The first Pratt & Whitney PW6000-powered Airbus A318 is being prepared for delivery, four years later than originally scheduled. The aircraft is the first of 20 for LAN Airlines, launch customer for the PW6000-powered version. It was the first A318 variant to fly, in January 2002, but the programme suffered serious delays after a major redesign of the engine's high-pressure compressor. As a result, the rival CFM International CFM56-powered version became the lead variant, entering service with Frontier Airlines in mid-2003.
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Source: Flight International
