We are all well aware that among the airlines in the Philippines, Cebu Pacific is likely to be the most severely affected by the Pratt and Whitney engine issue on the A321neos, as they are the country’s largest operator of the A320neo family with PW1100G engines. However, Philippine Airlines is also significantly impacted by the Pratt & Whitney issue, since the airline operates eight A321neos powered by PW1100G geared turbofan (GTF) engines. Compounding the issue is the fact that these are the only narrowbody planes in the PAL fleet capable of flying long distances.
Additionally, PAL’s A321neos are equipped with the most modern inflight entertainment systems among its narrowbody fleet. Therefore, we can expect that this issue will greatly hurt PAL not only in terms of capacity but also in terms of passenger experience.
The Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney has encountered a critical issue with its engines that power the popular A320neo aircraft family. The company identified a rare condition in the powder metal used to manufacture specific parts of the PW1100G-JM engines. This discovery has initiated an extensive inspection process that is expected to impact a large number of Airbus jets globally.
In July, Pratt & Whitney determined that around 700 engines would require removal for shop visits between 2023 and 2026. This situation primarily involves engines manufactured from October 2015 to September 2021. However, the scale of potentially impacted engines has grown significantly, with estimates nearing 3,000 engines worldwide. This development represents a considerable challenge for the aerospace company and the wider aviation industry.
The primary concern for Pratt & Whitney revolves around impurities found in the parent material of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 and 2 disks. These impurities could potentially lead to premature cracks, posing a risk of uncontained disk failures. Such issues are critical in the aviation industry, demanding immediate and thorough inspection and resolution to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft operations.
The engine issue has had a notable financial impact on Raytheon Technologies (RTX), the parent company of Pratt & Whitney. RTX reported a $5.4 billion charge due to this situation. This substantial expense contributed to a 21% decrease in the company’s third-quarter sales, illustrating the significant economic implications of the engine inspection and the necessary corrective actions.
Impact on PAL
According to Philippine Airlines president Capt. Stanley Ng, the airline might have to ground up to two more A321neo aircraft. This development is attributed to “maintenance backlogs for Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan engines,” as revealed in an interview with Aviation Daily. This worst-case scenario emerges due to issues related to powder metal in some engine components.
As per data from ch-aviation fleets advanced and Spire Global satellite ADS-B, PAL currently operates five of its eight A321neo aircraft. However, three out of six A321neos remain grounded in Manila. Both of PAL’s A321neo SRs continue to be in service. These operational challenges have led to a degree of uncertainty regarding the delivery timetable for PAL’s remaining thirteen A321neo aircraft. To navigate these challenges, PAL, along with its subsidiary PAL Express, is relying on its A320ceo family fleet, which includes fifteen A320-200s and twenty-two A321-200s, as a backup solution when other NEO aircraft are grounded.
Based on ch-aviation schedules data, the longest routes in PAL’s current A321neo network include Manila to Brisbane International and Perth International. These routes have scheduled block times exceeding seven hours. The difficulty lies in the fact that these long-haul routes cannot be easily served by the older generation of CEO aircraft, which may not have the same range or efficiency as the newer NEO models.
For now, expect that Philippine Airlines will be operating more of its older A321ceos, which lack inflight entertainment systems (IFEs), while some of PAL’s A321neos remain grounded. And for those government officials who grandstand without understanding the issues facing the aviation industry, I hope this explanation sheds light on the situation.
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