Air India (AI, Delhi International) Chairman and Managing Director Ashwani Lohani has confirmed the carrier will take delivery of its maiden pair of A320neo a month late owing to unspecified issues with their CFM International LEAP-1A26 powerplants.

In a statement to the Indian Express, Lohani said: “The delivery of A320neo has been deferred to February by the lessors due to some engine issues."

The aircraft are part of a longterm dry-lease contract signed with Kuwaiti lessor ALAFCO in March 2016 for the delivery of fourteen A320neo between now and March 2018.

As it stands, the state-owned carrier expects to take delivery of a total of three A320neo by the end of the current quarter, which coincides with the end of the current 2016/17 financial year.