Air Transat (TS, Montréal Trudeau) expects to have up to one-third of its A321-200NX(LR) fleet grounded by the end of FY 2024, according to a December 14, 2023, fourth-quarter investor presentation released by the LCC's parent entity, Transat AT. The groundings are due to mandated inspections of PW1100G engines manufactured by Pratt & Whitney.

"Out of a fleet of A321-200NX(LR)s, three aircraft are currently impacted by this situation, and the number should reach five or six aircraft by the end of fiscal 2024," notes accompanying the presentation read. The airline's mitigation strategies include extending leases on existing aircraft, considering additional short term leases, and improving fleet optimisation.

While saying the engine inspections, likely to see aircraft out of action for two months at a time, could disrupt flight operations, the presentation noted that the problem affected all carriers operating the type with the same engine. Transat AT CEO Annick Guerard told an earnings call on the same day that Air Transat was working closely with Pratt & Whitney, who have been "supportive in all aspects, including future financial compensation."

Air Transat's A321-200NX(LR)s now out of service are C-GOIE (msn 8755), C-GOIH (msn 9198), and C-GOIR (msn 10866). The LCC has twelve still in active use. The presentation noted that the LCC expects four more long-range Airbus narrowbodies between April and June 2024. According to ch-aviation fleets data, Air Transat is due two A321-200NX(LR)s and three A321-200NY(XLR)s. In addition to the neo types, Air Transat also flies eight A321-200s, two A330-300s, and eleven A330-200s. Guerard said one option under review was deploying the A330 types onto routes usually operated by the out-of-service A321neo.

Separately, the airline managed a modest profit of CAD3.2 million dollars (USD2.4 million) on revenues of CAD765 million (USD572 million) for the three months to October 31, 2023. However, Air Transat reported a CAD25.3 million (USD18.87 million) loss for the 12 months to October 31 on revenues of CAD3 billion (USD2.25 billion). The presentation did note that the new joint venture with Porter Airlines (P3, Toronto Billy Bishop City Centre), capacity expansion initiatives, and increased operational efficiencies position it nicely to perform well in 2024, notwithstanding the Pratt & Whitney engine issues.