Pratt & Whitney, a division of RTX, has received certification from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its GTF engine, which will power Airbus’ new A321XLR aircraft. According to the company, this approval, granted on December 12, updates the certification for the PW1100G-JM model to include the long-range A321 variant.
Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney, stated that “This is an important milestone for the GTF engine program, which was the first engine to power the A320neo aircraft family. The longer range and higher payload capacity of the A321XLR will provide customers with greater route flexibility to more destinations.”
According to the company, 13 customers have chosen the GTF engine to equip a total of 217 A321XLR aircraft. Since entering service in 2016, more than 2,100 GTF-powered aircraft have been delivered to over 80 operators worldwide.
Among the main customers that chose Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine are JetBlue (14 aircraft), Air Canada (24), Wizz Air (20), JetSMART (12), SKY Airline (10), Qantas (20), and United Airlines (50).
Pratt & Whitney reports that these engines provide up to 20% better fuel efficiency compared to previous-generation engines, saving 2 billion gallons of fuel and reducing CO2 emissions by 20 million metric tons.
New Enhancements with the GTF Advantage Engine
Pratt & Whitney announced that the GTF Advantage engine, currently undergoing certification and with deliveries expected next year, has been specifically designed to optimize the performance of the A321XLR. According to the company, this model will provide a 4-8% increase in takeoff thrust, up to 1% additional fuel efficiency, and longer operational time between maintenance. The engine will be fully compatible and interchangeable with the current GTF model.
The A321XLR: A Key Player in the Narrow-Body Market
The Airbus A321XLR, designed for long-range flights and higher payloads, represents a new generation of single-aisle aircraft. Pratt & Whitney highlighted that the integration of the GTF Advantage engine will expand available routes and enhance the operational economics of airlines adopting this variant. Its launch customer was Iberia, which began deploying it on flights from Madrid to Boston last month.
See also: The Airbus A321XLR’s First Transatlantic Flight Took Off from Madrid, Bound for Boston
RTX, Pratt & Whitney’s parent company, noted that its business focuses on aviation, integrated defense, and next-generation technology solutions. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, RTX reported revenues of $69 billion in 2023.
