Air New Zealand has grounded two of its Airbus A321neo due to engine supply shortage

Air New Zealand has grounded two Airbus A321neos due to a global engine supply shortage that is affecting 28 airlines worldwide. One of the planes was introduced in 2022 and is the carrier’s largest jet dedicated to domestic flying. The lack of engines has caused both scheduled and non-scheduled engine removals to happen simultaneously across the globe.

Both A321neo planes have been in maintenance at Auckland International Airport for a few weeks, with ZK-OYA’s last flight on March 10, 2023, and ZK-OYC’s last flight on April 1, 2023.

Air New Zealand’s A320 and A321 fleet use Pratt & Whitney engines, which have experienced supply chain issues this year. Despite having 32 engines on its planes, four spares, and three lease options, executives at the airline are still concerned about its ability to operate. The engines will be removed from the grounded domestic planes and used on international flights.

Approximately 150,000 passengers will be affected, with most facing a 90-minute alteration to their original departure time.

In February 2023, Pratt & Whitney’s engine issues caused more than 50 IndiGo and Go First planes to be grounded in India, highlighting the persisting supply chain problems. Executives at parent company Raytheon Technologies warned during the firm’s earnings call in January 2023 that material shortages related to engine castings would continue throughout the year.