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Air Astana bracing for GTF engine issues through 2028

During the summer of 2025, the group grounded 13 A320neo family aircraft

26 February 2026 CentralAsia+ Aero
Air Astana and FlyArystan A320neo aircraft over Almaty
:: Air Astana
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Challenges with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines will continue to impact the operation of Air Astana Group’s fleet of A320neo family narrowbodies until at least 2028. This view was expressed by the CEO of the Kazakh carrier Peter Foster in an interview with Airliner World.

“This isn’t a short-term problem, it’s a multi-year design robustness challenge,” he stated.

Earlier, the airline reported that during the summer of 2025, it was forced to ground 13 A320neo family aircraft due to engine-related issues. This occurred despite mitigation measures, which included resting engines during the low season to preserve their resource.

According to Foster, the situation has not improved. Beyond the primary issue concerning powdered-metal contamination of high-pressure turbine disks, the PW1100G engines have also faced problems with vibration, seal defects, and oil leaks.

Currently, Air Astana’s fleet includes 27 A320/321neo aircraft, with an additional 12 operated by its low-cost subsidiary, FlyArystan. In February, the airline group’s board approved the acquisition of 25 new aircraft of this family with option for 25 more jets.

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