Airbus A320neo Groundings To Ease

Airbus A320neo family groundings, including notably the A321neo, are expected to ease, according to fresh forecasting from budget carrier Wizz Air.

In a more upbeat forecast, the budget carrier says growth is expected to be around 20% year on year throughout 2026, barring any further changes, per Bloomberg News.

Additionally, the airline is not only hopeful of taking delivery of more Airbus A320neo family aircraft to help elevate its operations and grow, but it also expects more jets to return from storage.

These aircraft that have been in storage have reached significant numbers, with the airline forced to park jets due to the multi-year Pratt & Whitney GTF engine crisis affecting these brand-new aircraft.

What’s Happening At Wizz Air?

For Wizz Air, aircraft groundings have been a common theme across its operations for several years, with the impact fluctuating but always having an underlying negative impact on the airline’s operations.

For example, in June 2025, the airline confirmed that 41 of its A320neo family equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines were on the ground, albeit temporarily, but with periods extending quite significantly.

The airline highlighted the 300-day engine turnaround time, which kept planes grounded. The estimate at this point is that it will continue into F26 and beyond, as MRO congestion has only compounded ongoing shortages and woes.

Across Wizz Air Holdings, data shows that of the 182 Airbus A321neo aircraft delivered, 33 remain on the ground, leaving 149 active units for customers. This was followed by six A320neo jets delivered, with two on the ground.

While groundings have therefore eased, this aligns with the airline’s belief that, across F26, the estimate would be around 35 planes on the ground, representing year-over-year improvement, but it still struggles across the operation.

Wizz Air’s Bleak Outlook On A321neo Groundings

Wizz Air’s 2025 reporting of groundings wasn’t the most talked-about point; it was instead the January discussion that suggested the airline would expect groundings to last until 2030.

While it believed that pressures would ease year over year, it ultimately didn’t expect a full resolution until the 2029/2030 mark, a stark revelation of just how long these Pratt & Whitney woes will continue to impact the airline.

The bleak outlook has naturally seen some signs of improvement; however, it still recognises there’s an uphill battle to fully resolve the ongoing complexities with Pratt & Whitney engines that have plagued businesses and airlines worldwide.

How each airline has reacted to the Pratt & Whitney grounding has differed considerably, not all facing the same set of circumstances or impact, but in some way, shape or form the same problems plaguing each operator.

Some airlines have looked to lease single-aisle jets on a short-term basis to help cover capacity losses. Meanwhile, others have turned towards seeking compensation from Pratt & Whitney over the inconvenience.

With time, more aircraft are returning to service, but the persistent unknown for a lot of operators on timelines and much more has been one of the bigger obstacles and made scheduling more challenging.