Engine problems are the latest chapter in the troubled history of the Airbus A220, a jet with the potential to revolutionize regional and short-haul travel

An Airbus A220-300’s roughly 170 seats make it ideal for small European countries’ flag carriers. Corporate history is full of great products that flopped—Betamax, Commodore’s Amiga computer and Aston Martin’s 1974 Lagonda car. For the Airbus AIR A220, avoiding a similar fate seems like a constant struggle.

The durability problems affecting jet engines have hit this aircraft hard, forcing airlines to cancel flights and ground crews. RTX-owned Pratt & Whitney has said that many of its PW1500G turbofans, which were supposed to last 20,000 flight cycles, should be sent to the shop at 5,000. Some are being sent in before 600 cycles. According to August estimates by analytics firm IBA, 15% of global A220s are grounded and another 42% are of the age that suggest inspections have happened or are due.

Excerpt from WSJ
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