Zurich-based Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) expects the number of A220 aircraft forced to remain parked due to ongoing Pratt & Whitney PW1000G engine problems to increase to 14 in 2024. AirGuide reported this, citing the airline’s chief operating officer Oliver Buchhofer.
“We expect the problem to accompany us until 2026,” he told a press conference on 1 July.
Buchhofer said up to 14 Airbus A220, A320 Neo and A321 aircraft will be grounded due to engine failures.
Earlier this year, SWISS said it had held “constructive” discussions with Pratt & Whitney over problems with the PW1000G engine. However, no further announcement has been made about compensation to the Swiss carrier.
The ch-aviation service shows that SWISS currently has three A220-300s, four A320-200Ns and two A321-200NXs temporarily out of service and remaining parked in Zurich. In total, the airline has 88 aircraft in its fleet.
To cope with the forced parking of its aircraft, SWISS relies heavily on wet leased aircraft. The current fleet of serviced aircraft was provided by: airBaltic with nine A220-300s and six E190-E2s, and Helvetic Airways with three E190-E2s and four E195-E2s.
Against this background, it has become known that Cyprus Airways has cancelled its plans to acquire six Airbus A220 aircraft. This was announced by the airline’s CEO Tasos Michael in an interview with Aviation Week. Problems with the PW1000G engines had a significant impact on the carrier’s plans, prompting a strategic reassessment.
“If it wasn’t for Pratt & Whitney, we would have been profitable this year,” he said, emphasising the serious operational implications caused by the engine failure. – For a small airline, managing within our means is critical, so we will opt for more A320s until the A220 engine problems are fixed, which is expected by 2027.”
