Air safety news delivers a blow to aviation, with Air Europa among the carriers facing flight reorganizations after U.S. regulators require inspections for Boeing 787 Dreamliners. Across the globe, the measure could affect more than 64,000 flights in the next month, according to Mabrian, a tourism intelligence platform that estimates around 18 million available seats could be impacted. Air Europa operates a fleet of 26 Dreamliners that will come under closer scrutiny as authorities review long‑haul capacity and connectivity between Europe and the Americas.
In relation to the Federal Aviation Administration action, the warning follows an incident involving a Boeing 787-9 operated by Latam Airlines. The aircraft experienced a sudden descent in which more than 50 passengers sustained injuries. The FAA response included a directive for immediate checks on the affected aircraft model to ensure pilot and co‑pilot seat systems are functioning properly. The agency stated an effective airworthiness directive to inspect certain 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes, with operators told to complete seat inspections within 30 days to identify missing or damaged cockpit switch covers, as reported by EFE.
Captain seat inspections
Evaluations are required on the switch cover assemblies and associated panels attached to the back of the captain and first officer seats on certain airplanes. Mabrian notes that a fault in these components has been cited in five similar reports, two of which are still under investigation, prompting corrective actions where necessary.
Among the 895 affected Dreamliner aircraft, 158 are registered in the United States and 737 elsewhere worldwide, according to U.S. authorities.
All Nippon Airways, Qatar Airways, Hainan Airlines, and Ethiopian Airlines are expected to face the greatest impact. Airlines operating these airplanes that connect America and Europe—including United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Latam, and Air Europa—are likely to encounter significant challenges that could disrupt global air traffic, according to the big data platform based in Menorca.
Air Europa operates a 26‑Dreamliner fleet, a fact highlighted last week when the carrier announced a new Boeing 787-9 addition to its long‑haul fleet. The airline stressed that the extra aircraft will help meet peak summer demand and support routes with high occupancy and strong Europe‑to‑America connectivity.
Flight disruptions and the broader picture
The FAA action traces back to the March incident involving a Latam Airlines 787-9 flying from Australia to New Zealand, which experienced a descent that injured 50 passengers. Investigators found that a cockpit switch panel without a protective cover was inadvertently activated, disabling the autopilot and triggering the rapid descent until the pilot regained control.
Mabrian has modeled the expected impact of the inspections on flight schedules and seating across routes planned from August 20 to September 20. The figures point to close to 64,000 flights and more than 18 million seats potentially affected. About 92 percent of the flights involve the 787-8 and 787-9 variants. The inspections are mandatory but do not require grounding all planes; the 30-day window will pose a logistical challenge that could translate into delays and cancellations, Mabrian’s analyst explained.
With these developments, the aviation landscape faces a period of heightened scrutiny as operators balance safety compliance with the need to maintain reliable schedules for travelers and freight alike. The review process will likely influence capacity planning, maintenance cycles, and passenger communications across major routes linking the Americas and Europe in the months ahead.