Pratt & Whitney, a division of Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE: RTX), along with JetBlue Airways (“JetBlue”) celebrated the entry into service of the airline’s first A220 aircraft which is powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines. The event was commemorated with a gate ceremony at Boston Logan International Airport, attended by representatives from JetBlue, Airbus and Pratt & Whitney, after which the plane departed for Tampa International Airport.

“We are thrilled to introduce our first A220 aircraft to our customers and offer them a quieter, more sustainable flight experience. The A220 with GTF engines represents the future of our fleet, with unmatched fuel efficiency, low emissions and industry-leading passenger comfort,” said Ursula Hurley, head of treasury and investor relations, JetBlue. “Pratt & Whitney has been there for us since the very beginning and we look forward to continuing our strong relationship.”

JetBlue ordered 60 Airbus A220-300 aircraft in 2018 and later expanded the order to 70 aircraft in 2019. The airline has also ordered 85 GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft, including 13 A321LR and 13 A321XLR aircraft. The airline currently operates 16 of the A321neo variant powered by GTF engines, 193 A320ceo family aircraft powered by V2500® engines, and 60 Embraer E190 aircraft equipped with the APS2300E auxiliary power unit (APU).

“The entry into service of the GTF-powered A220 for JetBlue is a milestone moment. Pratt & Whitney and JetBlue have collaborated closely since the airline’s first flight in 2000. We are honored that JetBlue is confident that GTF’s game-changing technology will provide true value for their next-generation fleets,” said Rick Deurloo, chief commercial officer and senior vice president at Pratt & Whitney. “We’re honored to be a part of this momentous milestone and we look forward to supporting JetBlue’s expansion and their commitment to sustainable aviation.” 

The A220, powered exclusively by GTF engines, offers significantly lower operating costs compared to previous generation aircraft. The engines deliver double-digit improvements in fuel and carbon emissions. They also provide a 75% reduction in noise footprint, based on a 75 dB noise contour, and produce NOx emissions 50% below the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) CAEP/6 regulation

 About Pratt & Whitney

Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. To learn more about RTX, visit its website at www.rtx.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production support, performance and realization of the anticipated benefits of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

###

Pratt & Whitney
+1 (860) 565-9600
media@prattwhitney.com

The ‘Airlines: A Path Back to Profitability’ report includes insights from over 60 survey responses and executive interviews with airline commercial, financial, and technology professionals worldwide and is now available for download at Accelya.com/lab.

Here are three takeaways from the report:

Crises – A Catalyst for Change

Covid dealt a brutal blow to the airline industry. However, there is an upside as almost all (96%) of survey participants believe the crisis has created opportunities for positive transformation. Airlines have grasped the need to shift from bureaucratic analysis and departmental silos, which 48% of executives said was their leading pre-Covid innovation impediment and turning to action.

Digital Delivery

As they resume traveling, passengers will have different needs and expectations than they did before the pandemic. For one thing, months of lockdown have produced a new breed of ‘digital ninjas’ who demand better online shopping experiences – and greater flexibility. Adobe estimated that two years of e-commerce growth was compacted into the 2020 holiday season in the US. As such, digital delivery will be central to efforts to return to the black.

Airlines Take Control

Now is the time for airlines to assert themselves and build the retailing experiences they want to deliver to their customers. This is reflected in the finding that today, 68% of airlines are using or intend to use NDC as part of their retailing and distribution strategies.

To find out more, please, visit Accelya.com or download the report here.

Source: Accelya

Pratt & Whitney and Tigerair Taiwan celebrated the delivery of the airline’s first Airbus A320neo aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. The airline placed the initial engine order in 2019 and has a mixed fleet of 15 purchased and leased aircraft.

“We’re excited for Tigerair Taiwan to receive their first GTF-powered Airbus A320neo,” said Rick Deurloo, chief commercial officer at Pratt & Whitney. “Environmental and economic sustainability are key priorities for both companies, and the fuel savings with the GTF engine that will help reduce emissions and lower operating costs to best serve their customers. We look forward to continuing our relationship for years to come.”

Tigerair Taiwan, a low-cost carrier established in 2014 and headquartered in Taiwan, is a subsidiary of China Airlines and currently operates 11 A320ceo aircraft powered by the V2500® engine. The airline believes that Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines will help it become more environmentally sustainable, while also becoming more competitive as a low-cost carrier (LCC).

“We are thrilled to receive our first A320neo and experience those benefits firsthand for years to come,” said Dennis Lai, chief operations officer at Tigerair Taiwan.   

Since entering service in early 2016, the GTF engine has demonstrated its promised ability to reduce fuel burn by 16 percent, to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent compared to the regulatory standard, and to reduce the noise footprint by 75 percent.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney has the broadest and deepest experience in all forms of aviation, from large commercial aircraft to military, as well as regional, business and general aviation. Celebrating its 95th year in business in 2020, the company is known for its innovative technologies such as the Geared Turbofan commercial aircraft engine and PW800 business jet engine.

