Airlines

PAINT IS FLAKING ON AIR NEW ZEALAND’S DREAMLINERS

Air New Zealand connects Auckland and New York for the first time ever

The paint on the wings of certain Air New Zealand Boeing 787 planes is starting to flake. The New Zealand journal Business Desk appears to have been the first to report on the situation

Air New Zealand is the latest airline to admit to having paint peeling off composite surfaces. It appears that the airline’s Boeing 787s have been affected, with plans to repaint them beginning in May. Boeing is aware of the problem created by the sun’s UV rays and is working on a solution. “Boeing is working to provide both an immediate as well as longer term solution.”

Peeling paint is a known concern in the fleet, caused by UV rays from the sun affecting a coating in the Dreamliner’s paint, according to Simple Flying. Boeing is developing a new UV-blocking coating that will solve the problem in the long run. Meanwhile, a temporary ‘touch-up’ patch for the problem has been made available. Business Desk further reports that the affected planes will fly out to Boeing in the United States to be repainted. This will take place from May onwards, however, there is no need to ground the jets in the meantime as the issue is purely cosmetic, and doesn’t impact the aircraft’s airworthiness.

Air New Zealand was one of the first customers for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, and it already has 14 of the planes. The planes were delivered between 2014 and 2019, with the oldest being over eight years old. The news comes just days after Qatar Airways experienced similar issues with their Airbus A350’s paintwork. After failing to reach an agreement, Qatar Airways decided to take legal action against Airbus.

This is intended to be a long-term solution. Short-term repairs, such as local touch-ups, are also available from Boeing to address the peeling paint. According to the firm, it is working closely with its clients (plural) to resolve this cosmetic issue. As a result, we can presume that additional airlines are experiencing similar challenges, with Boeing meeting their needs to provide the appropriate solution.

Airlines

Sanctions & Engine Issues Ground Half of Russia’s A320neo fleet

Russia’s aviation sector, already strained by Western sanctions, faces another setback as nearly half of its Airbus A320neo family aircraft are grounded due to unresolved engine issues.

This development highlights the growing challenges for russia commercial aircraft in maintaining their fleets under the weight of global restrictions and limited access to spare parts.

Out of the 66 Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets in Russia, 34 are now out of service, according to the Kommersant business newspaper. These planes are powered by engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.

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The engines are affected by a previously identified defect in the metal used for certain parts, prompting accelerated inspections and maintenance.

Sanctions have compounded the issue, blocking the supply of essential components from major manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Without proper maintenance, experts warn that these aircraft may face decommissioning as early as 2026.

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Airlines like S7, which operates a significant portion of these grounded jets, plan to conserve the engines for future use during peak travel seasons. However, reports suggest that over 20 of S7’s Airbus planes have engines that have already reached the end of their operational lifespan. Recently, russia seeks assistance from kazakhstan’s airlines to bolster its domestic flights.

While some A320neo and A321neo planes in Russia are equipped with French-made LEAP engines, which are seen as less problematic, the challenges remain daunting.

The situation underscores the long-term impact of sanctions on Russia’s aviation sector and the increasing difficulties in keeping its modern fleets operational.