The Gurgaon-based corporate office of Inter-Globe Aviation on Friday, was wearing a relaxed mood and a canteen celebration, hosted by President Aditya Ghosh, was on cards for the evening.
But before the cake cutting could ensue, for the airline having lead the pack in On Time Performance of airlines, as per DGCA data, another news came in to stall the celebrations.
"It was afternoon and we were completely shocked to hear that a news agency had run a story suggesting 667 flight cancellations are due this month. We have categorically denied this," said Ghosh.
"There are no new engine snags. I do not know who is doing this and why, but it is interesting that such a news is flashed on a day we are announced to top the On Time Performance record," said Ghosh.
According to him, the airline had reported snags developing in its newly procured Airbus A320 Neos, which are reputed to be up to 15 per cent more fuel efficient over other conventional aircraft engines.
Earlier in the afternoon, the airline said in a statement: “There is misleading information being spread by a section of the media on IndiGo’s flight cancellations. This is to clarify that our 8 Neos are grounded. Our schedule was planned in the month of June itself pertaining to non-availability of these aircraft for the month of July, August and September. The affected passengers have already been accommodated with suitable options."
Ghosh, however, did accept that at times eight to nine out of its fleet of 22 A-320 Neo aircrafts have been grounded for this three month period owing to engine snags and lack of spare engines for the new variety.
"While we do receive certain compensation from Pratt & Whitney (P&W) for these groundings, the operational disruptions are quite challenging and we are not happy with that situation,” Ghosh said.
"They have also conveyed us their difficulties and we do hope that the P&W engines would be able to meet our expectations from them very soon," he said.
The A320 Neos have two engine options—Pratt and Whitney's PurePower GTF (geared turbo fan) engines and the other using US manufacturer CFM's LEAP-1A engines. It is with the former variant of the A320 Neo that engine snags have been noticed and reported by two Airbus customers in India—Go Air and Indigo Airlines.
An Airbus spokesperson said that the engines were sought by the aircraft manufacturer as it resulted in 15 per cent lesser fuel burn and a 50 per cent reduction in engine noise over its peers that were tested for use in the A320 Neo.
Airbus currently has 1,438, A320 Neos in operation worldwide. "We are trying to resolve the situation with the engine manufacturers and they have assured us that the improvements to the engine are being worked on," said the Airbus spokesperson.
Meanwhile, Pratt and Whitney, when contacted stated to THE WEEK: We are aware of recent reports regarding the Pratt & Whitney-powered Airbus A320 neo fleet. The durability of the engine’s entry-into-service configuration is being improved. We understand that the issues experienced to-date have disrupted our customers’ operations. We are working hand-in-hand with them on a daily basis to address their in-service fleet issues."
An official spokesperson for US based airline manufacturer P&W in India, said that the new engine's combustors and some sealings were getting damaged after flight operation in India.
"In India, these engines are operating in a much polluted and high temperature environment. We are working on these initial hitches to our new technology to make it best suited for Indian conditions," said official spokesperson of P&W in India.
"We are in constant communication with all our clients in India. Nowhere any safety issues had occurred, as even any one engines is fully capable to allow safe flight operations including landing," he said.
P&W's official statement further said that since March, new engines and overhauled engines in India have already incorporated improvements that have enhanced their durability.
"We have increased spare engine deliveries as well as overhauled engine returns with this improved design, which should help to stabilize the current fleet," said the NASDAQ listed company, developing aircraft engines for past seven decades.
The Pratt & Whitney PurePower GTF engine is the latest in aircraft engine technology and has been in operation for more than one year. It has more than 200,000 hours of flight recorded and is utilised by 13 airlines across four continents.
