United Airlines has recently made an important decision regarding its aircraft fleet. The airline announced that it will be utilizing the PW1100G engine, developed by Pratt & Whitney, for its upcoming order of 70 Airbus A321neo and 50 A321XLR aircraft.
The arrival of the carrier’s first A321neos is scheduled for 2023, and after a careful evaluation, United Airlines has selected the PW1100G engine over the CFM International LEAP-1A, which was another engine option available for Airbus A320neo family aircraft.
According to United Airlines’ Q1 2023 filings with the United States (US) Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the airline is set to receive 12 A321neos in 2023, followed by 31 more in 2024. Additionally, Airbus is slated to deliver 27 A321neo and 50 A321XLR aircraft beyond 2024.
Rick Deurloo, the President of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “United and Pratt & Whitney share a celebrated history as pioneers of commercial air travel, as well as a commitment to more sustainable aviation as we look forward.” He further emphasized that the Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines, known as PW1100G, will enable United Airlines to optimize the performance of its A321neo and A321XLR aircraft, offering exceptional payload, range, and environmental performance.
Notably, United Airlines does not currently have any aircraft from the A320neo family in its fleet. However, it operates 81 Airbus A319ceo and 99 A320ceo aircraft, all powered by the International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500 engines.
The IAE V2500 engines are part of a global partnership involving aerospace leaders, including Pratt & Whitney, Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH, Japanese Aero Engines Corporation, and MTU Aero Engines, as described by Pratt & Whitney.
As per ch-aviation.com data, United Airlines currently has 360 IAE V2500 engines in operation, highlighting the significance of this new collaboration with Pratt & Whitney for the airline’s future fleet enhancement and its commitment to more sustainable aviation solutions.
