Airlines are dismantling nearly new Airbus A320neo family aircraft to harvest Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engines, as the ongoing global shortage has made these engines more valuable than the planes themselves, according to a May 16 report. The shortage is driven by long maintenance lead times of up to 300 days and widespread defects affecting engines produced between 2015 and 2021.
The issue matters because it has grounded about 38% of the world’s GTF-equipped A320neo fleet—up to 835 aircraft—and forced airlines and lessors to treat spare engines as critical assets. This disruption has impacted major carriers globally, with Wizz Air grounding over 40 aircraft until mid-2026 and IndiGo having around 64 grounded jets. Some operators have even retired entire fleets or shifted engines between models to keep higher-capacity planes in service.
The problem began when powder-metal parts used in the PW1000G engine developed microscopic cracks under stress, leading regulators such as the Federal Aviation Administration and European Union Aviation Safety Agency to mandate accelerated inspections. As a result, hundreds of engines required immediate removal from service at once, overwhelming maintenance facilities worldwide. While Pratt & Whitney identified the root cause several years ago and has since expanded its repair network, many affected planes remain grounded.
According to Reuters, more than a dozen young Airbus jets have already been parted out for their GTF engines due to high lease rates—upwards of $200,000 per month per engine—and continued demand during lengthy shop visits. The collapse of Spirit Airlines on May 2 could provide some temporary relief by releasing additional GTF-powered aircraft into the market for parts or potential resale. Austin Willis, CEO of Willis Lease Finance Corp., said: “We are seeing some of the GTF engines from Spirit A320s being removed from the airframes and leased out to customers to support (aircraft on the ground). This is providing some limited temporary relief from the supply/demand imbalance.”
Pratt & Whitney recently achieved EASA certification for its upgraded GTF Advantage engine model for use on Airbus A320neo family jets. The company expects this version—offering increased thrust and improved durability—to enter service later this year with a full production transition by early 2028. For existing operators, an upgrade called Hot Section Plus will deliver most durability improvements without requiring entirely new powerplants.
There are signs that recovery is underway: Pratt & Whitney reports that grounded fleet numbers have fallen by roughly 15% since late last year while maintenance output increased by nearly a quarter year-over-year. Parent company RTX invested over $400 million in expanding production capacity in Georgia, Poland, Texas, Florida and Arkansas during early 2026 alone.
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