Korean Air has announced the delivery of its first Airbus A321neo aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, that are due to deploy in December.
The aircraft is the first of up to 50 A321neo aircraft for which the airline selected GTF engines in 2020. Disassembly, assembly and test capabilities for GTF engines will also be provided for the A320neo fleet, after Korean Air joined the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network in 2021.
Korean Air executive vice president and chief safety & operation officer Soo Keun Lee said: “We are delighted to receive our first A321neo, which will be a great asset to our fleet, network and passengers,” said Soo Keun Lee, executive vice president and chief safety & operation officer of Korean Air. “This fuel-efficient, next-generation A321neo will bring our customers’ experience to a new level.”
Korean Air and Pratt & Whitney have a long-standing relationship which spans more than 60 years. Pratt & Whitney powers more than 70 aircraft with the airline, including GTF-powered Airbus A220 aircraft, as well as Airbus A330, Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft. Korean Air also operates a fleet of 10 Airbus A380 aircraft powered by the Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and General Electric.
Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney, added: “Korean Air becomes the fifth airline to operate two different fleets of GTF-powered aircraft. Pratt & Whitney is uniquely positioned to power airlines’ needs across the latest single-aisle fleets, with GTF engines powering aircraft that carry 96 to 244 passengers and fly up to 4,700 nautical miles.”
The Pratt & Whitney GTF engine is believed to be the only geared propulsion system, offering the greatest fuel efficiency and lowest greenhouse gas emissions for Airbus A320neo. According to Pratt & Whitney, GTF-powered aircraft reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by 16% to 20%, NOx emissions by 50% and noise footprint by 75%.
