KLM has cancelled flights after failing to correctly follow maintenance procedures for seven Boeing 787 aircraft.
Three flights planned for Saturday, destined for Mexico, Chicago, and Portland, have been cancelled, though passengers heading to the US destinations will still be able to depart on Saturday with delays of three to five hours. The flight to Mexico will be delayed by one day.
The Dutch airline stated there are no safety risks, but the seven aircraft are undergoing expedited maintenance and will remain grounded in the meantime. Nearly 650 passengers are facing significant delays as a result of this issue.
The maintenance issue involves a part used during refuelling. Although this part is identical to that in Boeing 777s, for which the procedure was followed correctly, the 787 models require a different instruction. KLM has decided to perform the maintenance on the affected 787s according to the correct guidelines as soon as practicable.
KLM is striving to minimise the impact on passengers, deploying replacement aircraft where possible. If replacements are not available, passengers will be rebooked onto other flights to ensure they reach their destinations with minimal disruption.
KLM’s fleet consists of 228 aircraft, including 24 Boeing 787s, which are used for long-haul destinations worldwide.
The airline cannot yet confirm if there will be further delays on Sunday or in the coming week. “We are currently working on the schedule for Sunday, which is not yet finalised,” a spokesperson said. Passengers delayed by more than three hours are eligible for compensation from KLM.
