IndiGo likely to get more time to replace engines in A320 neos

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is likely to extend the deadline for replacement of all old Pratt & Whitney engines on about 100 Indigo Airbus 320 (neos) from January-end to a later date reducing inconvenience to passengers and delivering a big respite to the airline.

“What we know by now is that it will take more time than envisaged in view of the involvement of various stakeholders and the mobilization time,” DG Arun Kumar told ET on Wednesday.

“We will take a call on the extension of time after assessing the status in the middle of January. We are confident that we will accomplish it in a record time,” he added.


“We are doing our best to ensure the change of unmodified engines with a modified one for the complete fleet,” he added.

The DGCA had asked the airline early November to replace older PW engines in all aircraft by the end of January after a spate of incidents on Indigo’s Airbus 320 (neos), operated on PW engines.

A deadline extension would mean that IndiGo would be able to complete the engine replacement without having to cancel flights, which would have caused huge inconvenience to the travelling public.

Emails sent to IndiGo seeking details on engine replacement did not elicit any response till the time of going to print.

GoAir also operates Airbus 320 (neos) fitted with PW engines but the aviation regulator did not ask for any change as the fleet size was low.

According to the earlier plan, IndiGo had to change 120 engines scheduled over a period of one year ending December 2020. However, the aviation regulator insisted on an early deadline due to the rising number of incidents.

The regulator had also asked IndiGo and GoAir to replace at least one engine on 29 aircraft operating with both old engines which has been done now.

European safety agency EASA and US safety agency FAA have also issued similar engine replacement orders for Airbus 320 (neos) operating in the country.

“Other agencies also doing and it is a vindication of our stand,” said a DGCA official, who did not want to be identified.

The official added that three airlines in Asia, including in India, are the ones reporting the most number of incidents with Airbus 320 (neos), hence, the onus is on these aviation safety agencies to act and ensure safe operations. “We acted to ensure that travelling public does not suffer any inconvenience,” the official added.

Airbus 320 (neos), fitted with PW engines, are facing a lot of problems leading to IndiGo ordering the next batch of engines from CFM.