Lufthansa has followed the lead set by Indian carrier IndiGo and picked the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine to power its recent order of 30 Airbus A320neo family aircraft.
The 60-engine deal cements the Hartford, Connecticut-based engine maker's lead in the Neo engine order stakes over rival CFM whose Leap-X is also offered on the re-engined narrowbody.
"We are very pleased with the improved fuel efficiency, noise reduction and environmental benefits of the A320neo family aircraft with the PurePower PW1100G engine," says executive vice-president Lufthansa Group fleet management Nico Buchholz. "We have spent a lot of time with Pratt & Whitney to thoroughly understand the geared turbofan architecture, and we are convinced that the engine will deliver significant benefits."
Airbus touts a 15% improvement in fuel burn for the A320neo over today's A320, powered by CFM International CFM56-5Bs or International Aero Engines V2500s.
P&W says the 16 March order announcement by Lufthansa's supervisory board for 25 A320neo and five A321neo aircraft "still requires contract closure with Airbus".
Indian low-cost carrier Indigo has already selected 300 PW1100Gs for its order of 150 A320neos.
To date, Airbus has received 332 firm orders and commitments for the A320neo and A321neo, with 240 airframes slated to be powered by the PW1100G.
The balance of 92 A320neo orders - 22 for TAM, 30 for Virgin America and 40 for International Lease Finance Corporation - are yet to have an engine choice confirmed.
Deliveries of the A320neo to Lufthansa are expected to begin in 2016.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
