Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp, and Korean Air have announced the formal selection of the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine to power up to 50 Airbus A321neo aircraft.  

The aircraft are expected to begin delivery in 2021, said a statement from the company.

Korean Air and Pratt & Whitney are also entering into discussions for the Korean Air Maintenance and Engineering Division to join Pratt & Whitney’s PW1100G-JM GTF MRO network, it said.

Soo-Keun Lee, Korean Air’s executive vice president and chief operations officer, said: “We look forward to continued efficiency, fuel savings and environmental benefits of these latest A321neo aircraft powered by the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine.”

“Joining the GTF MRO network is a significant milestone that will allow Korean Air to enhance its MRO capability,” he added.

Korean Air currently operates 10 Airbus A220-300 aircraft in service powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engines.  

In addition, Korean Air’s Pratt & Whitney powered fleet includes 18 777s, six 747s, and 29 A330s.  Korean Air also operates a fleet of 10 A380s powered by the Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and General Electric.

Rick Deurloo, chief commercial officer at Pratt & Whitney, said: “We have shared a long-standing relationship and history with Korean Air dating back to the late 1960s and we are honoured to power their next-generation fleet.”

“We appreciate Korean Air’s continued confidence in Pratt & Whitney and we remain committed to supporting their fleet for many years to come,” he added.

Since entering into service in early 2016, the GTF engine has demonstrated its promised ability to reduce fuel burn by 16 per cent, to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 per cent compared to the regulatory standard and to reduce the noise footprint by 75 per cent, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service