An Airbus A320neo aircraft is pictured during a news conference to announce a partnership between Airbus and Bombardier on the C Series aircraft programme, in Colomiers near Toulouse, France, October 17, 2017. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau
February 10, 2018
(Reuters) – Airbus <AIR.PA> has stopped delivering A320neo jets powered by Pratt & Whitney’s <UTX.N> geared turbofan engines and halted pre-delivery test flights after the latest technical hitch to affect the supplier, two sources familiar with the matter said.
A European safety bulletin, effectively grounding aircraft that have already been delivered with two engines from the same suspect batch, affects about 15-20 aircraft already in service,, they said.
Airbus has briefed airlines and leasing companies on the problem and cannot yet say how long it will take to resolve, one of the sources told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
An Airbus spokesman said the planemaker is “in discussions with customers about delivery schedules”.
(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
