IndiGo forced to ground 8 Airbus A320 neo planes

IndiGo, India's biggest airline, today said it has grounded eight Airbus A320 neo jets amidst reports of engine problems with its Airbus A320 neo jets, even as the no-frills carrier refuted media reports that the airline had grounded 13 planes and that it was forced to cancel 84 flights because of the engine problem.

Media reports attributed the action to issues with Pratt and Whitney-made engines in the aircraft.

IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, merely said eight planes had been grounded for want of spare engines, even as media reports said IndiGo has grounded 13 planes and that the airline was forced to cancel 84 flights because of this.

Airbus has delayed delivery of planes to IndiGo and rival GoAir, reportedly due to ongoing problems with engines developed by Pratt and Whitney, owned by United Technologies.

IndiGo airlines today issued a statement that some sections of the media were spreading misleading information on the flight cancellations.

''Four of our NEO aircraft are grounded due to the engines being stuck at customs. We are awaiting certain clarifications post the implementation of GST, which has led to unplanned flight cancellations. All passengers have been informed of the changes and accommodated accordingly.

''There is no new development pertaining to the grounding of Neos. As mentioned in our June earning's call, there were instances where 9 Neos were grounded due to inadequate spare engines. At present, 8 Neos are grounded because of the unavailability of spare engines. These have already been factored in our revised schedule which was finalised in June and there are no additional flight cancellations on account of these Neos,'' the airlines stated.

IndiGo, which flies four of every 10 Indian air passengers, operates around 900 daily flights.

The Directorate-General of Civil Aviation had earlier expressed concerns over the grounding of a large number of A320 aircraft which affects the flight schedules of Indigo and its rival GoAir.

Even GoAir has reportedly expressed concerns over grounding nine aircraft.