Turkish Airlines Grounds A321neo Aircraft Due to Pratt & Whitney Engine Recall

Turkish Airlines (TK) is grappling with the grounding of up to twelve Airbus A321neo aircraft by year-end due to issues related to Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engines. The airline has already taken nine A321neos out of service due to the ongoing Pratt & Whitney engine recall.

The grounding stems from a recall order issued by RTX, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, in July. The recall affects PW1100G engines manufactured between 2015 and 2020. While the specific number of engines requiring removal and inspection is yet to be finalized, RTX noted that the inspection process will extend until 2026, impacting airlines globally.

A Turkish Airlines spokesperson stated, “Our expectation is to ground 11 to 12 aircraft by the end of the year, but due to the uncertainties in the process, there is a possibility that this number will be revised upwards.”

Turkish Airlines operates four A320-200neo and fifty-four A321-200neo aircraft equipped with PW1100G engines. However, the recall is specific to engines manufactured within a particular timeframe, sparing all A320neo and A321neo jets in Turkish Airlines’ fleet. The A320neo deliveries began in the latter half of 2022, with the aircraft manufactured in the same year potentially unaffected by the recall. The A321neo deliveries started in mid-2018 and continued until August 2023, indicating that aircraft built during this period may be subject to the recall.

Ongoing negotiations with the engine manufacturer persist as Turkish Airlines faces uncertainties regarding the affected engines and maintenance plans. The airline acknowledges the potential for changes in the quantity of grounded aircraft in the coming period.

Despite the challenges, Turkish Airlines has forty-five A321-200neo aircraft on order, highlighting its commitment to the A321neo model despite the current setbacks in its operational fleet.