Pratt & Whitney Plans To Clear PW1500G Grounding Issues By Late 2026

DUBAI—Pratt & Whitney is confident that improvements to PW1500G and PW1900G engine deliveries, technology upgrades and investment in the company’s MRO network will cut aircraft-on-ground incidents on the Airbus A220 and Embraer E2 fleets to near zero by the end of 2026.

Engine shortages have been blamed recently by Swiss International Air Lines for grounding its fleet of nine Airbus A220-100s for at least 18 months, while Canadian operator Porter Airlines says continuing issues with its PW1900G have forced it to park some of its Embraer E195-E2s. In all, around 7% of the Pratt-powered A220 and E2 aircraft are thought to be currently on the ground due to engine-specific issues.

Slower than expected production deliveries, together with other non-engine linked supplier delays, have also been blamed by Airbus for its recent decision to pull back A220 production rate targets. In October, Airbus announced it would raise production to 12 aircraft a month in 2026, retreating from an earlier target of 14.

But all this is set to change, says Rick Deurloo, Pratt's president of commercial engines. “We are investing significantly in this fleet, and we’re seeing the benefit come through on removals,” he says during a briefing on the eve of Dubai Airshow. “Second, this fleet is one where we will see our way out of the AOG (aircraft on ground) risk in the coming 15 months—certainly by the end of next year. Third, we’re working with Airbus very closely around the volumes they need us to commit to.”