Shafaqna English– Airlines have started putting their grounded fleets back into the sky, but the legacy of the years-long engine crisis continues to weigh heavily on their balance sheets. The financial fallout is proving to be much more stubborn than the operational fixes, with costs remaining elevated long after the jets have returned to service.
The lasting nature of such costs is illustrated by the experience of Air New Zealand. At the peak of its engine troubles, nearly a fifth of its fleet was out of action, forcing the carrier to rent both planes and engines from third parties to safeguard its flight schedule against significant cancellations.
The engine crisis was driven by a mix of manufacturing and operational challenges. Durability issues surfaced in some of the newer engine types, and a powder-metal problem in Pratt & Whitney models forced fleets into unscheduled inspections and part removals.
Labor shortages, a lack of spare parts, and limited repair slots only made matters worse. To avoid major schedule disruptions, airlines leased engines and aircraft from third parties—a costly workaround that has continued to inflate their maintenance, parts, and leasing expenses, even as the number of grounded jets has gradually fallen.
Delays in new aircraft deliveries from Boeing and Airbus have added another layer of pressure. These postponements are forcing airlines to keep older planes in service longer than planned, which in turn is pushing some carriers to perform engine maintenance work they had originally intended to avoid, further straining their budgets and operational planning.
Source: Reuters