Airlines

Airbus Faces New Challenge with Pratt & Whitney Engine Recall Amidst Record Orders

As it works to maintain a commanding lead over competitor Boeing, Airbus confronts yet another significant challenge in delivering its best-selling aircraft. With a backlog that now extends into the early 2030s, Airbus has been attempting to quickly increase production of its popular A320 family of airplanes. Many of those aircraft are propelled by a certain model of Pratt & Whitney engine, which the engine manufacturer warned earlier this week will need to be recalled and inspected.

Following the discovery of a metal defect that could result in cracking, Pratt said that 1,200 of its geared-turbofan engines would need to be inspected. The problem, according to Pratt and Airbus, has no effect on the safety of the aircraft.

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Airbus‘ aspirations to produce the plane at faster rates could be further slowed by the recall. As a result of the impacted engines being taken out of service, Pratt will need to keep some of its additional new engines as a reserve engine pool. For use when maintaining aircraft engines, it retains its reserves. As a result, Airbus can deliver new aircraft with fewer engines needed.

And also according to RTX, the P&W discovered an uncommon problem in the metal powder used to make a few engine parts that could shorten their lifespan. With 200 engines to be “removed and inspected” in mid-September and the remaining 1,000 in the next nine to twelve months, the PW1100 engines will be recalled in stages.

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The majority of A320 aircraft with P&W engines are purchased by low-cost airline IndiGo. This development comes one month after IndiGo placed a record order for 500 narrowbody aircraft from Airbus, bringing its total pipeline from the European aircraft manufacturer to 1,000.

Airlines

DOT Proposes New Passenger Compensation Rules for Flight Disruptions

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a major initiative to enhance protections for air travelers affected by flight cancellations or significant delays caused by airlines.

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This Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks public feedback on new measures that could require airlines to compensate passengers and provide necessary services automatically.

Key Proposals by the DOT:

Cash Compensation for Airline-Caused Disruptions
- Airlines may be required to pay passengers at least $200 in cash for flight disruptions caused by circumstances under their control, such as mechanical issues or IT failures.
- A tiered compensation system is being considered:
  - $200–$300 for domestic delays of 3–6 hours.
  - $375–$525 for delays lasting 6–9 hours.
  - $750–$775 for delays exceeding 9 hours.
- The DOT is exploring whether smaller airlines should have different compensation thresholds and whether compensation is needed if passengers are notified weeks in advance of a disruption.
Free Rebooking on the Next Available Flight
- Airlines may be obligated to rebook passengers at no extra cost if a flight is canceled or delayed by at least 3 hours domestically or 6 hours internationally.
- Rebooking options may include:
  - Flights operated by the airline or its codeshare partners.
  - Flights on other carriers with which the airline has a commercial agreement if no suitable options are available within 24 hours.
Provision of Meals, Lodging, and Transportation
- Airlines may need to cover meals, overnight accommodations, and transportation for stranded passengers.
- Minimum reimbursements could be established when services aren’t provided upfront, ensuring passengers can recoup costs even without submitting receipts, up to a defined limit.

The DOT’s proposals draw inspiration from consumer protection frameworks in countries like Canada, Brazil, the UK, and the European Union. Research suggests that EU compensation requirements have successfully reduced the frequency and length of delays, demonstrating the effectiveness of such measures.

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Passengers currently face numerous hurdles when seeking compensation or services, including vague policies, lack of upfront communication, and reliance on in-person requests at airports. The new rulemaking aims to close these gaps by establishing clear, enforceable standards for airlines.

Public input on the proposed measures will shape the final rules. The DOT hopes these changes will create a more accountable and passenger-friendly system, ensuring travelers are better supported during disruptions.

With these proposed rules, the DOT seeks to make airline travel more reliable and fair, setting a new standard for passenger rights in the United States.