22 Apr 2018

Plane engine troubles will have 'knock-on effect' for travellers

7:53 am on 22 April 2018

Travel agents are expecting a busy time helping customers rearrange their plans, as Air New Zealand planes undergo repairs.

An Air New Zealand 787-9 Dreamliner.

Two of Air New Zealand's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft were temporarily grounded yesterday Photo: AFP

Thousands of passengers had their flights delayed or cancelled this week as checks were done globally on a specific Rolls-Royce engine model.

Two of Air New Zealand's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft are temporarily grounded while their engines are fixed at the Rolls-Royce facility in Singapore.

Air New Zealand said with such high global demand it was likely to take months for the repairs to be done.

Travel Agents' Association president Andrew Bowman said the flight disruptions would affect people's other plans, such as accommodation, cruise and tour bookings.

"Clearly it does have a knock-on effect, people will have hotel accommodation or cruises or sight seeing tours, coach tours, that type of thing in place, so it will be a role to evaluate what other alternatives there are in order for people to get to where they need to."

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