Air NZ's Luxon on soaring revenue, Dreamliner issues and patient travellers

Air NZ has thanked trans-Tasman travellers for their patience after the mixed response to charter planes filling in for Dreamliners that need engine maintenance and repairs. CE Christopher Luxon also defended the airline's handling of the Rolls-Royce engine problems which led to one being shut down after suffering damage from turbine blades soon after take-off to Japan late last year. Luxon said the aircraft also suffered "superficial, not structural" damage but at no time was passenger safety compromised. "At no point were any of our passengers at risk - there is a system that has multiple layers," he said after releasing the airline's six-month result. "We're taking very aggressive, very assertive action to make sure we get those engines sorted." There was an accelerated maintenance programme underway, with engines being flown to Singapore for checks and, where necessary, turbine blades replaced. The issue has hit the worldwide Dreamliner fleet powered by Rolls-Royce engines — about 300 planes — and Luxon said his airline's maintenance and engineering expertise had helped it work through it better than others. Because of disruption among its 11-strong Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet, Air NZ contracted Portuguese charter operator Hi Fly to operate two aircraft - one between Auckland and Perth and the other between Auckland and Sydney.<br/>