Volaris ‘carefully planning’ GTF engine removals through at least 2027

Following a year in which it averaged more than 30 Airbus jets out of service for Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engine removals, Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris does not foresee its fleet availability issues being resolved any time soon. During the Mexico City-based company’s year-end earnings call on 24 February, CE Enrique Beltranena said that Volaris is “proactively managing schedules to ensure that the engine inspections and overhauls are carefully planned” through at least 2027. Volaris has been among the global airlines most affected by P&W’s broadly disruptive geared turbofan (GTF) engine recall to inspect for potential turbofan blade defects. Latest-generation Airbus A320neo-family and A220 jets, as well as Embraer E190-E2s, are powered by GTF engines. About a third of those jets remain grounded worldwide, with the number of out-of-service aircraft inching up in recent months. The inspection and overhaul processes take months. US carrier JetBlue Airways recently disclosed that its GTF engines that require removal are spending about a year off-wing before returning to service. Volaris currently has 34 A320neos and A321neos in storage, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. Almost all of those jets are likely grounded for GTF inspections. The company itself expects to continue averaging more than 30 jets on the ground in coming months. <br/>