Kingfisher brings back seven grounded A320 aircraft

Kingfisher Airlines, which had kept nine of its A320 aircraft grounded for a little over six months due to engine problems, has brought seven of those back into its operational fleet. The other two will be back in two months.

Of its 66-aircraft fleet, 23 are A320s. These single-aisle planes, made by European consortium Airbus Industrie, can seat between 160 and 180. They are considered ideal for domestic and short-haul international operations.

Nine of Kingfisher’s A320s were grounded after their IAE V2500 engines experienced technical issues with the drum assembly. There were issues with the silver nuts in the engine, which broke in excessive heat.

The engine, manufactured by International Aero Engines (IAE), a joint venture between four aviation companies, including Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce, is fitted on the A320 family.

The airline was planning to seek compensation from the manufacturer of the engine. It had planned to include the cost of repair and revenue losses due to grounding the aircraft in the compensation amount. The airline has received some compensation, but the amount could not be ascertained.

A Kingfisher spokesperson said the airline’s chairman, Vijay Mallya, led the intense negotiations with the engine manufacturers, but refused to divulge details.

IAE V2500 engines are also being reviewed by the US safety regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, as there have been 39 reports of cracks developing in the drum of the engines due to a material failure.

India’s largest low-cost carrier, IndiGo, which operates 32 Airbus A320 aircraft, faced similar problems with the engine. The problem was rectified by the engine manufacturer, as IndiGo has a post-delivery agreement with the company.

Among the three listed carriers, Kingfisher, which operates 375 flights a day to 71 destinations in India and abroad, is the only one still making losses in the current financial year. It reported a net loss of Rs 187 crore in the first quarter and Rs 230 crore in the second quarter.