Turkish Airlines will ground over 40 Airbus A321neo aircraft due to issues with Pratt & Whitney engines. This significant reduction in the Turkish airline’s fleet has been coordinated with the engine manufacturer.
Pratt & Whitney announced in 2023 that it would proceed to withdraw hundreds of GTF engines, which power the Airbus A320neo family, A220, and the Embraer E-jet-E2.
The decision was made after Pratt & Whitney identified components prone to premature failure due to defects from the metal powder manufacturing process. This measure will affect around 350 aircraft, which will be grounded between 2024 and 2026.
Currently, Turkish Airlines has 44 Airbus A321 neo, of which 20 are already stored. These aircraft are being inspected by the airline, although they will need to undergo scheduled maintenance.
Globally, a substantial number of engines, approximately between 600 and 700, are scheduled for early inspections.
Other Affected Airlines
One of the major airlines impacted by the Pratt & Whitney engine issues is Indigo. The airline has stated that 35 of its aircraft remain grounded and will not return to service for now.
Mexican airline VivaAerobus will have to ground between 15% and 20% of its fleet. The airline received authorization to operate leased aircraft under wet leasing to mitigate the adverse effects of the GTF engine crisis.
Spirit Airlines could receive compensation ranging from 150 to 200 million dollars due to issues with Pratt & Whitney’s PW1000G engine family.
Air New Zealand has updated its flight operations due to changes in the maintenance schedule announced by Pratt & Whitney. The airline faces challenges from the revealed condition affecting its Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) engine fleet.
