ITA Grounds 22 Jets as Pratt & Whitney Engine Crisis Deepens

ITA Airways is facing one of the most severe fleet disruptions in its history as Pratt & Whitney GTF engine recalls continue to sideline aircraft across the global aviation industry. The Italian carrier now has 22 aircraft grounded—about 28% of its total fleet—due to defects in PW1000G-series engines, according to Corriere della Sera. ITA estimates financial damages exceeding €150 million over the next five years, amounting to roughly €82,000 per day.

The Pratt & Whitney GTF issue, which began emerging in late 2023, stems from contaminated powdered metal used in the high-pressure turbine and compressor discs manufactured between 2015 and 2021. The flaw can cause microscopic cracks and potential turbine failure, prompting regulators including EASA and the FAA to mandate inspections and off-wing engine removals. Turnaround times have varied widely, sometimes lasting months, leaving airlines with large portions of their fleets unavailable.

The global crisis has hit ITA Airways particularly hard. Out of its 101 aircraft, 79 are narrowbodies, many of them equipped with the affected engines. The 22 grounded aircraft include Airbus A220s, A320neos, and A321neos—three of the four A321neos in the fleet are currently parked. These aircraft were expected to fuel ITA’s network growth and efficiency goals but are now idle during peak demand periods.

In an interview with Airways Magazine, ITA CEO Joerg Eberhart described the operational fallout: “We have A220 pilots flying 20 hours a month. You can’t grow like that. Airlines control only a third of their cost base. Everyone else—airports, lessors, manufacturers—sets prices we must absorb.”

Pratt & Whitney has expanded repair capacity, accelerated maintenance programs, and offered compensation packages, including credits and spare engines. However, the scale of the recall—expected to cost P&W and its partners more than $6 billion—has stretched support resources thin. Many airlines worldwide, including Spirit Airlines in the U.S., remain deeply affected by large-scale groundings.

For ITA Airways, the timeline for recovery remains uncertain. The airline expects disruptions to continue through at least 2026, with losses exacerbated by the grounding occurring before the peak summer season. With no significant improvement in recent months, ITA is preparing legal action against Pratt & Whitney and parent company RTX, seeking greater compensation for its mounting operational and financial losses.

As the global GTF crisis continues, ITA Airways faces ongoing challenges balancing fleet availability, revenue pressure, and long-term strategic planning while awaiting a full resolution to the engine defects.


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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, simpleflying.com