Japanese carrier ANA has grounded five of its 11 new Dreamliner aircraft after finding faults with their Rolls-Royce engines.
Two of the aircraft are expected to be out of service for several weeks. Japan Airlines is also operating the Dreamliner 787 aircraft and Thomson Airways will be the first UK customer next year. However – like JAL’s 787s – Thomson’s will be fitted with General Electric engines.
ANA, which was the launch customer for the Dreamliner 787 aircraft last September, revealed it had found a potential corrosion problem inside the gearbox of the Trent 1000 engines, which are expected to be replaced.
Rolls-Royce said: "We have identified that a component on Trent 1000 engines being fitted to Boeing 787 Dreamliners has a reduced service life. As a proactive measure, this component is being replaced in a number of engines."
Three of the affected aircraft have returned to service and ANA said the remainder would be operational again within several weeks.
Boeing said no further 787s would be delivered to customers with the potential corrosion problem.
Thomson Airways is due to start flying the Boeing 787 aircraft from regional airports in May next year and it is inviting people to name one of the Dreamliner’s by Tweeting their suggestions to @ThomsonHolidays using the hashtag nameourplane.
The winner will receive a free flight on the 787.
