Dubai: The ongoing issues with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner engine have made British Airways suspend all the summer flights connecting two popular destinations, London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi. This announcement has increased the possibility of high airfare prices and the requirement for the addition of new flights from other airlines on this popular route.
Delivery Delays for Trent 1000 Engines
This suspension was announced on December 24 by the UK’s flag carrier, who cleared that all the flights from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi will be stopped in the upcoming year from March 30 to October 25 due to the deliveries of parts and Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. A spokesperson from British Airways confirmed the further changes in flight schedules due to delayed deliveries of the crucial components of their 787 aircraft, which will be 20% more efficient than the 767 aircraft it is going to replace.
However, this has not happened for the first time that BA has faced these kinds of difficulties due to delayed delivery and a shortage of spare parts and engines. This issue was first encountered in BA’s Airbus A380 aircraft. The airline has confirmed that this issue won’t be able to be solved quickly through its statement, which expresses the airline’s apology for the great inconvenience to their customers. They added that BA will continue to work more closely with Rolls Royce to ensure the company provides reliable solutions for the ongoing flight schedule issues.
Supply Chain Complications
The complications in the supply chain have been observed over the past few years due to diverse geopolitical tensions, like the shortage of titanium supplies due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These tensions have negatively impacted the industry due to a shortage of raw materials and increased air travel demand.
A UK-based tourism analyst, David Trash, said the reduced capacity and reduced competition on this particular route due to this ongoing issue will result in a rise in airfares, which will negatively impact tourism to the Emirate’s capital city.
Still Within Range
UK expatriates living in the Emirates can still secure affordable tickets to their homes for the winter breaks by planning last-minute trips before the implementation of this announcement. The lowest economy fare for this route is relatively cheaper than the airfares of this route during the same period last year. Following a four-year suspension due to the COVID-19 epidemic, BA only resumed its daily BA073 trip from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi in April. However, it is unclear how many passengers will be affected by this expanded suspension.
Alternative Flight Options
Since the end of the COVID-19 travel restrictions in 2021–2022, travel agencies and airlines have seen a consistent increase in demand for travel services between Abu Dhabi and London, two of the most important routes for both business and tourists. Other airlines that offer direct flight services to the UK from the Emirates include Emirates and Etihad Airways, which can be the alternative options for passengers after BA’s suspension. Especially, Etihad Airways can provide prominent support for this through its fleets of Airbus A380. This four-class cabin configuration has the capacity of accommodating 486 passengers at one time.
Also read – Global Village is all set for 2025 with 7 fireworks to display