Airline frustrated by Dreamliner delays

Air NZ CEO Rob Fyfe says the latest delay to the delivery of the Boeing Dreamliner puts routes at risks

There is further frustration for Air New Zealand as another delay emerges to the airline taking delivery of its new Boeing 787.

Performance issues are being blamed for the latest in a string of 'Dreamliner' issues.

Air NZ CEO Rob Fyfe says there are compensation arrangements which he can't discuss publicly, but he says the competitive and strategic risks of the delay are more of an issue.

"Where a number of the routes we fly only support a single carrier, if those delays result in another carrier emerging on the route before we get a chance to fly it, then we could get locked out of that route in perpetuity, potentially."

Mr Fyfe says Air New Zealand was due to have taken delivery of the 787s at the end off this year, but it has been put of until 2013 and there is a possibility it could be delayed further.

Air New Zealand has eight Boeing 787-9 aircraft on order.

 

-------------------------------
Read more Aviation News
View Model Aircraft