Flight delays and cancellations have become a common frustration for travelers, and the culprit behind these disruptions is often a lack of aircraft engines. The aviation industry has been grappling with supply-chain constraints that have impacted various aspects of the sector. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, engine manufacturers have encountered difficulties due to a shortage of skilled mechanics and component scarcities.

Gediminas Ziemelis, Chairman of Avia Solutions Group, sheds light on how the scarcity of aircraft engines and long turnaround times at engine shops are forcing airlines to make sudden changes to their flight schedules, posing a threat to yet another chaotic summer season.
KLM Cityhopper, a regional airline under Netherlands-based KLM, issued a warning in May 2023, saying it would need to adjust its summer timetable. The airline emphasized that these forced changes underscore the severe and far-reaching engine shortages faced by the industry.

KLM Cityhopper attributed its challenges in fully deploying the Embraer E195-E2 aircraft to flight schedule changes. As an alternative, the airline intends to retain older Embraer E190 planes and engage in wet lease agreements to minimize the impact as much as possible.
Similarly, airBaltic, based in Latvia, had to resort to wet leasing aircraft for the summer period. The airline's PW1500G-powered Airbus A220 fleet experienced setbacks due to extended turnaround times in engine shops. Presently, airBaltic has ten Airbus A220 aircraft either in storage or under maintenance. It is wet leasing up to eight jets from various operators, including four Airbus A320s from Avion Express.

Analysis conducted by Cirium in June 2023 reveals that 219 jets powered by the PW1000G aircraft engine family have been affected by supply chain problems. This has rendered them incapable of operating commercial flights. The aircraft models impacted include the Airbus A220, A321 Neo, and the Embraer E2 family.

These engine shortages are not limited to the PW1000G family alone. The CFM International LEAP engine family has also encountered problems. Recent reports indicate that 88 LEAP-driven aircraft have been grounded, including up to 56 aircraft powered by the LEAP-1A engine, such as the A320neo and A321neo models. Additionally, approximately 32 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft powered by LEAP-1B engines are in storage or undergoing maintenance.

This situation has created a vicious cycle for airlines. While new engines offer enhanced efficiency, they require more frequent visits to maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) companies, where supply chain restrictions have slowed down turnaround times. As airlines prepared for the summer season by sending aircraft and engines for checks, the still-ramping-up supply chain could not cope with the additional demand, leading to increased maintenance times for both airframes and propulsion systems. Even larger aircraft like Qantas' Airbus A380 have been affected, with slot constraints at MROs causing delays in their return.

Engine shortages affect summer travel plans. Airlines meticulously plan their schedules based on anticipated demand for specific routes, historical data, and the assumption that enough passengers are willing to travel and pay fares that cover the airline's costs and investment. However, sudden shifts to wet lease capacity to keep planes in the air often result in higher charges. Airlines are then faced with the dilemma of operating at a loss to maintain their reputation or passing on the additional costs to passengers, leading to more expensive tickets. In the worst-case scenario, flights may be canceled or significantly delayed, affecting connections and itineraries, as witnessed during summer 2022.

To address these challenges, airlines have reached out to Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance (ACMI) operators to fulfill their commitments in the coming months. This approach alleviates the capacity shortage, at least until the peak season subsides in 2023. Another strategy employed by airlines involves keeping older aircraft in service or extending lease agreements. This is to ensure that passengers can still travel while the airline maintains a functional flight network.

Since the start of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) summer season on March 26, 2023, airlines have wet leased up to 51 aircraft globally, according to CTAA data, to meet their short-term capacity needs. However, it remains to be seen if these measures will be sufficient, considering that some engines have struggled to operate reliably in hot and harsh weather conditions, resulting in shorter time-on-wing hours.

As the aviation industry grapples with engine shortages, it is vital for airlines, manufacturers, and maintenance providers to collaborate and address supply chain challenges effectively. By doing so, they can minimize flight disruptions, improve operational efficiency, and ensure a smoother travel experience for passengers.