Airbus A320neo customers gird for delays due to Pratt issues

Buyers of Airbus Group’s troubled re-engined A320 narrow-body jet are preparing for delays to the aircraft extending into next year as they scale back fleet plans and seek compensation. IndiGo, India’s biggest airline, will operate fewer of the A320neo jets in the current financial year than previously estimated, while AerCap Holdings NV, which has more than 220 on order, said it expects the delays to continue into 2017. US-based Air Lease Corp. said last week it’s discussing financial remedies with the European planemaker with as many as eight deliveries now expected to be delayed next year. Output of the A320neo is being disrupted by manufacturing delays at Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp. that builds the plane’s geared turbofan engine. Pratt in September cut this year’s delivery target to 150 engines from 200, saying it couldn’t produce certain parts fast enough.<br/>“There’s a lot of uncertainty around the exact timetable for deliveries at the moment particularly those that are powered by the geared turbofan,” AerCap CEO Aengus Kelly said. He said he expects more clarity before the end of the year.<br/>