Latvian airline airBaltic has announced the cancellation of 4,670 flights from all its bases for the summer season 2025. The airline attributes the cancellations to ‘unexpected delays and prolonged engine maintenance’ from engine supplier, Pratt & Whitney.
“The engine manufacturer’s inability to meet its timely maintenance obligations has impacted the operational capabilities of airBaltic’s Airbus A220-300 fleet, forcing the airline to adjust its summer schedule”, the airline noted in a press statement, adding that it has been informed by Pratt & Whitney that several of its A220-300 aircraft ‘will remain grounded into 2025 due to an engine shortage’.
READ: Wizz Air to reduce capacity following GTF issues
Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines have faced several significant issues, primarily due to a rare condition in the powdered metal used to manufacture certain engine parts. This condition has led to microscopic cracks in the high-pressure turbine disks, which could potentially cause uncontained disk failures
As a result, Pratt & Whitney has had to recall and inspect around 1,200 engines. The impact on airlines has been substantial. Over 40 airlines and lessors globally have been affected, leading to the grounding and inspection of numerous Airbus A320neo aircraft
Some of the airlines experiencing significant disruptions include Air New Zealand, which has had to ground up to four aircraft at any one time and anticipate ongoing impacts for up to two years, and Wizz Air, which predicts that around 40 of its jets will remain grounded through 2026 due to these engine issues.
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