United Airlines Picks Pratt & Whitney’s GTF For Future Airbus A321neo & XLR Fleet

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United Airlines announced today that it has chosen the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine for its Airbus A321neo and XLR fleet over the next few years. The announcement comes on the eve of the Paris Air Show, which is set to begin tomorrow.

The first of these GTF-powered Airbus deliveries is expected later this year. In total, United has firm orders for 70 Airbus A321neos and 50 A321XLRs.

Pratt & Whitney’s President of Commercial Engines, Rick Deurloo, said that United’s selection represents a continuation of the two companies’ shared history, as well as a significant step towards increasingly sustainable aviation. He noted,

“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.

“GTF engines will enable United to get the most out of their A321neo and A321XLR aircraft, delivering industry leading payload, range and environmental performance for those aircraft types.”

GTF Engines

Compared to previous-generation powerplants, Pratt & Whitney says its GTF engine represents a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by some 16% to 20% for A320neo aircraft. They also reduce NOx emissions by up to 50% and provide a 75% reduction in their noise footprint.

GTF engines are currently certified to run on 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), although Pratt & Whitney has also conducted successful testing with 100% SAF as well. The engine’s ability to run on high levels of SAF offers potential for unlocking further emissions reductions later down the road as United attempts to meet its 2050 goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 100%.

United’s vote of confidence in the P&W engines represents an important win for the manufacturer, which has encountered a number of recent setbacks related to the GTF engines. These have generally stemmed from supply chain disruptions that impose delays on planned maintenance, though instances of operational problems have also frequently occurred.

Such issues have forced carriers like airBaltic to lease additional capacity to compensate for the downtime. Similar challenges were also cited by India’s recently bankrupt Go First, which claimed the need to replace problematic engines contributed to its financial struggles.

United A321 orders

United placed its major order for the set of 70 A321neo aircraft back in June 2021, complementing its existing order for 50 A321XLR aircraft that it placed in December 2019.

At the time of placing the XLR order, United said the Airbus A321XLR aircraft would primarily serve as direct replacements for older aircraft operating on intercontinental routes. Many of these will likely replace the carrier’s fleet of aging Boeing 757-200s and are expected to primarily operate on transatlantic flights from Washington and Newark.

United’s new A321neo aircraft, meanwhile, are expected to serve mainly domestic routes, complementing and adding to the routes flown by the rest of its narrowbody fleet.

What do you think of United Airlines’ announcement today? Are Pratt & Whitney GTF engines the right choice for the carrier? Let us know in the comments below.