Rolls-Royce Addresses Air New Zealand's Criticism

June 6, 2025By ePlane AI

Rolls-Royce Responds to Air New Zealand’s Criticism Over Trent 1000 Engines

Air New Zealand has publicly voiced ongoing concerns regarding the reliability of the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines powering its Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Since 2017, persistent technical issues with these engines have disrupted the airline’s operations and complicated flight scheduling, prompting CEO Greg Foran to address the matter candidly.

Operational Challenges and Airline Concerns

Air New Zealand operates an exclusive fleet of Trent 1000 engines on its Dreamliners, unlike many other carriers that utilize a combination of Rolls-Royce and General Electric (GEnx) engines. This exclusivity has heightened the airline’s vulnerability to the Trent 1000’s recurring problems, which have yet to be fully resolved despite multiple assurances from Rolls-Royce. Foran revealed that he has engaged in direct discussions with Rolls-Royce over the past three years, during which the manufacturer promised a resolution by Christmas—a commitment that remains unfulfilled. The uncertainty surrounding engine availability has undermined Air New Zealand’s confidence in maintaining reliable flight schedules. Currently, the airline operates 14 Dreamliners with an additional eight on order, underscoring the significance of the issue for its fleet management.

Rolls-Royce is developing a new high-pressure turbine (HPT) blade intended to address the root cause of the engine’s difficulties. However, the replacement process requires a comprehensive “shop visit” and is expected to take two to three years to complete across the fleet. This timeline presents ongoing operational challenges for Air New Zealand as it navigates the interim period.

Rolls-Royce’s Commitment and Industry Context

In response to the criticism, Rolls-Royce acknowledged the difficulties faced by its customers and emphasized its commitment to mitigating the impact of limited spare parts availability. The company highlighted that supply chain constraints are a widespread issue affecting the entire aerospace sector. Despite the setbacks, Rolls-Royce underscored the Trent 1000’s overall reliability, noting that the engine has accumulated over 20 million flying hours since its introduction in 2011.

To accelerate improvements, Rolls-Royce has established a dedicated Trent 1000 Task Force, drawing expertise from operations, supply chain, engineering, technology, safety, and planning teams. The company anticipates imminent certification of the new HPT blade, which is expected to double the engine’s time on wing. Furthermore, Rolls-Royce aims to achieve an additional 30 percent improvement in engine longevity by the end of the year. The manufacturer cited the success of a similar upgrade package for the Trent 7000 engine, which powers Airbus A330 aircraft and has already more than doubled its time on wing.

Strategic Implications for Air New Zealand

Greg Foran expressed satisfaction with Air New Zealand’s decision to select General Electric engines for its forthcoming Dreamliners, reflecting a strategic move to diversify engine suppliers and reduce dependency on a single manufacturer. The ongoing Trent 1000 challenges highlight broader issues within the aerospace supply chain and engine maintenance sectors, illustrating the complexities airlines face when reliant on specific engine models.

This situation underscores the critical importance of timely engineering solutions and robust supply chains in maintaining operational reliability for modern airlines. As Rolls-Royce works to implement its technical fixes, the industry will be closely watching the impact on both engine performance and airline scheduling stability.

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