Airbus Slows A320 Production Amid Pratt & Whitney Engine Shortage
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Airbus is slowing production of its best-selling A320 jets due to a significant shortage of Pratt & Whitney engines, impacting its 2026 delivery targets.
Key Takeaways
- •Reduces A320 production target from a firm 75 to a range of 70-75 aircraft per month by 2027.
- •Cites significant shortages of Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines.
- •Impacts hundreds of grounded aircraft due to a manufacturing defect in PW1100G-JM engines.
- •Affects delivery guidance for 2026 and constrains production ramp-up plans.
Airbus has slowed the production ramp-up for its best-selling A320 Family aircraft due to a significant shortage of Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines. The manufacturer announced it has revised its production target to a range of 70 to 75 aircraft per month by 2027, a softening of its previous firm goal of 75, directly attributing the change to ongoing engine supply chain bottlenecks.
The production slowdown is a direct consequence of persistent issues with P&W's PW1100G-JM engines, which power a substantial portion of the Airbus A320neo (New Engine Option) fleet. According to RTX Corporation, P&W's parent company, a manufacturing defect involving contaminated powdered metal in high-pressure turbine and compressor components has necessitated accelerated, widespread inspections. This has led to hundreds of aircraft being grounded globally, severely impacting airline operations and creating a maintenance backlog that has choked the supply of new and spare engines.
Widespread Groundings and Production Impact
The scale of the disruption is significant. According to Cirium data from late 2025, approximately one-third of the global Airbus fleet equipped with GTF engines was immobilized. This stands in stark contrast to the 3.5% of the fleet powered by competitor CFM International's Leap engines that were in storage during the same period, as reported by FlightGlobal. The issue has forced regulators, including the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), to mandate inspections for potential micro-cracks.
In a February 2026 earnings announcement, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury described the P&W engine shortage as "significant" and acknowledged it was "negatively impacting this year's guidance and the ramp-up trajectory." Throughout 2025, engine shortages were a primary bottleneck, forcing Airbus to build so-called 'gliders'—fully assembled aircraft without engines—to keep its final assembly lines moving. The company forecasts approximately 870 total commercial aircraft deliveries for 2026, up from 793 in 2025, but the A320 production rate remains constrained by the engine supply.
Airline Disruptions and Future Outlook
The engine shortage has had a profound effect on airlines that heavily rely on the A320neo Family, the best-selling airliner ever built. Carriers such as IndiGo, Spirit Airlines, and Wizz Air have been forced to ground dozens of aircraft, disrupting schedules and constraining capacity. In an extreme case, Indian airline Go First cited the P&W engine problems as a primary factor in its bankruptcy. Pratt & Whitney has acknowledged the financial impact on its customers, providing compensation to airlines to help offset the costs associated with the groundings.
Looking ahead, Airbus and the wider aviation industry expect the engine supply chain challenges to persist throughout 2026. While P&W works through the extensive inspection and repair program, the availability of new engines for the Airbus production line will likely remain a key constraint on the manufacturer's ability to meet the strong market demand for its narrow-body aircraft.
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Written by Ujjwal Sukhwani
Aviation News Editor & Industry Analyst delivering clear coverage for a worldwide audience. Covers flight operations, safety regulations, and market trends with expert analysis.
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