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Wizz Air claims that a ban on engine disruptions by 2027 is not an 'absolute' guarantee

Wizz Air aims at ending engine-related groundings for its Airbus aircraft before the end of 2027. The CEO added later that the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney would determine the schedule.

These comments are made as the airline industry continues its complaints about supply chain issues around the globe, including major engine manufacturers like RTX's Pratt & Whitney or CFM International. Wizz's Chief Financial Officer Ian Malin stated that the number of aircraft grounded due to long inspection waiting times has dropped from 60 at its peak, down to 38. Wizz reported that 41 aircraft were grounded at the halfway point of the year due to GTF engine inspections.

The plan is to have the fleet deparked by 2027. "That is the goal that we are working towards," Malin said at the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading conference (ISTAT) in Prague.

We don't have full control over our destiny. After his CFO's Tuesday speech, Chief Executive Jozsef Varadi told journalists later in Gdansk that "we are at the mercy" of the manufacturer.

Varadi said to Bloomberg in September that his goal was to turn Wizz Air around by the middle of 2027.

Varadi stated that he was "pretty confident" that the fleet would be ready by the end 2027, but there is no "absolute assurance."

Wizz Air's spokesperson refused to comment on the changes made to the schedule.

Wizz, a Hungarian airline, has been struggling to compete with other European carriers financially in the last few years due to engine problems. It has been unable to increase its capacity due to the groundings and issued two profit warnings.

"Pratt actually shows some availability of engines but the overall turn-around time is not improving...Pratt said that this is coming down. Malin replied, "I haven't yet seen it."

He added, "It's extremely frustrating because we have been dealing with this for two and a half years."

RTX, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, did not respond immediately to a comment request.

Chris Calio, CEO of the U.S. Aerospace Group, said that in September, cases of aircraft landing on the ground because they were powered by Pratt engines had stabilized and would be expected to decrease, but "clearly, we still have work to do."

The company anticipates a 30% increase in maintenance, repairs and overhaul services year-over-year.

(source: Reuters)