Air New Zealand Wet Leases Airbus A340 from Hi fly

Air New Zealand is leasing an Airbus A340 from Portugal-based Hi Fly to help cover for Boeing 787-9s affected by issues with Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The A340 will be wet-leased from mid-May. The carrier is also believed to be seeking to dry-lease at least one 777.

This is not the first time that issues with its 787 engines has obligated Air New Zealand to lease aircraft. In late 2017, it wet-leased a Hi Fly A330 and an A340 to cover a shortfall in capacity caused by unexpected maintenance on the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines that power its Boeing 787-9 fleet.

Air New Zealand said services to the United States and Japan have been affected by issues with some of its Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines on its Boeing 787-9s. This followed an FAA directive that meant some 787-9 flights to Asian destinations require fuelling stops.

On 23 April, in its fourth statement on the Trent 1000 issue, the carrier said it was working closely with the engine maker following a directive from EASA that detailed a new inspection regime for Trent 1000 powerplants as part of the effort to address intermediate pressure compressor blade durability.

Air New Zealand is not the only Airline having trouble with their B787 engines, Virgin Atlantic is having the same issue on their Boeing B787-9 Aircrafts