After landing engine deals from Cebu Pacific and JetSmart, Pratt & Whitney has signed another one. At the Singapore Airshow 2024, the RTX-owned business has bagged an engine contract from Vietjet. The latter has exercised options for an additional 19 GTF-powered Airbus A321Neo aircraft. Also, the engine maker will provide the Vietnam-based airline with engine maintenance through an EngineWise Comprehensive service agreement.

Vietjet is expanding its operations at quite a pace. Besides serving passengers throughout its home country, it is also strengthening its flight network to India, Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia and Thailand, among other intercontinental markets. The airline received its first Airbus A321Neo aircraft in 2018. Presently, it has 24 GTF-powered A321Neos in its fleet. All orders put together, the carrier has a backlog of up to 87 jets of the same type.

Taiwan-based carrier Starlux Airlines has placed a firm purchase order for eight Airbus aircraft. Signed at the Singapore Airshow 2024, the agreement comprises five A350F freighters and three A330Neo jets. With this order, Startlux Airlines will become the first to operate the A350F in the country, and it will be used on some of the world’s busiest cargo routes. Also, adding three A330Neos will help the carrier bolster its fleet. It will boast a two-cabin configuration, with 28 business class seats and 269 economy seats.

Starlux Airlines has an all-Airbus fleet of passenger aircraft, including A350-900, A330Neo and A321Neo. The A350F, which is currently under development, will be able to haul up to 111 tonnes of cargo and fly up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700km). The aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent-XWB97 engines, efficient enough to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 40 per cent compared to the 747F.

Earlier this month, Pratt & Whitney announced that it had landed an engine deal with Cebu Pacific Air. The RTX-owned business has now bagged another such deal at the Singapore Airshow 2024. JetSmart, an ultra-low-cost carrier, has chosen Pratt & Whitney to power 35 additional Airbus A320Neo family aircraft, including nine A321XLRs. The engine-maker will supply the airline with GTF engines along with their maintenance through an EngineWise Comprehensive service contract.

This isn’t the first time the two parties have signed a business agreement. In 2019, the carrier selected Pratt & Whitney to power 70 A320Neo family jets. Also, JetSmart operates 15 leased GTF-powered A320Neo family aircraft and 11 A320ceo family aeroplanes powered by V2500 engines.

The Santiago, Chile-based carrier and Pratt & Whitney have signed for a support package for inspections of the GTF engines.

USA-based low-cost carrier Breeze Airways has unveiled an order for ten additional Airbus A220s. More specifically, it is for the A220-300 derivative. With this latest development, the airline’s firm order for the same single-aisle jet rises to 90. That makes Breeze Airways Airbus’ third largest customer globally for the A220.

The first A220 was delivered to Breeze Airways back in December 2021. As of January 2024 end, the airline was operating 20 aircraft of the same type. In fact, by the end of 2024, the carrier aims to have an all-A220 fleet for commercial use.

The Airbus A220-300 is powered by Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines. The aircraft, designed specifically for the 100-150 seat sector, is up to 50 per cent quieter than the previous-generation aircraft and produces approximately 40 per cent less NOx emissions than industry standards. At the same time, it can fly up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,700km) nonstop and offer a 25 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Also Read: Pratt & Whitney To Power 15 More Cebu Pacific Jets