Pratt & Whitney's PW1100G issues impact Airbus A320neo operations

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Pratt & Whitney's PW1100G issues impact Airbus A320neo operations

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Simple Flying | Simple Flying

By Sky Industry News

Nov 25, 2024

On July 25, 2023, RTX, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, announced a problem with certain parts of its PW1100G engine, which is an option for the Airbus A320neo aircraft family. The issue has led to significant operational challenges for airlines using these engines.

In September 2023, RTX revealed that between 600 and 700 engines would be removed from service between 2023 and 2026 for inspections. This action will affect around 350 aircraft grounded during this period, primarily in early 2024. The turnaround time for engine removal and reinstallation is estimated at approximately 250 to 300 days.

Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, noted that affected parts were manufactured between Q4 2015 and Q3 2021. "As such," he stated during a Q3 earnings call in October 2023, "Airbus delivered GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft during this period." Airlines have had to adjust by grounding aircraft or finding alternative solutions.

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Data indicates that as of now, there are about 629 GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft stored or under maintenance out of a total fleet size of over a thousand active planes. Some previously operated by Go First are also among those grounded.

The recovery outlook varies across airlines. While some carriers like Air New Zealand and Spirit Airlines plan to reduce flights due to these issues, others like Austrian Airlines and Turkish Airlines are similarly affected by the ongoing engine problems.

József Váradi, CEO of Wizz Air, commented on November 7: “As we look ahead...we will gradually return to growth from next year.” Wizz Air expects fewer groundings than initially forecasted due to quicker engine replacements.

RTX's initial report described the issue as a rare condition related to powder metal used in manufacturing certain engine parts. Christopher Calio, president and CEO of RTX stated: “The associated fallout rate remains below the expectation,” indicating progress in addressing the problem.

Neil Mitchill, CFO of RTX mentioned that up to $1 billion in credits might be paid out by the end of 2024 for grounded aircraft as compensation to customers.