Source: Pratt & Whitney

Rolls-Royce and airframer Tecnam are joining forces with Widerøe – the largest regional airline in Scandinavia, to deliver an all-electric passenger aircraft for the commuter market, ready for revenue service in 2026. The project expands on the successful research programme between Rolls-Royce and Widerøe on sustainable aviation and the existing partnership between Rolls-Royce and Tecnam on powering the all-electric P-Volt aircraft.

Stein Nilsen, Chief Executive, Widerøe said: “Norway’s extensive network of short take-off and landing airports is ideal for zero emissions technologies. This aircraft shows how quickly new technology can and will be developed, and that we are on track with our ambition of flying with zero emissions around 2025.”

Rob Watson, Director – Rolls-Royce Electrical, said: “Electrification will help us deliver our ambition to enable the markets in which we operate achieve net zero carbon by 2050. This collaboration strengthens our existing relationships with Tecnam and Widerøe as we look to explore what is needed to deliver an all-electric passenger aircraft for the commuter market. It also demonstrates Rolls-Royce’s ambitions to be the leading supplier of all-electric and hybrid electric propulsion and power systems across multiple aviation markets.”

The programme will look to cover all elements of developing and delivering an all-electric passenger aircraft that could be used in the Norwegian market from 2026. Due to its topography, Norway makes extensive use of aviation for regional connectivity and has an ambition for all domestic flights to be zero emissions by 2040. Rolls-Royce will bring its expertise in propulsion and power systems, Tecnam will provide aircraft design, manufacturing and certification capabilities. Widerøe’s mission will be to ensure that all competence and requirements of an airline operator are in place for entry into service in 2026.

Andreas Aks, Chief Strategy Officer, Widerøe, added: “We are highly excited to be offered the role as launch operator, but also humble about the challenges of putting the world’s first zero emissions aircraft into service. Our mission is to have all new capabilities, processes and procedures required for a zero emissions operator, designed and approved in parallel with the aircraft being developed and certified.”

Fabio Russo, Chief Project R&D and Product Development, Tecnam, said: “It is incredible to see the interest around the P-Volt, not only coming from regional airlines, but also from smart mobility-based companies. This last year has demonstrated the importance of promoting capillary connections between small communities, while reducing the congestion of the main hubs. The P-Volt, like the P2012 Traveller today, will perfectly fit the scope of this programme. We are honoured and pleased to see the level of enthusiasm Widerøe and our partner Rolls-Royce are dedicating to this project.”

The collaboration offers an opportunity to develop an exciting solution to the commuter aircraft market. Before the pandemic, Widerøe offered around 400 flights per day using a network of 44 airports, where 74% of the flights have distances less than 275 km. The shortest flight durations are between seven and fifteen minutes. Developing all-electric aircraft will enable people to be connected in a sustainable way and will fulfill Wideroe’s ambition to make its first all-electric flight by 2026. The all-electric P-Volt aircraft, which is based on the 11-seat Tecnam P2012 Traveller aircraft is ideal for the short take-off and landing as well as for routes in the North and the West Coast of Norway.

Rolls-Royce and Widerøe announced a joint research programme in 2019. The aim of the programme was to evaluate and develop electrical aircraft concepts that would fulfil the Norwegian ambition of having the first electrified aircraft in ordinary domestic scheduled flights by 2030 and 80% emission reduction in domestic flights by 2040.

Rolls-Royce also has an existing strategic partnership with Tecnam to develop the modified Tecnam P2010 aircraft with the H3PS^[1] propulsion system, the first parallel hybrid-electric propulsion system for General Aviation started together with Rotax in May 2018.

Source: Rolls-Royce

The COVID-19 pandemic has refocused IT spending priorities for airlines and airports in 2020 as revenue plunged and the industry faced new health and operational requirements needed to keep flying.

Among the key findings from SITA’s 2020 Air Transport IT Insights, published today, was an accelerated investment in automated passenger processing focusing on touchless and mobile services. There was also a strong focus on virtual and remote IT services that allowed employees to work from home while ramping up communications with passengers. Cybersecurity and cloud services – that helped automate operations and drive new efficiencies – were key.

In 2020, SITA data showed that flight volumes plunged 44% year-on-year due to the pandemic. As a result of this impact on demand, IATA forecast the airline industry’s full-year loss at $118 billion.

David Lavorel, CEO SITA AT AIRPORTS & BORDERS, said: “The severe slowdown in 2020 forced the air transport industry to focus on driving new cost efficiencies. Adding to the pressure, airlines and airports had to rapidly incorporate new health measures such as touchless passenger processing and the handling of new health information and protocols, including PCR testing in many destinations. These efforts have been made in a market that continues to face rapid changes in air travel regulations that make operational planning volatile and last minute.

