Airbus limits cold-weather takeoffs with Pratt & Whitney engines

(Reuters) -Airbus is restricting operations in extreme cold for some aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney engines, an Airbus spokesperson said on Friday, confirming an earlier report by industry publication aeroTELEGRAPH.

The French planemaker said it has modified existing procedures for engine operations on the ground in freezing conditions.

As a result, take-offs using Pratt & Whitney engines face restrictions in severe weather, including freezing fog and visibility of less than 150 metres.

Airbus said it is in close contact with airline customers, and that Pratt & Whitney is working on a solution.

A spokesperson for Air Astana, one of the airlines impacted, said: "Airbus has introduced restrictions on the departure of A320neo, A321neo and A321LR aircraft in conditions of freezing fog with visibility below 150 metres."

"Such weather conditions are common at Almaty International Airport during the winter season."

Pratt & Whitney did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

The engine maker's top commercial executive said earlier this month it was in discussions with Airbus about engine supplies over the next three years as the planemaker looks to increase production of its best-selling A320neo model.

(Reporting by Yazhini M V in Bengaluru, Tim Hepher in Paris and Joanna Plucinska in London; Editing by Jan Harvey)

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