French carrier Air Austral has decided to stop operating the Airbus A220, following persistent engine issues that have affected the type’s operators worldwide. The A220 is powered exclusively by Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines, which have been a source of reliability problems for several airlines.
Previously, EgyptAir retired its entire A220 fleet due to similar difficulties. Iraqi Airways has also grounded all five of its A220 aircraft. Now, Air Austral joins the list of airlines stepping away from this aircraft model.
These developments highlight ongoing challenges with the Pratt & Whitney engines on the Airbus A220, as more carriers reevaluate their fleet strategies in response to maintenance and operational concerns.