With Boeing 777-200s featuring Pratt & Whitney engines still grounded worldwide, JAL has opted to simply retire them a year ahead of schedule while United Airlines is flying them to storage and re-activating the 767-400.
Which Airlines Fly 777-200 With Pratt & Whitney Engines?
When a United 777-200 suffered an engine explosion enroute from Denver to Honolulu in February, airlines around the world utilizing similar 777 engines grounded their fleet.
128 aircraft were impacted by the suspension recommendation, including:
- 69 in service
- 59 in storage
Operators included:
- ANA
- Asiana
- JAL
- Korean Air
- United Airlines
These grounding were voluntary in nature in the United States and South Korea, but obligatory in Japan.
JAL Retires 777 Pratt & Whitney Subfleet
Japan Airlines (JAL) had already planned to retire these 777-200s in 2022 but have decided to retire its fleet of 13 immediately. In an update on its website, JAL noted:
JAL has decided to accelerate the retirement of all P&W equipped Boeing 777 by March 2021, which [was] originally planned by March 2022.
These aircraft were used on domestic routes. JAL nows says it will use Airbus SE A350s instead.
United Airlines Stores 777-200s In New Mexico, Re-Activates 767-400
Meanwhile, United has a fleet of 52 777-200s with the Pratt & Whitney engine and has no plans to retire them. Still, they may be out of service for awhile. In a memo to pilots, United said:
These airplanes, currently parked throughout the system, are being flown under a special ferry permit for storage in Roswell. Ferrying the aircraft will occur over a period of several weeks. Our Tech Ops team is working closely with both Pratt & Whitney and Boeing, and we will update you with any changes as we receive information.
That sounds like it could be awhile…
In the interim, United will bring back the Boeing 767-400 into service sooner than expected:
To meet network demands and temporarily fill the B777 Pratt & Whitney void in our network, we expect to return some of our B767-400 airplanes to revenue service earlier than expected. While specific route details will be announced at a later date, we are starting to take steps to ensure that our B756 pilots – beginning with those based at EWR – meet all the qualification and currency requirements to fly the airplane.
As noted above, the 767-400 will be based in Newark. The precise return date has not been specified.
CONCLUSION
Airlines are responding to the 777-200 grounding in different ways. JAL is simply retiring its subfleet with Pratt & Whitney engines while United plans to reactivate them but will begin to use 767-400 in the interim.
Boeing Recommends Immediate Grounding Of Over 120 Boeing 777-200s
Good to hear about the 767s. I’ve never had a bad flight on one. Especially like the 2-3-2 coach seating as opposed to the 777s 3-4-3 coach seating. Wonder why Boeing doesn’t try again with a new 767 ? Maybe a 767-SP ?Seems to me with the airframe, cockpit, wings & engines still in production for the KC-46, that Boeing could figure something out and offer updated passenger version. New lighter materials inside & out, bump up the engines a bit ? Oh well, aerospace engineer I’m not.
any plans to add Polaris and PP to the 767-400?
Eventually, but not at this time.
I think the number of grounded 777’s for United is 24, not 52.
I cannot stand the 777-200 2-4-2 business class seating. I actually prefer to not be upgraded to business class from premium economy on these planes. With that said, I also prefer flying on a plane with a lower risk of engine failure. In this case, my interests are aligned, I suppose.
What did Gordon Bethune say about United Airlines…
Once again dogged by decisions in the 90s by UA
There is no premium economy on a UA plane with 2-4-2 biz class…all the birds wit premium economy have Polaris seating
I too much prefer the 767 over the 777, especially in coach. Sitting in the window seats with economy plus pitch is about the best it gets in economy class for my and my wife. Too bad no one flys their 787’s with 2-4-2 in economy instead of the very crowded 3-3-3.
United has 52 of the P&W 777s, 24 of which were in service. The remainder were in storage.
Sounds good to me. I’ll take your unwanted upgrade anytime. Middle J seat or not. You can enjoy Y.