IndiGo sees more groundings in Q4 due to Pratt engines' powder metal issue

IndiGo, India's top airline by market share, said on Tuesday it expects groundings in "mid-30s" in the fourth quarter due to a powder metal issue in Pratt & Whitney engines, days after it said about 40 planes were already grounded for the same issue.

Pratt & Whitney parent RTX said in July a rare powder metal defect could lead to the cracking of some engine components in the twin-engined Airbus A320neo, and called for accelerated inspections.

The checks are expected to lead to groundings of 600-700 of Airbus jets between 2023 and 2026, with two-thirds of the engine removals planned for 2023 and early 2024.

Still, IndiGo reiterated its full-year capacity growth forecast "in the north of mid-teens."