GUY NORRIS / LOS ANGELES
Frontier Airlines becomes first to drop troubled PW6000
Several A318 customers are in talks with Airbus about swapping powerplant to the CFM International CFM56-5B/P from the troubled Pratt & Whitney PW6000. This follows the decision by Colorado-based Frontier Airlines to change its engine selection for up to 11 aircraft on order and option.
The move comes in the wake of P&W's recent decision to delay the PW6000's entry-into-service (EIS) a further 30 months to mid-2005. It fuels speculation that other major customers, such as America West Airlines and British Airways, are considering a similar move.
Airbus marketing vice president Colin Stuart, speaking at last week's Speednews conference in California, said there "are some negotiations with our Pratt & Whitney customers to change engines". He added that Airbus is trying to bring forward the proposed EIS of the first CFM56-powered A318s from the third quarter of 2003 to around mid-year. The latest PW6000-powered A318 EIS is six years later than the original target set in 1995.
P&W says efforts to regain time are being made to ensure no other customers are lost to CFMI. PW6000 customers include Air China (eight aircraft), America West (15 firm orders, 16 options), British Airways (12, plus eight) and Egyptair (five). International Lease Finance (ILFC), which has orders for 19 aircraft, has opted for the CFM56, as TAM of Brazil is believed to have done for 20 aircraft. Air France has selected the CFM56 for 15 firm, plus 10 options, and GE Capital for 30 aircraft. Lessor CIT has also ordered four but has not announced an engine selection.
P&W says: "We are going to rectify the compressor problems on the PW6000 and regain market share."
Airbus has confirmed that it is no longer offering the A340-200. Instead, it may decide to offer a VIP conversion programme for used aircraft. Only 28 A340-200s have been delivered since the first was handed over in 1993.Source: Flight International
