US airlines struggling to avoid cancellations after engine recall

DUSTIN JONESAugust 15, 2023

Several US-based airlines are reportedly working hard to avoid flight cancellations after Pratt & Whitney announced a massive recall of around 1,200 engines.

JetBlue, Spirit and Hawaiian are among the companies shifting ground staff and changing flight schedules after P&W announced last month it would be removing Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines, which were found to be contaminated with microscopic impurities in a piece of metal defiled were its core.

According to the company, the pollution poses a hazard that could lead to cracks in certain parts of the engine.

The GTF engine, reportedly used by dozens of domestic and foreign airlines, is one of two engines that can be fitted to the Airbus A320neo, which is the world’s best-selling aircraft.

European airline Wizz Air and Indian airline Go First are among the airlines grounded as a result of the engine recall.

Spirit Airlines is among several domestic U.S. carriers struggling to avoid flight cancellations following an engine recall by Pratt and Whitney.

Spirit, the seventh-largest domestic airline in the U.S., told investors earlier this month that the company is flying fewer planes as a result of the recall and is also facing an overstaffing issue affecting operations in the fourth quarter and early next year will affect. according to the Financial Times.

JetBlue COO Joanna Geraghty, which runs the country’s sixth-largest domestic airline, told investors earlier this month that the company would look to lease engines in hopes of minimizing damage.

“We’re trying to take all available self-help measures,” she said.

“But as you know, the supply is quite limited.”

Hawaiian Airlines warned it might have to adjust its capacity but recently said it was too early to gauge the impact.

Pratt & Whitney announced last month that it would be removing geared turbofan (GTF) engines that were found to be contaminated with microscopic contaminants in a piece of metal in their core.

The GTF engine, reportedly used by dozens of domestic and foreign airlines, is one of two engines that can be fitted to the Airbus A320neo, which is the world's best-selling aircraft. — The GTF engine, reportedly used by dozens of domestic and foreign airlines, is one of two engines that can be fitted to the Airbus A320neo, which is the world’s best-selling aircraft.

The carrier said last month the impact would depend on the availability of the parts that need to be replaced.

The limited availability of spare parts for these engines had already limited Hawaiian’s ability to fully utilize its Airbus fleet. Some aircraft were grounded due to missing engines.

P&W is a subsidiary of RTX, the aerospace and defense company formerly known as Raytheon Technologies Corporation.

The contaminants found in the engine put certain parts of the machine at risk of cracking.

RTX CEO Greg Hayes told investors in an earnings call last month that the company plans to compensate airlines, though he downplayed the recall as “not an existential threat” to his company or its subsidiary.

Still, Hayes acknowledged that the engine blunders “will be expensive.”

RTX shares were down more than 0.5% on Wall Street on Monday.

The Post has reached out to P&W, JetBlue, Hawaiian, and Spirit for comment.

RTX, Pratt & Whitney's parent company, confirmed the recall "will be expensive." — RTX, Pratt & Whitney’s parent company, acknowledged that the recall “will be costly.”

The air travel industry has already been hit by turbulence in recent months.

Bad weather, staff shortages and technical disruptions led to massive disruptions, flight delays and cancellations on July 4th and during the Christmas holidays.

Some are turning to larger aircraft that can carry more passengers to meet operational challenges.

With post wires

DUSTIN JONESAugust 15, 2023