China-based Qingdao Airlines has chosen Pratt & Whitney’s (P&W) PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine to power its 18 newly ordered Airbus A320neo aircraft.

P&W noted that its PurePower family of engines has the ability to reduce fuel consumption by 16%, minimise regulated emissions by 50%, and lower noise by 75%.

The GTF engine currently powers 24 aircraft with eight airlines operating worldwide.

“We're glad to deploy this next-generation engine to power our success in the increasingly competitive airline market in China.”

Qingdao Airlines chairman Tang Huanguang said: "Pratt & Whitney's PurePower engine creates the cleaner, greener and quieter flight experience we are looking for our passengers.

“We're glad to deploy this next-generation engine to power our success in the increasingly competitive airline market in China.”

Operational since 2014, the airline currently serves several destinations in China.

P&W has so far received more than 8,400 orders, which include announced and unannounced firm and option engines orders, with more than 80 customers worldwide.

Last month, the GTF engine entered passenger service with Spirit Airlines, the first US airline to fly A320neo aircraft.

In a separate development, P&W last month signed a distribution deal with Satair Group, which provides aftermarket services and solutions for the civil aerospace industry.

Under the deal, Satair Group will be the exclusive distributor of P&W’s PW4000 100in engine thrust reverser spare parts worldwide.


Image: Airbus A320neo landing. Photo: courtesy of Don-vip via Wikipedia.