Airlines

IndiGo to Receive Customized Compensation from Pratt & Whitney for Engine Groundings

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InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of IndiGo, has reached an agreement with International Aero Engines (IAE), an affiliate of Pratt & Whitney, for customized compensation related to grounded aircraft affected by engine issues.

According to a recent PTI report, InterGlobe Aviation finalized an amendment to its existing agreement with IAE on June 14, 2024. The compensation addresses the ongoing situation where over 70 IndiGo planes have been grounded due to problems with Pratt & Whitney engines.

Specifically, more than 30 aircraft were affected by a powder metal defect, with others sidelined due to earlier issues. Although the exact financial details were not disclosed, the arrangement reflects efforts to mitigate the operational impacts faced by the airline.

Last year, Pratt & Whitney identified a rare powder metal defect that posed a risk of engine component cracking in twin-engined Airbus A320neo aircraft. This discovery necessitated accelerated inspections across affected fleets, potentially grounding 600-700 Airbus jets between 2023 and 2026.

Despite these challenges, InterGlobe Aviation reported robust financial performance in the fiscal year ending March 2024. The Gurugram-based carrier, known for its budget-friendly operations, recorded a significant increase in profit after tax to Rs 1,894.8 crore for the March quarter. This growth was driven by higher passenger traffic, expanded capacity, and favorable market conditions.

For the full fiscal year, IndiGo achieved a net profit of Rs 8,172.5 crore on a record total income of Rs 18,505.1 crore. As of March 2024, the airline operated a fleet of 367 planes, including 13 on damp lease, reinforcing its position as a dominant player in the domestic aviation sector.

Airlines

S7 Group Begins Fan Blade Production for Western Engine Models

The privately-owned Russian aerospace giant S7 Group has reportedly commenced production of blades for Western-built aero engines at its subsidiary, the Berdsk Electromechanical Plant (BEMZ), located in Novosibirsk.

This development, reported by the Russian aviation publication ATO.ru, marks a significant step for the company amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.BEMZ has started manufacturing composite fan blades compatible with jet turbine engines, including the CFM International CFM56, which powers popular aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family.

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The technology for restoring blades of gas turbine engines used in Airbus and Boeing aircraft was previously developed by the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and is now being implemented in the production of new aircraft parts at BEMZ.

Currently, BEMZ focuses on producing parts essential for maintaining the airworthiness of civil aircraft. Over the past year and a half, the plant has manufactured approximately 3,500 structural elements and components for replacement on foreign aircraft, which are utilized by airlines such as S7 Airlines, Pobeda, Aurora, and Aeroflot.

The facility is undergoing expansion, with two stages of an investment program totaling 2 billion roubles already completed. These developments are likely geared toward producing blades for the CFM56 engines, which equip more than half of S7’s operational fleet, including 28 Airbus A320-family aircraft and 19 Boeing 737-800s.

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Vasily Yurchenko, CEO of Berdsk Electromechanical Plant, emphasized the shift in focus towards maintaining the airworthiness of the Western-made fleet. The plant has delivered thousands of components to S7 and other Russian carriers since 2022. Notably, according to Russia’s Air Operators Association, 89% of the country’s passengers in 2023 traveled aboard foreign-made aircraft.

Future plans include serious investments to transform the plant into a modern, high-tech aircraft manufacturing facility. In addition to engine blades, BEMZ is also known for producing various spare parts for aircraft, reinforcing its role in the Russian aviation industry as it adapts to new manufacturing needs.