Pratt & Whitney has announced the selection of Pratt & Whitney GTF engines to power 134 Airbus A320neo family aircraft for Frontier Airlines.
The engines will power 49 A320neo, 67 A321neo and 18 A321XLR aircraft with the first aircraft currently scheduled for delivery in 2022. Pratt & Whitney will also provide Frontier with engine maintenance through a long-term EngineWise Comprehensive service agreement.
Frontier Airlines is headquartered in Denver, Colorado and is a portfolio airline of Indigo Partners. The airline is a first-time Pratt & Whitney customer and will operate their GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft on domestic and international routes in North America.
Barry Biffle, president and CEO of Frontier Airlines, said: “Frontier Airlines is at the forefront of green innovation in the airline industry and this deal for advanced GTF engines from Pratt & Whitney is extremely significant in our continued action plan to reduce fuel consumption. Operating with this new engine technology will result in additional fuel savings which translates to operational cost reductions we can pass on to consumers in the form of low fares.”
Engine reduces fuel burn by 16 per cent
Rick Deurloo, Chief Commercial Officer, Pratt & Whitney added: “It is with immense pride and excitement that we welcome Frontier Airlines to the Pratt & Whitney family. With the GTF engine, Frontier will be getting more than fuel efficiency and environmental responsibility; Pratt & Whitney will be with Frontier every step of the way, supporting their operations for decades to come.”
The other three airlines affiliated with Indigo Partners – Volaris in Mexico, JetSMART in Chile, and Wizz Air in Hungary – are long-time Pratt & Whitney customers operating both A320ceo family aircraft with V2500 engines and A320neo family aircraft with GTF engines. Together, the four Indigo Partners’ affiliate airlines have committed to 539 GTF-powered aircraft.
The GTF engine has demonstrated its promised ability to reduce fuel burn by 16 per cent since entering service in early 2016. Nitrogen oxide emissions are reduced by 50 per cent compared to the regulatory standard, the noise footprint is reduced by 75 per cent.
