The Boeing 787 has long been the linchpin of KLM's long-haul fleet when it comes to routes that traditionally face lower levels of demand. With ultra-long-range capabilities and medium capacity, the jet is perfect for these kinds of services.

Earlier today, however, it was reported that Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) was facing reliability issues due to inappropriate maintenance procedures, although the specific nature of this issue had nothing to do with the manufacturer but rather the complexities involved with the aircraft's maintenance regime. In this article, we will take a deeper look at KLM's decision to ground seven Boeing 787 family jets and what implications this move could have for the airline's fleet.

KLM has decided to ground seven of its Boeing 787 family jets after the discovery that maintenance procedures for a refueling system were followed improperly. As a result, the airline has been forced to cancel multiple different long-haul services, which has resulted in hundreds of passengers being subjected to travel delays. In a statement published by Netherlands-based news outlet NL Times, the carrier had the following words to share regarding the matter:

"Although there is no safety risk, the seven aircraft will remain grounded and undergo expedited maintenance."
The Dutch carrier confirmed earlier on Saturday that three different intercontinental services were canceled as a result of the matter, and more than 600 customers were affected as a result. This included nonstop flights from the airline's Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) hub to Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Chicago-O'Hare International Airport (ORD), and Portland International Airport (PDX).

These services are all the exact kind of long-haul, low-demand flights that the Boeing 787 is optimized for. Two of these services yesterday were delayed by between three and five hours, while the service to Mexico City, which was booked with 250 passengers, was forced to arrive an entire day late.

The Damage Was Somewhat Limited:

Dutch carrier KLM initially believed that passengers on these three different canceled flights would ultimately be unable to take to the skies before Sunday. The airline's passengers were successfully booked back onto alternative flights, and the carrier has been able to deploy replacement aircraft to limit the operational disruption.

Handling these kinds of situations with efficiency is essential for an airline like KLM, which prides itself on providing an elevated customer experience. When maintenance issues occur, airlines are tasked with communicating the situation effectively with passengers and helping resolve the situation as smoothly as possible.

The causes of the issue are also very well-known. The maintenance issue in question involves a system that is used during aircraft refueling. This system is identical to that which is found on Boeing 777 family aircraft. KLM indicated that while the parts remain the same, the differences between the maintenance processes of the Boeing 787 and the Boeing 777 on this system are slightly different.

Boeing 787 variant:
Number in the KLM fleet:
Boeing 787-9
13
Boeing 787-10
11



What Is Being Done About The Issue?

Flag carrier KLM has decided to carry out extensive maintenance on seven different affected Boeing 787 aircraft to address these challenges. The carrier noted that its efforts to repair these aircraft will begin "as quickly as possible."

KLM is a large, global airline with a fleet of more than 220 aircraft, including 24 Boeing 787 jets, all of which are used on long-haul international routes that face moderate levels of demand. The carrier will continue to use its fleet to serve more and more global destinations.

When challenges arise, the airline tends to try and deploy replacement aircraft immediately. If not, passengers will be rebooked onto another KLM flight or one operated by a  SkyTeam partner.


Post credit: simpleflying

KLM Grounds 7 Boeing 787s Due To Maintenance Issues