Lufthansa says engine woes ground third of A220 fleet in Zurich

Deutsche Lufthansa said a third of its Airbus A220 fleet in Zurich has been temporarily grounded because of issues with Pratt & Whitney engines, the latest sign of airlines wrestling with defects ahead of the crucial summer travel season. The idling of the narrow-body aircraft is on top of three other “brand new” aircraft with Pratt engines that are also down, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said on call with analysts to discuss earnings. “Way down in their supply chains there are elements missing and companies need to rebuild their production facilities,” Spohr said. Lufthansa operates 30 A220s at its Swiss subsidiary, implying about 10 aircraft are grounded at present. The company is considering ordering significantly more of the model as it renews its regional jet fleet, Bloomberg News has reported. Carriers around the world are dealing with a shortage of engines and spare parts, particularly on their latest-generation workhorse narrowbody jets. <br/>