Many Boeing 787s at Air New Zealand, among other aircraft, are expected to remain grounded throughout 2025.
Air New Zealand has faced challenges in recent years, spurred on by increased competition, a pandemic, and aircraft reliability woes.
The carrier has now provided updates on the continued management of its fleet and the outlook for the remainder of 2025.
Therefore, Air New Zealand forecasts an increase in the number of planes on the ground in the 2nd half of 2025, with the units parked at 10 to 11 units.
This figure represents an increase in the 7 to 8 aircraft grounded across the 1st half of 2025 and an even more significant rise from the 5 to 6 units in the 2nd half of 2024.
As a result, Air New Zealand forecasts the groundings to worsen in the coming months, with all these complications driven by the engine manufacturer supply chain crisis.
The Airbus single-aisle fleet is impacted, with next-generation types in the A320neo family being pulled from service spurred on by woes at Pratt & Whitney.
Meanwhile, the Rolls Royce engines on the Boeing 787 fleet continue to present problems for Air New Zealand; this is a reoccurring theme that can even date back to the mid-to-late 2010s when engine woes led to groundings and wet-lease arrangements being signed.
According to Air New Zealand’s forecast, the groundings will involve up to five single-aisle jets and six widebody aircraft from the 787 family.
Actions Taken By Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand says it has swiftly negotiated the lease of aircraft and engines to combat the aircraft groundings, which are incredibly frustrating by all accounts.
Two additional leased engines are expected to arrive in the second half of 2025 to try to provide some coverage for the airline.
Meanwhile, two previously disclosed leased Airbus A321 jets will arrive in 2025 to help compensate for the lost single-aisle capacity.
Air New Zealand has, in a worst-case scenario, also been forced to make changes to its global route network, specifically focusing on markets served by the Boeing 787 that don’t make sense to see continue, given the restricted capacity.
Thanks to this, the airline has made adjustments, including pausing service to Chicago and Seoul. While these are tough decisions, they are made to ensure the remainder of the business’ network remains reliable and attainable.
These groundings are frustrating for Air New Zealand, which has been in the midst of fleet renewal efforts. These efforts have involved streamlining jets operated, among other things.
The flag carrier had even announced it would no longer fly Boeing 777s moving forward and instead rely strictly on the 787, but that reliance is being pushed back given delivery woes and reliability concerns.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Daniel Fowkes is a Melbourne-based aviation analyst and journalist with over a decade of industry experience. As founder of Dj’s Aviation, he delivers trusted analysis on aircraft, airline strategy and global aviation trends for djsaviation.net
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The air nz 777 -300er’s will be flying until at least 2030 ! Plus there two more a321 to be delivered this year from the airbus factory !
Rolls need to pull up their socks if they don’t want to lose a well deserved reputation!!!!
Groundings are not only technical, but financial as it is reported that there is insufficient funding to cover forward leases of complete aircraft and individual major components.
This follows the NZ Government’s inability to put both its ANZAC Frigates into service.
Next July’s Talisman Sabre military ecercise may be without any RNZN participation, if at all, the sole Frigate will have to rely on RAN fueling and provisioning – again!
Sadly NZ is becoming the basket case of the Pacific – and certainly not fit to be a Five Eyes member!
I am flying to New Zealand in May from L.A. , should I be concerned about my flight being cancelled and if it is will the carrier help me get there?
GIVEN THE AIRNEWZEALAND PAST AND PRESENT EVIL ISSUES IT JAS BEEN PLAGUED WITH CONTINUOSLY IT MAKES SENSE FOR A SMALL ISLAND INSIGNIFICANT ISLAND NATION LIKE NZ TO LET GO OR SAURRENDER ALL FURTHER INTERESTS IN AN AIRLINE RUNNING FROM NEWZEALAND AS THEIR IS NO SHORTAGE OF AIRLINES THAT COULD PICK UP ALL AND ANY TRAVELLERS FROM NZ JUST AS AND WHEN REQUIRED NZ IS JUST A BACKWATRR AT THE BOTTOOM OF THE EARTH THAT CANNOT FINANCIALLY SURVIVE THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH RUNNING AN AIRLINE IT HAS COLLAPSED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST ITS JUST NOT A FINANCIALLY STABLE ENOUGH COUNTRY TO JUSTIFY OR WARRANT AN AIRLINE IT IS CRIPPLING THE BLOODY PLACE COMMONSENSE PREVAILS HERE
NA
Air New Zealand reliable? 2022 41% flights delayed (33 of 80) 9 hours total. 2023 43% delayed (35 of 82) 13 hours total. 2024 64% delayed (53 of 83) 16 hours total. The service declines year on year yet they push ahead with their DEI strategies 50% women in senior leadership roles, 20% Maori and Pasifica leadership. In 2023 they ran a PRIDE flight to San Francisco where the travelling public were warned “Customers on board need to get ready for the trip of a lifetime! Expect silliness, fabulous entertainment and a trip so enjoyable that the journey is just as good as the destination,” said Anita Wigl’it. Wigl’it ? Any airline that recruits or operates its functions to any strategy other than merit and competence deserves to be put out of business. The CEO Greg Foran should stand down.
What exactly is the engine issues why can’t they fix? Are the planes when bought not under warranty of some sort. Shame that Air nz has to pass on the issue to the passenger by increasing fares. I’d be really upset with Pratt n Whitney and Rolls-Royce also GE. Which engine company is better more reliable?. All in all at end of the day the CEO of air new Zealand still will be paid a huge bonus 😀 that’s what’s very sad about it. Plus what’s more upsetting is the company asks for govt financial help which is me the taxpayers but do we see any money come into our accounts when they have a good year nope.
Wow never ending woes fir your business good luck moving forward
This could have been written better. Less analogous meandering and more “plainspeak”. ANZ deserves quality reporting and the problems they’re facing are expensive and seriously frustrating. Say it how it is.
Just don’t cut Hawaii please
You indicated ‘engine woes’ but didn’t provide any details of the issues with the engines which appear to the cause of the issue. Not even any links to where the engine woes are described.
It looks like the 777 aircraft are more reliable than the 787 aircraft are.
Make sure they have WiFi on the long haul flights. Or let customers know when they don’t have it before we book flights. The Houston to Auckland flight doesn’t have WiFi. Makes it a long trip.
I can see them going bust in the next year or two
They’ll end up going to the wall. They simply cannot compete with other airlines in huge countries- US, Europe, & Asia. They’re so far from Intenstional routes & there economy is so bad they haven’t got enuf liquidity. It’ll end in tears I’m afraid.