Air NZ leases aircraft from Hi Fly in Portugal after Dreamliner problems

Air NZ is scrambling to find more aircraft after problems with Rolls-Royce engines on its Dreamliners forced flight cancellations and delays during the next 4 days. Air NZ has leased 2 aircraft from a Portuguese charter company to help maintain its timetable after Dreamliner engine problems forced unscheduled maintenance. The Airbus 330 and Airbus 340 are being chartered from Portuguese company Hi Fly. They are expected to begin operating some Auckland-Sydney and all Auckland-Perth services by next week. Air NZ GM customer experience Anita Hawthorne said the airline was working hard to minimise the impact on customers caused by the unscheduled Rolls-Royce engine maintenance. Two flights were affected last week after problems with turbine blades in the Trent 1000 engines. <br/>