IndiGo, GoAir induct eight A320neos

Budget carriers IndiGo and GoAir have together inducted eight Airbus A320neo planes in their fleet since the resumption of deliveries, which was halted due to the Pratt & Whitney engine issues, according to a source.

The deliveries of the P&W engine-powered A320neos were put on hold in March by Airbus and the engine maker following a safety directive from European aviation safety agency EASA in the wake of instances of the engine’s inflight shut- downs and rejected take- offs. Airbus had resumed deliveries of these planes in May.

GoAir and IndiGo have taken deliveries of four A320neos each in the last two months, with the former inducting three aircraft in May and one in June, while the latter taking delivery of one plane in May and the other three in June, according to the source. GoAir now has 17 A320neo planes in its fleet, while IndiGo has 37.

IndiGo and GoAir have been facing engine issues in these aircraft that even forced grounding of many planes, even as P&W has failed to address the issues despite repeated assurances to the domestic civil aviation authorities. The two carriers have carried out “visual inspections” of a total of 50 P&W engines powering their A320s in the last fortnight after US regulator FAA issued an airworthiness directive on June 26 to check for possible engine fan hub damage of certain engines. However, no abnormalities were detected during the vis ual inspection, a senior official had said.