Engine Issues Are Forcing Some Airlines to Choose Less-Efficient Planes
The bottom line matters more to airlines than anything else, so you'd think they'd do everything in their power to make their planes run as efficiently as possible. Along with employee payroll and aircraft, jet fuel is one of the top-three costs for carriers, so what could be making airlines choose to order less-efficient planes?
Apparently, the engines are the problem. Airbus offers its new A320neo with two engine options: the GE/Safran (CFM) LEAP 1-A, or the Pratt & Whitney Pure Power 1100G. These engines are supposed to be 16% more efficient than the previous-generation A320 engines, but problems have plagued the Pratt & Whitney engine, to the point that some airlines have modified their orders.
A320neo launch customer Qatar Airways rejected its order of the jet after engine problems arose. Qatar Group CEO Akbar Al Baker said the "huge issues" with the Pratt & Whitney engine were the reason behind the carrier's decision. Al Baker has been known to reject other aircraft deliveries temporarily for such things as cabin fixtures, so something as important as the engines brings an even deeper level of scrutiny. Lufthansa ended up leap-frogging Qatar to became the first airline to operate the A320neo, and Qatar later modified its A320neo order to the longer A321neo, with the CFM LEAP 1-A engines.
JetBlue recently announced that it will take delivery of 11 A321s in 2018 — and these will have older engines, known as ceo, or "current engine option," rather than the Pratt & Whitney engines. On the airline's Q1 earnings call, CFO Steve Priest called the move a good contingency plan.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders even lashed out at Pratt & Whitney, saying, "Pratt & Whitney has to make a huge effort to further improve." The PW1100G issues are related to its new engine technology, known as a geared turbofan. A software glitch from the engine was sending false errors to the pilot's displays in the cockpit, and of course flights can't depart when there are warning messages coming from the engines.
Early adopter airlines including IndiGo, Go Air and Lufthansa have been forced to let their engines spool up and run for several minutes before heading to the runway to take off. Additionally, a phenomenon called rotor bowing has been occurring within the PW1100G engines. Rotor bowing takes place when temperature differences within the engine cause misalignments of certain parts within the engine. The extended engine warm-up times have been unacceptable to the airlines. Rotor bowing isn't dangerous, but it does make the engine run less efficiently.
IndiGo and Spirit Airlines have banned their A320neos from flying above 30,000 feet. Cold temperatures have reportedly caused the engine's bleed air system to freeze shut, which can affect things such as the anti-icing system. Spirit has parked at least two of its five new A320neos at DFW Airport, awaiting swap-outs of the brand-new PW1100G engines. [Update 5/6/17: A Pratt & Whitney spokesperson has reached out to TPG to clarify that Spirit Airlines has said the airline is "flying at 30,000 feet to provide a better ambient pressure differential for the number 3 Bearing compartment lift off seal contact issue. To be clear, these engine issues are limited to our [Spirit's] NEO aircraft which represents only 5 planes in our fleet, three of which are currently going through our regular maintenance protocol and are on the ground.”]
This year, through the end of March, Airbus had received orders for 19 A320ceo aircraft and only one of its A320neo counterpart, according to a report from Airbus. According to planespotters.net, of 102 the currently active A320neos in service with airlines, 52 are equipped with the PW1100G, while the remaining 50 have the LEAP 1-A. In the US, only low-cost carriers — Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit and Virgin America — have ordered the A320neo, while more established carriers such as Alaska, American, Southwest and United have ordered its competitor, the Boeing 737 MAX, which only comes with the CFM LEAP 1-B engine.
All images courtesy of Airbus, unless otherwise noted.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.