GoAir (Mumbai International) has once again grounded a number of its A320neo due to issues with Pratt & Whitney PW1100 Geared Turbo Fan engines, AIN has reported.
According to Flightradar24 ADS-B data, the five grounded units are:
- VT-WGA (msn 7047) since July 6;
- VT-WGD (msn 7205) since July 9;
- VT-WGK (msn 7753) since May 13;
- VT-WGM (msn 7859) since May 26, and
- VT-WGP (msn 8146) since July 6.
Except for the last unit, which is stored at Hyderabad International, the four others are grounded at Delhi International.
"Engine removals are being planned and coordinated with the airlines in India as we continue to successfully retrofit the fleet with the latest-configuration engines. Some aircraft will be out of service temporarily as they perform these removals," Pratt & Whitney said.
Fellow Indian LCC IndiGo Airlines (6E, Delhi International) also recently grounded five A320neo. The issues facing both airlines are specific to India as the high concentration of particulates in the air causes the combustion chamber linings to develop unanticipated hot spots, reducing the engines' service life.
According to the ch-aviation capacity module, GoAir currently operates seventeen A320neo and has a further 127 units of the type on order from Airbus. Rival IndiGo operates thirty-nine A320neo and is the world's largest operator of the type. It still has a further 366 units, as well as twenty-five A321neo, on order with Airbus.
