Many Wizz Air planes struggling with engine problems: timetables may change

The Hungarian low-cost airline expected higher income between 1 April and 30 September, but bad news came. What is more, they will have to take out more planes from service due to Pratt & Whitney’s engine problems.

According to Budflyer, a Hungarian travel-focused Facebook page, Wizz Air’s net revenues in the period between 1 April and 30 September were reduced to EUR 350-400 million from the EUR 350-450 million level. Because of the company’s recently published financial report, shares fell by 6.3%.

Meanwhile, the low-cost airline struggles with plane engine problems. That will have a considerable effect on next year’s income and traffic of the firm, experts believe. The core of the problem is the engines made by Pratt & Whitney.

Microscopic pollution was found inside the jet engines made by the company. Experts found contaminated powder metal. According to aviationweek.com, that can reduce a part’s service lift. The trouble was discovered in a Vietnam Airlines jet in March 2020 in an A321neo engine.

FAA and other regulators prescribed checks, but said all airlines can wait until the next shop visit. However, later, their risk assessment experts said they would like to go through the process “at a much-accelerated basis.”

That is because the contamination might result in crashes inside the engines. However, to replace the affected discs, you have to take out the engine, dismantle it and then put it together again. As a result, Wizz Air will take out multiple planes from traffic from 15 January. In the case of one jet, the inspection might take even 60 days. The entire process will take 18 months and will result in reductions in airline capacity since it will affect an altogether number of 45 Airbus jets.

“The bigger issue is really how to complete the engine inspection program with the least degree of disruptions to the operation,” CEO József Váradi told Reuters. He added that the program would limit growth in 2024. Várad said they would like to acquire new jets and prolong the validity of Wizz MultiPass. That is how they plan to keep their capacity.

Aerospace supplier RTX said they would check out 600-700 geared turbofan engines (GTFs).

According to the news outlet, the future of many European airlines looks murky even if we do not consider the engine problems. That is because of the jet fuel prices, supply chain issues and a lack of economic clarity.

Meanwhile, we wrote HERE that Wizz Air introduced an unprecedented service at Budapest Airport. In THIS article, you may read about the company’s latest award and to which European cities it plans to raise flight frequency.