Page 28 - AAA OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2019 Online Magazine

[ AIRLINES ]

Growing Stature

INDIAN LCCS CONTINUE TO GROW

Atul Chandra

Indian Low Cost Carriers (LCC) IndiGo and In the meantime, our schedule remains intact,” the airline said in a
SpiceJet have benefited by the demise of Jet statement. IndiGo has also confirmed reports that its A320neos
Airways but both airlines have been hamstrung had four mid-air engine stalls in a week, that had caused aircraft
with unforeseen problems related to their to turn back.
aircraft fleets. IndiGo has been particularly
troubled by the continued problems with Pratt IndiGo’s CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer detailed some of the issues
& Whitney PW1000G geared turbofan (GTF) faced by the airline during a financial results conference call in
engines that power its A320neo fleet. SpiceJet October. Speaking on IndiGo’s PW1000G engines he says, There
has been stymied by the continued grounding are three main issues remaining to which we are on a good track.
of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft fleet. One is the third stage, low-pressure-turbine where all our aircraft
delivered from May 2019 onwards are using new material. And there
is no time limit for us. So, for all the aircraft already delivered, we
IndiGo Braves Setbacks have time to change all these planes with new material. Second is
The directive issued by India’s Directorate the issue with main gear box which is fixed. There was a required
General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in November, software change which is done already. And the last element or
highlights the difficulties that IndiGo is facing
with its PW1000G engines. The latest DGCA
directive requires that all operating A320neos
in India should have LPT3 modifications
installed on both engines for operation post
31 Jan 2020. The LCC has now initiated an
engine change program in accordance with
the directive given by Directorate General of
Civil Aviation (“DGCA”). “We are confident that
we are able to meet this directive and are able
to sustain our current schedule. IndiGo cur-
rently operates on its fleet of 98 A320 NEO
family with around 45 percent of its engines
modified. We are working with both P&W and
Airbus on mitigation so that we have enough
modified spare engines by January 31, 2020.

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