Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air, along with its UK subsidiary Wizz Air UK, has struck a deal with Pratt & Whitney over engine problems which have kept many of its aircraft grounded.
The problems affect Wizz Air A320neo aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines of which around 40 are expected to remain grounded throughout 2025 and potentially into 2026.
The deal stuck with Pratt & Whitney consists of a support package to ensure the required engine inspections are carried out as well as compensation for the aircraft being offline.
In a statement, the airline said: “The company continues to take proactive action to mitigate the financial and operational impact of the grounded aircraft and will continue to work with Pratt & Whitney to ensure that aircraft are returned to operation as soon as possible.”
Wizz Air has had to remove around 1,000 engines from its Airbus fleet for them to be inspected for microscopic cracks but despite the ongoing issues, the airline expects to add a further 50 A320neo family aircraft to its fleet over the next 18 months.
The problems have hit the airline’s financial picture with lower-than-expected growth in 2024. The airline says it expects to return to a period of growth by 2026 by increasing its seat capacity by 20% during that time.
