Wizz Air has removed Pratt & Whitney engines from three grounded Airbus A321XLRs and transferred them to standard A321neo jets, as the carrier reworks its long-haul narrowbody strategy and tries to keep more of its core network flying. The aircraft involved are parked in Poland, while two other A321XLRs remain temporarily grounded in Katowice after being withdrawn from London Gatwick.
The move reflects Wizz Air’s retreat from parts of its original A321XLR deployment plan after the closure of Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and continued pressure from Pratt & Whitney engine shortages. The airline has already converted much of its A321XLR order book into A321neo orders, leaving only a small XLR subfleet, and has been using the type more like a standard neo on routes where it can fit the business case.
The engine swap highlights how persistent geared turbofan supply and reliability issues continue to shape fleet utilisation across European low-cost carriers. In Wizz Air’s case, scarce powerplants are being allocated to aircraft with the most immediate operational value, while some XLRs stay parked or only temporarily active.