A dozen years ago, Airbus SE stormed the Paris Air Show with the A320neo, a single-aisle jet boasting improved fuel economy and less noise. A key part of the sales pitch was the choice of competing engines from Pratt & Whitney and CFM International made with advanced coatings and composites, giving the planes a faster cruising speed with lower emissions. Airbus walked away from Paris with fistfuls of orders, and the A320neo soon became the fastest-selling airliner in history.
As the aviation industry gathers again on June 19 outside the French capital, the fuel-sipping turbines are back in focus—but for the wrong reasons. Durability issues and overtaxed engine repair shops have forced carriers to park many of their newest jets, sometimes for months. Although the engines have delivered on their promised fuel efficiency and generally perform better than earlier models, the manufacturers acknowledge that they haven’t been as robust as envisioned.
While the challenges have weighed on CFM, Pratt’s record is worse. Its engines “have suffered from a multitude of defects and a high rate of failure effectively from day one,” India’s Go Airlines said in a statement, blaming the technology for its slide into bankruptcy in May. Pratt says it’s not responsible for the carrier’s financial condition and insists that overall durability is in line with or better than previous versions. “We are seeing extremely strong demand,” says Shane Eddy, the company’s president.
