Air NZ to suspend Auckland-Chicago route amid aircraft troubles

Air New Zealand, Boeing, 787, Dreamliner, Taxiing at Auckland International Airport, And A320 Taking off, New Zealand, February 5 2020
Edited by Travel Weekly


Air New Zealand will pause its Auckland–Chicago non-stop service from 31 March to 25 October 2024 as the embattled airline struggles with the limited availability of serviceable Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines.

These are the engines used on Air New Zealand’s Boeing 787 aircraft.

Air New Zealand chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty said it was a difficult decision to make, but one that results in the least number of customers impacted.

“Unfortunately, Air New Zealand continues to be impacted by challenges with availability of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines, meaning we will now have up to three aircraft unavailable for an extended period, so we’ve had to review our schedule,” Geraghty said.

“We made the tough decision to temporarily pause the Chicago route while maintaining our schedule of up to 35 flights each week to six ports across the US and Canada, so there are still plenty of options to get to Chicago, the US, and beyond.”

Air New Zealand Boeing 787-9 – used on the Auckland-Chicago route

Customers with bookings on Air New Zealand’s Chicago services will be rebooked with a connection through another US airport to get them to their destination as quickly as possible. Customers who booked directly with Air New Zealand will receive their new itinerary within 72 hours and do not need to contact Air New Zealand.

Customers can opt to receive a full refund or place their booking into credit.

Geraghty emphasised that getting Air NZ’s customers to their destination safely is the “number one priority” and ensuring aircraft and engines maintenance is of the highest standard.

“These challenges do not present a safety risk to customers flying on our 787 fleet,” she said.

“We’d like to thank customers in advance for their patience and understanding as our teams work as fast as they can to make these changes.”

Featured Image: Air New Zealand at Auckland International Airport – iStock/Rusell Hendry

Latest News

  • Cruise

Unforgettable Croatia’s record year in 2024 with ’25 bookings on track to match

Bookings have soared in 2024 for Unforgettable Croatia as new data shows trade increases 24 per cent in 2024 as part of a record-breaking year for the luxury small-ship operator. More than 1300 guests booked via an agent, the operator confirmed, as it marked the conclusion of its May – October sailing season. Unforgettable Croatia secured its […]

  • Aviation

Emirates announces third Dubai – Melbourne route to launch in March ’25, Singapore – Melbourne route scrapped

Emirates has announced it will introduce a third non-stop service between Dubai and Melbourne, starting from 30 March 2025. The new service will be operated by a newly retrofitted four-class Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, equipped with the airline’s award-winning Premium Economy product and latest generation Business class seats. The airline currently operates two non-stop daily flights […]

  • Aviation

Qantas Freight unveils specially decorated ‘Santa’s Freight’ aircraft

Qantas Freight has unveiled a specially decorated “Santa’s Freight” aircraft as it prepares to deliver more than 50,000 tonnes of international and domestic freight for the festive season. This year, Qantas Freight volumes for the Christmas period are expected to be up 5 per cent compared to last year as online shopping continues to boom. […]

  • Aviation

Qatar Airways surprises Melbourne passengers with upgrades to celebrate 15 years

Qatar Airways has celebrated its 15th anniversary in Australia by giving passengers Business Class upgrades at Melbourne Airport on Friday. The airline has flown over 9.7 million passengers in and out of Australia since starting its operation in 2009 with Australian operations commencing on 7 December 2009 with the Melbourne-Doha route. Since then, the airline […]

  • Cruise
  • Events

Norwegian Cruise Line joins Take 3 for the Sea for a beach cleanup

Norwegian Cruise Line joined forces with Take 3 for the Sea last 5 December at North Steyne Beach and Park for a beach cleanup event in aid of International Volunteer Day. The NCL team collected 1,070 pieces of rubbish, totalling 2.2kg at the Sydney location. The collected debris included 412 cigarette butts, 147 pieces of […]

  • Hotels

The Hilton brand debuts in the Republic of Moldova

The international Hilton brand is set to debut in the Republic of Moldova with the opening of its first hotel in Chisinau, marking a significant step in strengthening the country’s HORECA industry. The endeavour provides tourists with another option for world-class accommodations, excellence in standards and premium services. “Hilton’s entry into the Moldovan market is […]

  • Destinations
  • Sustainability
  • Tourism

Singapore Tourism Board accelerates its sustainability journey

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has unveiled two pioneering initiatives to bolster tourism and support the Singapore Green Plan 2030. The first is the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Attraction Criteria, the world’s first global standard specifically designed for attractions. The second is the MICE Venue Sustainability Playbook, a comprehensive guide to enhancing green practices […]