A320 Planes Grounded for Years Due to Pratt Engine Flaw
RTX Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney unit has expanded the scope of required engine checks, affecting nearly its entire fleet of turbines powering Airbus A320 planes. Around 3,000 Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines will be removed over the next three years to check for potentially flawed components made from contaminated metal powder. This will result in about 350 aircraft being parked per year through 2026 on average, with the figure peaking at about 650 planes in the first half of 2024. The engine troubles add to the challenges faced by airlines as they work to rebuild operations post-pandemic. RTX also cut its full-year sales outlook and expects a financial hit of up to $3.5 billion over the next several years.