Australian media have reported that Qantas’ flagship A380 aircraft may be out of service over the summer holidays. The airlines schedule for international flights in coming weeks does not include the A380. Boeing 747s will serve Qantas’ long-haul routes, while A330 aircraft will serve on several Asian routes.
European regulators have issued an airworthiness directive forcing airlines to make frequent inspections of the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines used on the A380s and checks of turbine blades and oil service tubes, according to Fairfax media. The same reports also states that the Qantas A380 fleet is likely to remain grounded for weeks even though the airline says it hopes the A380s will be cleared within days.