Airbus has introduced new cold-weather takeoff restrictions for A320neo-family aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines, following operational issues reported in freezing fog conditions.
The new restriction applies to aircraft powered by PW1100G engines and limits takeoffs during freezing fog when the visibility drops below 150 meters. Airbus said it has updated the ground-engine operating procedure for icing conditions, a change intended to reduce the risk of performance degradation during the most severe winter weather.
The situation first gained attention after Air Astana, the flag carrier of Kazakhstan, experienced weather-related delays at Almaty Airport on November 15, 2025. The airline told passengers that departures on its Airbus Neo aircraft would be affected due to freezing fog. In a statement to news outlet aeroTelegraph, Air Astana said that under freezing fog and sub-zero temperatures, heavy engine icing can impair performance, and noted that the issue affects only the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines installed on A320neo-family aircraft.
Air Astana confirmed the restriction applies to its A320neo, A321neo, and A321LR aircraft. According to publicly available fleet data cited by aeroTelegraph, the airline operates 11 A320neos, four A321neos, and 13 A321LRs. Its low-cost subsidiary Fly Arystan also has 13 inactive A320neos powered by Pratt & Whitney engines, though those aircraft have been grounded for other issues including powdered-metal contamination and engine-shop bottlenecks.
An Airbus spokesperson told news outlets the company has issued instructions covering revised engine-operation procedures on the ground in icing conditions and confirmed that the update leads to takeoff restrictions in freezing fog. Pratt & Whitney also confirmed that Airbus has imposed the limitation for A320neo-family aircraft equipped with GTF engines, describing it as a temporary restriction until a permanent solution is available. The engine maker said it does not expect a major impact on winter operations for most carriers.
A320neo-family jets equipped with CFM International LEAP-1A engines are not affected.
While Air Astana has publicly highlighted the challenge due to its winter climate, several other airlines in cold-weather regions operate A320neo-family aircraft with Pratt & Whitney engines, including Finnair, SAS, and Lufthansa. These carriers could also face weather-related complexity during periods of freezing fog and low visibility.
Airbus said it remains in close contact with its airline customers as Pratt & Whitney continues working on a longer-term fix. No timeline has been provided for a permanent solution.
