Air New Zealand Dreamliner disruption will stretch into spring

Disruption from Air New Zealand's Dreamliner engine problems will be felt through winter and into spring.

In the airline's updated travel alert, aircraft changes are listed through to October 26, with Boeing 787 Dreamliners swapped off the Auckland-Buenos Aires route. They are replaced by older Boeing 777-200s.

Flight cancellations listed run until tomorrow. During the past four days there have been eight transtasman flights cancelled.

The airline has also listed about 50 flight time changes to the end of May on its website.

Extra checks of Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines have been ordered by global regulators after concerns vibration could cause cracking in engine compressors. Already engines on two of Air New Zealand's nine affected Dreamliners need repairs in Singapore.

It is unclear how quickly the work can be done at the Rolls-Royce facility, which is under pressure because of the global alert.

The airline has been hit with restrictions on how far the other aircraft with ''Package C'' Trent 1000 engines can fly from airports, which means they've been re-routed from long haul routes over the Pacific to short haul services across the Tasman.

Last weekend weight limitations forced Air New Zealand to make fuel stops in Australia and Guam.

The airline opted for stops in order to carry a full payload but the stopovers put further pressure on the schedule which has hit about 3 per cent of its passengers.

With aircraft changes, the airline says it will try provide like-for-like seating but if this isn't available passengers will be eligible for a full refund of their pre-paid seating.

''Due to the different cabin configurations, there's a chance you may be required to travel in a different class and we'll contact you if this is the case,'' Air New Zealand says.

Some flights are earlier than orginially scheduled due to the engine issues.

The airline says that if passengers have a connecting flight booked on the same ticket they will be rebooked onto the next available service.

''If the updated times do not suit your schedule, please get in touch with your original booking agent to discuss alternative arrangements.''

Air New Zealand has said it will again use Portuguese charter operator Hi Fly to plug gaps. Around the world affected Dreamliner operators are scrambling for aircraft to maintain schedules.

Affected airlines include Japan's ANA, LATAM from South America, Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Norwegian.

Not all Rolls-Royce engines on Dreamliners are subject to the extra checks. Air New Zealand has two planes with later model Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 TEN engines and these can be used on usual long-haul routes across the Pacific.

General Electric engines power close to 40 per cent of the 670 Dreamliners delivered and are not affected by the engine alert.