Aircraft lessor Azorra sees engine issues improving, strong demand for regional jets

Aircraft lessor Azorra sees signs that Pratt & Whitney's engine troubles are easing and expects strong demand for smaller, fuel-efficient jets to continue despite industry disruptions and higher fuel costs, its president, Ron Baur, told Reuters.

Pratt, an RTX unit, has spent recent years grappling with maintenance delays and metal contamination issues that contributed to an industry crisis over engine shortages and left hundreds of aircraft idle.

Its geared turbofan engines power Embraer's E2 family and Airbus A220 and A320neo aircraft.

Pratt said in July that maintenance disruptions had eased and virtually disappeared for the small A220 and E2 models, however industry sources have said it remains at odds with Airbus about disruption to engines for larger A320neo jets.

"We think Pratt for sure has gotten better," Baur said on Wednesday on the sidelines of an event marking Embraer's delivery of its 2,000th E-Jet. "We see definitely a light at the end of the tunnel with the engines."