LONDON (Reuters) -Wizz Air is edging towards a deal with RTX-owned Pratt & Whitney to purchase engines for 177 of its Airbus jets already on order, according to two industry sources.
An announcement could come as early as this week’s Paris Airshow, they said, adding it would form part of a settlement with the engine maker over groundings caused by repair times.
Wizz Air and Pratt & Whitney parent RTX declined comment.
The airline, which operates an all-Airbus fleet, last year said it had two options – its current supplier Pratt & Whitney, whose engines are facing issues worldwide, forcing airlines to ground planes, and competitor CFM, a joint venture between GE Aerospace and France’s Safran.
Choosing the next engine provider would depend on the acquisition cost, durability of the engine, operating cost and cost guarantees for aftermarket activities, Wizz Air Chief Executive Jozsef Varadi told Reuters.
Wizz Air is among airlines that have been forced to ground a large number of planes due to a powder metal issue with the Pratt & Whitney’s geared turbofan (GTF) engine.
Its profit for its 2025 financial year, which ends on March 31, slumped over 60% due to the knock-on effects of the groundings.
(Reporting by Joanna Plucinska in London, Tim Hepher in Paris and Allison Lampert in MontrealEditing by Matthew Lewis)
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