By Jamie Freed
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Hong Kong Express expects at least a six-month delay in deliveries of new Airbus SE A320neo jets due to issues with engines made by Pratt & Whitney, a source with knowledge of the situation said on Thursday.
The budget airline, which has five A320neo jets, has grounded one plane until May due to a lack of spare engines after the jet made a mid-air turnback due to engine issues last month, said the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
The U.S. aviation regulator on Wednesday said the Pratt & Whitney engines posed a potential shutdown risk, in a formal warning that followed similar action by European regulators on Feb. 9.
Pratt & Whitney's priority is to obtain replacement engines for all of the affected jets globally, the South China Morning Post reported earlier in the day citing an internal memo from Hong Kong Express to staff.
The memo said that could take months, while new A320neos on the production line could be delayed for "six months or more", the paper reported.
Hong Kong Express representatives were not immediately available for comment. Airbus on Thursday said it was assessing the impact the engine issue would have on 2018 deliveries.