British Airways Struggles as 787 Fleet Grounded by Engine Woes
British Airways is facing significant operational challenges as engine issues continue to ground several of its Boeing 787 aircraft, impacting the airline’s schedule and route network. Speaking at Routes Americas 2025, Neil Chernoff, BA’s chief planning and strategy officer, highlighted the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines that power its 787 fleet. This persistent problem has forced the airline to adopt a more conservative scheduling approach to ensure reliability and customer confidence.
Chernoff revealed that four of BA’s Boeing 787s remain out of service due to unresolved engine issues. The grounding of these aircraft has led to substantial disruptions across BA’s network, resulting in route suspensions and frequency reductions on multiple services. “We’re working with Rolls-Royce, and they understand the issue, but it’s hard to get certainty,” Chernoff told Aviation Week in Nassau, Bahamas. “We’re developing plans for the winter [2025-26] season both with and without those aircraft. It’s possible we get some of them back over the summer, but we’ve learned that we need to give customers certainty. I’d rather not have them in the schedule, and if they become available, we’ll see if we can fly them.”
The engine challenges have had a direct impact on BA’s international routes. Flights to Abu Dhabi have been suspended, and the anticipated launch of services to Kuala Lumpur has been delayed. In addition, the carrier has removed Kuwait from its network as it grapples with these technical difficulties. When asked about the possibility of resuming these routes once the grounded aircraft are restored, Chernoff explained that any reactivation would depend on both the availability of the aircraft and BA’s strategic growth plans. “It might be resumptions of those routes, or it might depend on where we were looking to grow,” he added.
In an effort to mitigate the impact of these fleet constraints, BA has been leaning on its partner airlines within the Oneworld alliance and from its sister group, International Airlines Group (IAG). For instance, American Airlines is set to take over BA’s daily London Heathrow to Dallas-Fort Worth route this summer, increasing the frequency to five flights per day. This collaboration is intended to help maintain service levels and ensure that customer commitments are met despite the current challenges with BA’s 787 fleet.
Chernoff emphasized that BA’s primary goal remains the delivery of a reliable schedule. “The key is giving customers confidence,” he said, noting that the airline is planning conservatively to avoid any last-minute cancellations or further disruptions. The cautious approach reflects the broader industry challenge of managing supply chain issues, engine shortages, and workforce constraints, which have all contributed to the delays in aircraft refurbishment.
As BA continues to work closely with Rolls-Royce and its global partners, the airline is determined to adapt its operations to minimize customer inconvenience. While the timeline for fully resolving the engine issues remains uncertain, BA is committed to maintaining a robust and dependable service, even if that means temporarily reducing its network.
To the winter 2025-26 season, BA plans to continue its dual-path planning strategy: operating with the current fleet and preparing contingencies if additional 787s become available. This proactive stance is designed to balance the need for operational flexibility with the imperative of ensuring that passengers receive consistent, high-quality service, even amid ongoing technical challenges.
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