FAA directive on Boeing to potentially impact 18 million seats globally

Major airlines will face significant challenges, potentially leading to global travel disruptions

According to global travel intelligence platform, Mabrian, more than 18 million seats in over 64,000 flights worldwide programmed for the next 30 days could be potentially affected by the mandatory inspections requested by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to 895 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircrafts in operation worldwide, following a March incident involving a sudden mid-air plunge of a LATAM Airlines’ Boeing 787-9, resulting in injuries to over 50 passengers.

The FAA announcement implies that inspections and corrective actions should be performed in the potentially loose or non-functional rocker switch caps or switch canover assemblies on the back of the Captain’s and First Officer’s seats  of certain Boeing 787-8, 9, and –10 airplanes, currently operating worldwide. 

This malfunction is allegedly behind five similar reports, two still under investigation.

Mabrian, part of The Data Appeal Company, has analysed the impact of this aircraft recall through its data of the scheduled flights and seats in programmed routes for the next month, of all Boeing 787 aircrafts affected by the FAA’s Airworthiness Directive (AD), issued on August 20, 2024. 

Data shows that over 64,000 flights, equivalent to slightly more than 18 million seats, could be compromised, of which 92% of such flights are scheduled in 787-8 and 787-9 models.

In terms of availability, 58% of total seats affected are scheduled in 787-9 aircrafts, and over a third in 787-8 planes. 

“This mandatory inspection will not imply to land all planes at the same time, as airlines have 30 days to complete it and fix any malfunction, but it will pose a massive challenge in an already tight summer and post summer schedule, that could cause delays and cancellations worldwide," said Carlos Cendra, partner and director of maketing and communications of Mabrian.

The air carriers that should have to cushion a larger impact derived from this FAA’s directive will be All Nippon Airways and Qatar Airways; as well as Hainan Airlines and Ethiopian Airlines. 

Among the list of the airlines that should have to manage their schedules in the next month to attend this mandatory inspection there are relevant Asian carriers such as Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and China Southern Airlines; or key airlines catering to Middle East and Asia long-haul routes, such as Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines.

It's been advised that world carriers which connect America and Europe, in particular, United Airlines, as well as American Airlines, Air Canada, LATAM Airlines, and Air Europa will also be forced to re-organise seats and flights in the coming 30 days.