Wizz Air has extended the leases for nine A320-200s and four A321-200s, with additional extensions in progress for two to four years in response to aircraft groundings due to engine issues.
Wizz Air says it will increase the utilization of its existing fleet and continue with new aircraft deliveries from Airbus to offset any engine-related groundings.
The airline is also looking to secure additional aircraft from the market to ensure capacity for the financial year 2025 is at least equal to the current year.
Wizz Air expects to ground 45 aircraft by the end of the financial year 2024, including those already grounded in September 2023, to perform mandatory engine inspections.
The removal of the “Second Batch Engines” is scheduled for mid-January 2024, subject to regulatory airworthiness directive.
The final number of affected aircraft will depend on engine utilization, spare engine availability, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) slots.
Wizz Air plans to mitigate the operational and financial impact through management actions and compensation from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).
Despite the groundings, Wizz Air expects to operate nineteen A320ceo and twenty-nine A321ceo by March 2026. Currently, five A320neo and five A321neo aircraft are parked or undergoing maintenance.
