Virgin Atlantic’s boss has warned flight cancellations due to problems with Rolls-Royce engines fitted to some aircraft will continue through the year ahead. Both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways have Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft grounded as they wait for maintenance on Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines . Each has cancelled hundreds of flights, mostly involving suspending planned route resumptions, due to the lack of available planes.
Shai Weiss, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic, said: “We have been dealing with this for a very long time. It started from the launch of the plane. The Trent 1000 engine has not been a good engine.
” He said the power plant required three times as much attention as other engines. Speaking to the Airlines UK conference in London, Mr Weiss said: “I’m assuming this will persist during the whole year. “We have taken measures to reduce our schedule.
We’re not launching Accra and we’re delaying the restart of Tel Aviv. “It’s going to hurt us financially.” Research by The Independent indicates some fares have risen three-fold after capacity was withdrawn.
But Mr Weiss said: “Prices are relatively stable going into next year.” The Independent has asked Rolls-Royce for a response. The Virgin CEO also criticised London Heathrow airport, saying: “Terminal 3 is not a proper home for Virgin.
” The airline currently shares the 63-year-old terminal with its partner, Delta. He said: “The current terminal is congested and it’s .
