HK Express Expects Delay in Airbus A320neo Delivery

Hong Kong Express Airways Limited stated that it expects at least a six-month delay in deliveries of the new Airbus SE A320neo jets, due to its problems with engines that was made by Pratt & Whitney, according to a source.

HK Express is expecting a 6 months delay of deliveries of the new Airbus A320neo jets. 

HK Express, which owns five A320neo jets, has to ground one plane until May due to a lack of spare engines after it made a mid-air turn back due to engine issues last month, the source said.

On Wednesday, the U.S. aviation regulator stated that Pratt & Whitney engines posed a possible shutdown risk in a formal warning that followed a similar action by European regulators last February 9.

Meanwhile, the priority of Pratt & Whitney right now is to obtain replacement engines for all the jets that are affected with the engine failure, according to a report earlier citing a memo from the airline.

The memo says that it could take months to get replacements engines, while the production of the new A320neos could be delayed for “six months or more.”

The representatives of HK Express were not available to give comments about the matter.

Airbus in Talks to Increase Production Rate

Airbus stated that it was in talks with suppliers to increase the production rate of its best-selling single aisle jet.

Airbus is in talk to increase the production rate of its single-aisle jets. 

Tom Enders, chief executive of Airbus, is calling on engine makers to deliver on their commitments after high-profile delays.

“If we look at the piled up demand and the backlog, we need to progress on rate 70, which is underway right now. We are in advanced discussions with our supply chain on feasibility and from when on it could be done,” Enders said.

Enders also gave a comment about the issues with Pratt & Whitney engines for the A320neo jets, which is also the same engine CFM, a joint venture of Safran and GE, used for its plane.

“It is unfortunate, it isn’t pretty, it means additional work, stress and strain,” Enders stated. “We will focus very much on customers, together with Pratt & Whitney. We can do this.”

The CEO also added that he had a “strong commitment” with the leaders of GE and Safran. He said that they would do everything to fix the problems as soon as possible.

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