British Airways cancels hundreds of its flights: Why you need to know

Sunday, October 13, 2024

British Airways has announced the cancellation of hundreds of long-haul flights due to a significant shortage of engine parts for its Boeing 787 Dreamliners.

The airline is facing supply-chain issues related to Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, which have resulted in the grounding of six aircraft—approximately 15% of its Dreamliner fleet.

Reports indicate that flights scheduled from November to April have been affected, with some delays already confirmed. Notably, the daily service from Gatwick to New York’s JFK airport will be suspended from December 12 until the end of March.

A spokesperson for British Airways expressed disappointment over the necessity of these changes, stating, “We’re disappointed that we’ve had to make further changes to our schedule as we continue to experience delays in the delivery of engines and parts from Rolls-Royce- particularly concerning the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines fitted to our 787 aircraft.”

The airline emphasized its commitment to providing customers with certainty for their travel plans, apologizing to those affected and offering alternatives, including same-day flights with BA or partner airlines.

Tensions are reportedly rising between British Airways and Rolls-Royce, with airline executives attributing the delays to the manufacturer’s failure to meet contractual obligations regarding the timely provision of engine parts.

In response, a Rolls-Royce spokesman stated, “We continue to work with British Airways and all of our customers to minimize the impact of the limited availability of spares due to the current supply chain constraints. Unfortunately, this is an issue affecting the whole aerospace industry.”

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Tags: Airline, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, british airways, flights, Gatwick, jfk airport, New York, Rolls-Royce