BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE
Pratt & Whitney is considering adding an IAE V2500 overhaul line at its Singapore maintenance shop as capacity at its New Zealand site is poised to fill up following Qantas' expected selection of V2500s for its new Airbus A320 fleet.
The V2500 is considered the favourite over the CFM International CFM56 to power the 23 A320s Qantas ordered last week for its new low-fare carrier Jetstar. Qantas, which has not yet disclosed its engine choice, is expected to outsource A320 maintenance to Air New Zealand (ANZ) Engineering Services and V2500 maintenance to the Christchurch Engine Centre, an ANZ/P&W joint venture.
"I think they'll go V2500 due to their maintenance tie with New Zealand," says P&W vice-president business development Edmund DiSanto.
The Christchurch Engine Centre is building up a V2500 capability to support ANZ's 15 new A320s. P&W believes soaring demand for IAE-powered A320 family aircraft in the Asia-Pacific will create enough maintenance demand for a second V2500 shop in the region.
Eagle Services Asia, a joint venture company between P&W and Singapore Airlines Engineering Company, may maintain V2500s for Indian Airlines. Eagle may seek V2500 maintenance business from three Singaporean companies - SilkAir, Singapore Aircraft Leasing Enterprise (SALE) and ValuAir.
Silk Air operates 10 IAE-powered A319/A320s with six more on order, and parent SIA may order A320s for a new low-cost carrier under study.
Source: Flight International
