has a history of technical issues, causing disruptions for airlines using this model. Rolls-Royce has since worked to improve the reliability of the Trent 1000 and other engines like the Trent XWB used on Airbus A350 aircraft.
The airline is currently undergoing a fleet upgrade cycle but faces delivery delays, a common issue for carriers worldwide. The Boeing 777X, a next-generation aircraft, is approximately five years behind schedule, forcing airlines to extend the use of existing aircraft or cancel routes.
However, the Airbus A350-1000 is powered by the world’s most efficient large aero-engine, the Rolls-Royce (RR) Trent XWB-97 turbofans.
China Flight Cuts
British Airways is also suspending direct flights from London Heathrow to Beijing, China from October 26, 2024, until November 2025. The decision stems from the ongoing Russian airspace ban on European carriers, significantly impacting operations and profitability.
The airline has not provided a detailed explanation for the route suspension. However, industry experts attribute it to the Russian airspace ban, which forces carriers to utilize longer and costlier routes to Asian destinations.
BA assures passengers that daily flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong will continue uninterrupted, maintaining its presence in key Chinese markets. The company has not announced plans for an alternative route to replace the Beijing service.
Currently, British Airways operates four weekly flights between London and Beijing using Boeing 777 aircraft.
Recently, the airline canceled hundreds of flights, which affected 25,000 passengers amid adverse weather conditions across the UK and nearby regions.
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