Blow to Boeing brand as budget airline pulls new Dreamliner from service
Budget airline Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA has withdrawn its brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner after less than 30 days in service, adding a further blow to the troubled brand’s attempts to launch the airliner.
The Dreamliner has been beset by technical problems
The airline made an unusually vocal public statement criticising the airline brand.
"The aircraft's reliability is simply not acceptable," Norwegian Air spokesman Lasse Sandaker-Nielsen said.
"Our passengers cannot live with this kind of performance."
Electrical and battery problems earlier this led to airline regulators preventing the airliner from flying for several months.
The Norwegian airline said that it had to rent planes and cancel tickets when it could not use its 787s. It said the company's stock has fallen 6 percent.
“On Sept. 23, the carrier said one Dreamliner was beset with problems in the oxygen supply to the cockpit,” the Sydney Morning Herald said.
In a statement, Boeing said: "Norwegian has contracted with Boeing to provide engineering, spare parts and maintenance services for its 787s.
"We regret the inconvenience and disruption caused to the airline and its passengers as a result of this process."