Rolls-Royce is set to carry out additional inspections on certain Package C variants of the Trent 1000 engine due to issues with the compressor.

Ongoing tests are already being conducted on the Trent 1000 Package C engines currently in-service with various airlines.

With the additional inspections, the company aims to further understand the durability of an intermediate pressure compressor blade of the Trent 1000 Package C engine.

The inspections will be based on a directive issued by Rolls-Royce, along with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Operators of Trent 1000 Package C engines will be required to carry out maintenance checks on the compressor blade before the engine reaches a flying threshold of 300 cycles.

“We will be working closely with Boeing and affected airlines to minimise disruption wherever possible.”

The proposed inspections are expected to cause additional disruptions to airline flight schedules. The inspection will exclude the operators of Trent 1000 Package B engines or Trent 1000 TEN engines.

A total of 380 Package C engines are currently in-service with a number of airlines. Almost 25% of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet is powered by Package C engines.

Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East said: “Our focus is on supporting our customers and doing all we can to minimise any impact on their operations.

“We sincerely regret the disruption this will cause to our customers and our team of technical experts and service engineers is working around the clock to ensure we return them to full service as soon as possible.

“We will be working closely with Boeing and affected airlines to minimise disruption wherever possible.”

Air New Zealand said that the proposed inspections will have some impact on its international schedule.

The airline currently operates nine Boeing 787 aircraft powered by Trent 1000 Package C engines.