After a bizarre chain of events grounded several aircraft, Jetstar has stated that it will have all 11 of its 787-8s back in the air by the end of this week.
Over the past two weeks, the airline has had to cancel a number of flights to Bali because “numerous” lightning and bird strikes, as well as runway debris, had an impact on its fleet.
Chief operating officer Matt Franzi told The Australian the business has been “working around the clock” to fix the problems and apologized to customers for “a really frustrating time”.
“We’ve been sending engineers and customer teams around the network, including to overseas ports, and we have also been really creative and resourceful in sourcing spare parts despite global supply chain issues,” said Franzi.
“Everyone who has had a flight canceled has been offered an alternative flight, and most are now home.
“For those still overseas we’re helping with accommodation, meals and other expenses, including transport to the airport and other costs on a case-by-case basis.”
Its 787s with the registrations VKA, VKB, VKI, VJK, and VKL were out of service earlier in September; however, all but VKB and VKL are currently back in the air.
Only in March did Jetstar resume its well-liked Bali service following a two-year COVID-19 hiatus. The island is the airline’s most well-liked international destination, and a ticket sale to commemorate the reopening saw the company’s highest jump in reservations since 2016.
Prior to COVID-19, Jetstar ran up to 85 round-trip flights a week to Bali, carrying over 2 million passengers a year and bringing in an estimated $2 billion AUD to the region’s Balinese economy.
The airline began by operating three flights a week from the state capital of Victoria before expanding to Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns, and Darwin.
