{"id":91999,"date":"2025-04-26T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=91999"},"modified":"2025-04-26T17:45:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T12:15:04","slug":"british-airways-787-faces-window-dimming-failure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/26\/british-airways-787-faces-window-dimming-failure\/","title":{"rendered":"British Airways 787 Faces Window Dimming Failure on 14-Hour Flight"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LONDON-<\/strong> Passengers aboard a British Airways (BA)<\/a> Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner<\/a> endured 14 hours of relentless sunshine<\/strong> during their journey from Tokyo (HND)<\/a> to London (LHR)<\/a> after the aircraft’s electronic window dimming system failed along one side of the cabin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The malfunction, which affected British Airways (BA) flight BA6<\/strong>, left travellers on the affected side of the aircraft struggling with bright daylight throughout most of the ultra-long-haul journey.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"British
Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Boeing 787 Window Dimming Failure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The flight crew was aware of the issue<\/strong> before takeoff from Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). Engineers were called to examine the problem, but despite their efforts, they couldn’t restore functionality to the dimming system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faced with the prospect of operating a lengthy flight with malfunctioning window controls, the maintenance team improvised a solution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They repurposed paper tray liners<\/strong> as makeshift window shades, attaching them to the windows with adhesive tape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The passenger reported that these improvised covers proved insufficient, forcing her to supplement the covering with her safety information card in a desperate attempt to block more light and get some rest during the journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The automatic window dimmers on our side of the cabin were not functioning correctly, leaving us exposed to bright daylight for much of the flight.”<\/p> Passenger in a Facebook post on a page dedicated to British Airways (BA) complaints<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\"British
Photo- BrayLockBoy; Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Daylight Exposure<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

British Airways (BA) flight BA6 typically departs Tokyo (HND) at approximately 1 PM daily. <\/strong>The eastbound route takes the aircraft across the Pacific Ocean, over Canada, and across the Atlantic before reaching London (LHR).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This routing means the aircraft flies predominantly in daylight conditions throughout the 14-hour journey, with darkness never fully setting in outside the plane, making functional window dimmers particularly important for passenger comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo- Wikimedia Commons; Compiled By Aviation A2Z<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Passenger Disappointment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Summing up the experience succinctly in their social media post, the affected passenger wrote: “Just didn’t feel very premium at all,”<\/strong> before inquiring about potential compensation for the inconvenience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The incident highlights the vulnerability of modern aircraft systems and the impact technical failures can have on passenger comfort during long-haul journeys, particularly when alternative solutions cannot fully replicate the functionality of sophisticated onboard technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Ian Abbott | Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dreamliner Window Technology<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boeing 787 Dreamliners<\/a> feature an innovative window design that replaces traditional manual window shades with an electronic dimming system.<\/strong> Developed by Gentex, this technology has received mixed reactions from airline passengers since its introduction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system employs electrochromic technology that passes an electric current through a specialised transparent gel sandwiched between two window panels. By adjusting the voltage running through this gel, the windows can transition from completely clear to significantly darkened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passengers can select from 5 darkness settings, ranging from level 1 (fully transparent) to level 5 (maximum dimming).<\/strong> However, even when functioning correctly, a common complaint is that the darkest setting still permits some light penetration during bright daylight conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Boeing 787 Lavatory May Break Free in Flight Injuring Crew and Pax: FAA<\/a><\/blockquote>