“To solve these challenges, the industry has turned to technology and, in many cases, reprioritized where they invested in 2020. The good news is that airlines and airports were able to capitalize on existing trends to automation and have made significant strides in implementing new solutions that will bring new improvements for the passenger now and into the future.”

Data and automation are key 

Making the check-in process completely touchless is now the main priority for airports and airlines to help protect passengers and staff, improve the passenger experience, and drive efficiency.

Biometric technology is the focus for airport investment with 64% of airports aiming to roll out self-boarding gates using biometric & ID documentation by 2023, three times as many as in 2020. Airlines have doubled implementations and plan to double investment for self-boarding using biometric & ID documentation by 2023 (82%).

Similarly, airlines are prioritizing a completely touchless check-in process, and most want mobile touchless payment options for all services provided. The majority (79%), is focused on enabling self-bag drop for passengers. All essential customer services will become contactless from booking to arrival, including automated lounge access and mobile delayed baggage reporting.

Airline mobile applications for passenger services is a priority with nearly all (97%) of airlines having major programs and R&D in place by 2023. By 2023 the majority of airlines plan to send passengers real-time notifications on their mobile devices about their bags and plan to provide real-time bag-tracking information for staff.

Virtual IT services  

In response to the pandemic, most airlines and airports are investing more in in-house virtual and remote IT services allowing employees to work in a more agile and effective way while speeding up communications with passengers. Almost three-quarters of airports and airlines will continue to invest in data exchange, cloud services, cybersecurity, and business intelligence to accelerate their digital airport processes. This includes increasing services on passenger mobile apps and ensuring staff services are accessible via mobile or tablets.

The full report, including methodology and charts, can be found here.

 

-ENDS-

 

For further information, (not for publication) contact:

SITA  Julius Baumann Head of Media Relations Julius. Baumann@sita.aero

SITA Andrew Burton Senior Manager Media Relations Andrew.Burton@sita.aero

About SITA

SITA is the IT provider for the air transport industry, delivering solutions for airlines, airports, aircraft and governments. Our technology powers more seamless, safe and sustainable air travel.

Today, SITA’s solutions drive operational efficiencies at more than 1,000 airports while delivering the promise of the connected aircraft to more than 400 customers on 18,000 aircraft globally. SITA also provides the technology solutions that help more than 60 governments strike the balance of secure borders and seamless travel. Our communications network connects every corner of the globe and bridges 60% of the air transport community’s data exchange.

SITA is 100% owned by the industry and driven by its needs. It is one of the most internationally diverse companies, with a presence in 200 countries and territories.

SITA’s subsidiaries and joint ventures include SITAONAIR, branded SITA FOR AIRCRAFT,  CHAMP Cargosystems and Aviareto.

For further information, go to www.sita.aero

Source: SITA

Rolls-Royce has successfully completed the taxiing of its ‘Spirit of Innovation’ aircraft, the latest milestone on its journey to becoming the world’s fastest all-electric plane. For the first time, the plane powered along a runway propelled by its powerful 500hp [400kw] electric powertrain and the latest energy storage technology developed to set world speed records and enable a new generation of urban air mobility concepts.

The taxiing of the plane is a critical test of the integration of the aircraft’s propulsion system, ahead of actual flight-testing. The first flight is planned for the Spring and when at full power the combination of electrical powertrain and advanced battery system will power the aircraft to more than 300mph, setting a new world speed record for electric flight.

Minister for Business Paul Scully said “The taxiing of Rolls-Royce’s ‘Spirit of Innovation’ forms part of an exciting new chapter in aviation as we move towards its first flight in the spring. Set to be the world’s fastest electric plane, this pioneering aircraft highlights the value of close collaboration between industry and government.

“The UK is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Through government grants for research and development, we’re championing innovation in the aerospace sector to meet this ambitious target as we build back greener from the pandemic.”

The ACCEL programme, short for ‘Accelerating the Electrification of Flight,’. includes key partners YASA, the electric motor and controller manufacturer, and aviation start-up Electroflight. The ACCEL team have continued to innovate while adhering to the UK Government’s social distancing and other health guidelines.

Rob Watson, Director – Rolls-Royce Electrical, said: “Electrification of flight is an important part of our sustainability strategy as we aim for net zero carbon by 2050. Taxiing of the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ is an incredible milestone for the ACCEL team as we progress to first flight and the world-record attempt later this year. For the first time, the plane propelled itself forward using the power from an advanced battery and propulsion system that is ground-breaking in terms of electrical technology. This system and the capabilities being developed will help position Rolls-Royce as a technology leader offering power systems to the Urban Air Mobility market.”

