Wizz Air Navigates Pratt & Whitney Issues and Grounds 45 A320ceo aircraft

Wizz Air Holdings has unveiled its strategy to address Pratt & Whitney GTF engine inspections affecting its A320neo family aircraft, revealing plans to ground 45 aircraft until the end of the financial year 2024 (March 31, 2024). The low-cost carrier outlined its mitigation efforts in response to the service bulletin issued on November 3, 2023, and the subsequent mandatory inspections.

According to an earnings brief, the grounding of 45 aircraft is anticipated at the end of FY24, pending regulator approval for airworthiness. The affected “Second Batch Engines” are expected to be removed starting mid-January ’24. The final number of impacted aircraft will depend on factors such as engine utilization, spare engine availability, and MRO induction slot availability. Wizz Air emphasized that management actions and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) compensation would help mitigate operational and financial impacts.

As part of its action plan, Wizz Air has extended leases for nine A320-200s and four A321-200s, with additional lease extensions in progress for two to four years. Seven contracts have been extended, and six more are in the documentation stage. Wizz Air CEO József Váradi noted that increased utilization of the existing fleet and ongoing Airbus deliveries would help counterbalance any PW1100 engine-related groundings.

To further bolster its capacity, Wizz Air is actively seeking additional aircraft from the market, aiming to ensure that its capacity in financial year 2025 is at least equal to the current financial year. Despite the challenges, the completed lease extensions, along with those expected to conclude soon, position Wizz Air to operate nineteen A320ceo and twenty-nine A321ceo by March 2026.

As Wizz Air navigates through these engine-related challenges, the airline remains committed to providing efficient and reliable service across its operational units, which include Wizz Air, Wizz Air Malta, Wizz Air UK, and Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. The carrier’s current fleet includes a mix of A320s, A321s, A320neos, A321NXs, and an A330-200F, with strategic measures in place to address the impact of engine inspections and ensure continued growth.