Hawaiian Airlines (HA, Honolulu) is the latest in a line of airlines forced to temporarily ground A321-200Ns due to engine and engine parts shortages. CEO Peter Ingram confirmed that five of the A321Ns were grounded during an April 25 earnings call.
ch-aviation research has identified those grounded aircraft as N218HA (msn 8764), N220HA (msn 8872), N223HA (msn 9060), and N226HA (msn 9127), while N212HA (msn 8129) returned to service on April 27 after last flying on March 6. Ingram told listeners that, all going well, one aircraft would shortly return to service and another approximately one week later.
"We are still plagued with limitations on our A321neo fleet capacity as a result of our engine suppliers’ inability to meet fair engine commitments," said Ingram. Hawaiian Airlines' 18-strong fleet of A321-200Ns are powered by Pratt & Whitney 1133JA-GM engines. Pratt and Whitney has said that they hope to resolve their supply chain challenges by the end of 2023.
Hawaiian Airlines is not the only airline impacted by the problems at Pratt & Whitney, with ch-aviation recently reporting that IndiGo Airlines, Go First, and Air New Zealand have temporarily parked A320neo Family jets because of shortages of engines and engine parts.
Ingram says issues with the A321-200Ns were a big influence on the latest quarterly results (a loss of USD98 million for Q1 2023). The airline was required to put A330-200s onto some sectors normally operated by A321neo, resulting in a far bigger fuel bill and other operational inefficiencies. Fuel costs were up 31% year-on-year. "We are working with Pratt & Whitney to find a way beyond this situation,” said Ingram.
