IndiGo cancels 84 flights over engine issues

Mumbai, August 18

Budget carrier IndiGo on Friday cancelled 84 flights as it grounded more of its Airbus A320 planes over issues relating to availability of engines.

The Interglobe Aviation-run IndiGo, which had grounded nine A320 neo (new engine option) planes due to issues regarding its Pratt & Whitney engines in June quarter, has grounded four more aircraft taking the total number of AOG (aircraft on ground) to 13, aviation sources told PTI.

Of these, 11 aircraft (VT-IFC, VT-IXN, VT-ITB, VT-ITS, VT-ITF, VT-ITM, VT-ITP, VT-ITJ, VT-IFM, VT-ITO and VT-ITG) are grounded in Delhi, while one plane each has been grounded at Hyderabad and Chennai, the sources said, adding 84 flights were cancelled today.

IndiGo, which is the country’s leading air carrier, however, released two statements to explain its position. It said there is no “new development” pertaining to the grounding of neos.

In the first statement, IndiGo said that its eight neos are grounded and it had already factored in the impact of the grounding of these planes in its July-September schedule.

“This is to clarify that our 8 neos are grounded. Our schedule was planned in the month of June itself pertaining to non-availability of these aircraft for the month of July, August and September. The affected passengers have already been accommodated with suitable options,” it said.

In the second statement, the airline said four of its Airbus 320(current engine option-ceo) aircraft are “grounded” due to the engines being stuck at the Customs.

“We are awaiting certain clarifications post the implementation of GST, which has led to unplanned flight cancellations. All passengers have been informed of the changes and accommodated accordingly.

“There is no new development pertaining to the grounding of neos. As mentioned in our June earning’s call, there were instances where 9 neos were grounded due to inadequate spare engines. At present, 8 neos are grounded because of the unavailability of spare engines. “These have already been factored in our revised schedule which was finalized in June and there are no additional flight cancellations on account of these neos,” it said.

According to the sources, a total of 667 flights were cancelled by IndiGo between June 21 and July 3 this year, with 61 flights cancelled on June 27 alone, due to the grounding of its planes. — PTI