The company is looking for compensation over the holdups

Zach Vasile

Airbus is pressing aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney for compensation over delays in shipments, according to an exclusive report from Reuters.

The news outlet cited unnamed sources who said Airbus is pursuing claims for damages over the holdups, which have dented the company’s efforts to ramp up production and fulfill contracts with airlines.

It was not immediately clear if or when legal action will be filed or formally announced, how much money Airbus intends to seek in damages, or which jurisdiction would hear the claims.

Reuters pointed out that international commercial claims in the aerospace sector are often handled in arbitration proceedings.

Pratt is a division of RTX Corporation, formerly Raytheon. It makes powerplants for Airbus’ A220 and A320neo families.

The company has struggled to hit delivery targets since the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted global supply chains.

The problem became more acute in 2023, when Pratt issued a recall for certain PW1000G models over contaminated powdered metal used to produce some engine parts.

The manufacturer is still in the process of inspecting and repairing those engines, leaving many aircraft grounded.

Airbus has openly expressed frustration with Pratt in the past, and in February the company cut its full-year aircraft delivery forecast in part due to a lack of Pratt-made engines.

At a conference, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said Pratt had to respect Airbus’ contractual rights concerning ongoing problems with engines for its A220s.

It was not clear at the time if Faury was hinting at possible legal action.

Besides delays, Airbus has also criticized Pratt for how it allocates its finished engines. The company provides engines directly to aircraft manufacturers and to airlines, which need replacements and spare parts.

Both Airbus and RTX declined to comment for Reuters’ story. Pratt has said it is working with Airbus to determine how best to allocate engines.