British Airways has announced the suspension of its flight route from London Heathrow to Abu Dhabi, the latest in a series of disruptions caused by ongoing issues with the delivery of engine parts for its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet. This suspension will affect travel plans for passengers, forcing those booked on flights between March 30 and October 25, 2025, to either fly via alternative destinations like Dubai or Doha or rebook from London Gatwick.
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The decision comes on the heels of persistent delays in receiving Trent 1000 engines and associated parts from Rolls-Royce, the supplier for these aircraft. British Airways has been grappling with this problem, which has not only led to the suspension of the Abu Dhabi route but has also previously impacted other long-haul destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, New York from Gatwick, and Doha. The airline has been forced to ground six of its 787 Dreamliners, representing 15% of its Dreamliner fleet, due to these supply chain issues.
A spokesperson for British Airways expressed disappointment over the necessity to alter their schedule once again, stating, "We continue to experience delays to the delivery of engines and parts from Rolls-Royce, particularly in relation to the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines fitted to our 787 aircraft." The airline has apologized to affected passengers and is working to offer rerouting options or refunds. They emphasized their ongoing collaboration with Rolls-Royce to seek a swift and reliable solution to these supply challenges.
This latest route suspension highlights the broader impact of supply chain disruptions within the aviation industry, which have been exacerbated by global manufacturing and labor shortages. Rolls-Royce has acknowledged the industry-wide issue, stating they are working with British Airways and other airlines to minimize the impact of the limited availability of spares due to current supply chain constraints. Passengers affected by the suspension have options to rebook with partner airlines like Etihad or Qatar Airways for direct flights to Abu Dhabi or to adjust their travel plans through other British Airways routes. This situation underscores the complexities airlines face in maintaining service reliability amidst external supply chain pressures, affecting both their operations and customer travel plans.
