NICHOLAS IONIDES / SINGAPORE
PW6000 suffers another blow as carrier opts for A319s
Air China has dealt the troubled Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engine programme another blow by dropping a firm commitment for eight Airbus A318s and instead committing to International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500-powered A319s.
The Beijing-based flag carrier has for months been in talks with Airbus and P&W over cancelling its A318 order (Flight International, 25 June-1 July). Industry sources say a deal has been agreed to convert to the larger A319, with deliveries to begin in June. It is understood the restructured deal involves six A319s, but sources suggest more aircraft could be taken.
Air China was the A318's only Asian customer, and the order was hard-fought by Airbus and P&W. The airline originally ordered eight 107-seat A318s plus two options for delivery from 2003. The PW6000 engine programme has been delayed, however, as a result of P&W's failure to meet specific fuel-consumption targets. Its design is being heavily revised and entry into service is not expected until mid 2005 - 30 months late.
The rival CFM International (CFMI) CFM56-5B has overtaken the P&W engine as the lead powerplant on the A318. So far, one customer, US carrier Frontier Airlines, has abandoned the PW6000 in favour of the CFMI offering.
Air China could not make a direct switch to the CFM56 for its A318s, as P&W agreed in 1999 to buy all four of its Boeing 747SPs in return for a commitment to the PW6000. But Air China had leverage in its deal to cancel the A318 order, as it had yet to agree new delivery dates with Airbus or P&W.
Talks were complicated as P&W does not directly offer an engine on the A319, although the V2500 is a joint venture between the US engine maker, Japanese Aero Engines, MTU and Rolls-Royce.
The A318 programme itself has suffered sales setbacks, the first being the loss of a major order from TWA after it was acquired by American Airlines. British Airways has halved its firm commitment to six, scrapped options, and, instead, ordered four larger A321s after reassessing its requirements. The PW6000 will still power its A318s, however. America West Airlines has deferred delivery of all 15 A318s on firm order by three years to 2006-07. But, like BA, it says it remains committed to the PW6000.
Additional reporting by Andrew Doyle
Source: Flight International
