The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Why Airlines' New Fuel-Efficient Engines Are Failing The Reliability Promises OEMs Made
Supply chain issues, durability problems, and insufficient timely maintenance have let to many economic benefits of next-gen engines being lost.
Engine makers are delivering notable fuel efficiency gains with modern aircraft powerplants, but airlines are feeling higher maintenance costs that erode overall ownership economics.
A new IATA report highlights several factors undermining the promised reliability and savings, including durability issues, spare parts shortages, limited spare engine availability, and constrained aftermarket access.
The disruption is affecting airline operations by delaying maintenance, complicating timely repairs, and increasing downtime for engines that are otherwise more fuel-efficient than earlier generations.
A key point cited is the loss of much engine manufacturing capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic, a deficit that remains challenging to recover and contributes to the ongoing supply constraints.
Overall, supply chain problems, durability challenges, and maintenance delays have reduced the anticipated economic benefits of next-generation engines for many carriers.