IndiGo cancels 84 flights over engine issues

Mumbai, August 18

InterGlobe Aviation-run budget carrier IndiGo today cancelled over 80 flights as the airline grounded more Airbus A320 Neo (new engine option) planes due to engine issues. As many as 13 A320 Neo aircraft are on ground due to the Pratt & Whitney-supplied engine issues, forcing the airline to cancel 84 flights today, sources said.

The frequent grounding of the A320 planes is taking place due to multiple issues, including engine failure, sources said. According to sources, 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 these planes.

IndiGo president and whole-time director Aditya Ghosh had during the post-Q1 earnings call on July 31 said, “Regrettably, there have been days when we have had to ground as many as nine A320 Neo (planes) due to lack of spare engines. While we do receive certain compensation from Pratt & Whitney for these groundings, the operational disruptions are quite challenging and we are not happy with that situation”. — PTI