Half of the project’s funding is provided by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and Innovate UK.

Gary Elliott, Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Technology Institute, said: “The Aerospace Technology Institute is proud to co-fund the ACCEL project. The aims of ACCEL align with the long-term objectives of the ATI strategy: to fund exciting and innovative technology development that secures a lead for the UK in next-generation zero-emission propulsion, and to continue to support highly-skilled jobs and generate economic return for the benefit of the UK. Our congratulations to the ACCEL team for reaching this latest milestone against a very challenging backdrop.”

The characteristics that ‘air-taxis’ require from batteries are very similar to what is being developed for the ‘Spirit of Innovation’ so that it can reach record-breaking speeds. Rolls-Royce will be using the technology from the ACCEL project and applying it to products for the market. We are bringing a portfolio of motors, power electronics and batteries into the general aerospace, urban air mobility and small commuter aircraft sectors as part of our electrification strategy.

The ACCEL project is part of Rolls-Royce’s journey towards net zero carbon by 2050 and we are also looking to inspire young people, through the ACCEL project, to consider careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). We have developed downloadable materials aimed at primary school children around the project. These are linked to the UK curriculum and everything can be downloaded from our website.

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to meet our planet’s vital power needs.
2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 70 navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
3. Annual underlying revenue was £15.45 billion in 2019, around half of which came from the provision of aftermarket services.
4. In 2019, Rolls-Royce invested £1.46 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 29 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.

The ATI Programme is a joint Government-industry investment to maintain and grow the UK’s competitive position in civil aerospace design and manufacture. The programme, delivered through a partnership of the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Innovate UK, addresses technology, capability and supply chain challenges. www.ati.org.uk

YASA is the world’s leading manufacturer of axial-flux electric motors and controllers for automotive and aerospace applications. YASA’s proprietary electric motor and controller products offer the smallest, lightest form factor for a given power and torque requirement. The privately-held company is based in Oxford, the UK’s automotive manufacturing heartland. Investors include Park walk Advisors, Universal Partners, Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI) and Inovia Capital. YASA http://www.yasa.com/

Electroflight is a leading technology and engineering services business that supplies bespoke battery systems for the aerospace sector. The company, founded in 2011, is now at the forefront of the electrification of aviation, providing high-performance battery solutions and electrification consultancy to some of the world’s largest aerospace companies. Based in Gloucestershire, Electroflight employs industry-leading engineers, designers and data specialists who are focused on delivering energy storage technologies for tomorrow’s mobility. Electroflight: http://www.electro-flight.com

For further information, please contact:

Sarah Jones

Marketing & Communications, Rolls-Royce Electrical

sarah.jones2@rolls-royce.com

M +44 (0)7968 906 469

Lydia-Claire Halliday

LCH Consultancy Ltd

Africa

Pratt & Whitney, a division of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) issued the following statement regarding United Airlines flight 328 of February 20:

United Airlines Flight 328 is currently under NTSB investigation and Pratt & Whitney has dispatched a team to work with investigators.

Pratt & Whitney is actively coordinating with operators and regulators to support the revised inspection interval of the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines that power Boeing 777 aircraft.

Any further investigative updates regarding this event will be at the discretion of the NTSB.

Pratt & Whitney will continue to work to ensure the safe operation of the fleet.

For further information: media@prattwhitney.com +1 (860) 565-9600

Rolls-Royce has signed a TotalCare® agreement with new customer Uganda Airlines for their two new Airbus A330neo aircraft powered exclusively by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.  Uganda Airlines received their two A330neo, first in December 2020 and second in January 2021.

TotalCare® offers more than just an engine maintenance plan; it is a service concept based upon predictability and reliability.  This agreement will give Uganda Airlines a secured cost of operating and maintaining their Trent 7000 engines, through a dollar-per-flying-hour payment mechanism, as well as enhanced aircraft availability as a result of our in-depth engine knowledge that only we can provide, drawing on advanced engine health monitoring and the inclusion of product durability and reliability improvements.

The exclusive engine for the A330neo, the Trent 7000 is the seventh and latest member in the Trent family of engines, which recently celebrated its 25^th birthday and has accumulated more than 150 million engine flying hours.  The Trent 7000, which first entered service in November 2018, draws on more than 50 million flying hours of experience from the Trent 700, the engine of choice for the original version of the A330. The 68-72,000lb thrust Trent 7000 helps the A330neo reduce environmental impact with a 25% improvement in fuel burn per seat (compared to previous generation competitor aircraft) and a significant noise reduction.

Cornwell Muleya, CEO of Uganda Airlines, said: “We are proud to include our new Rolls-Royce powered Airbus A330neos into our fleet and this agreement will ensure that our Trent 7000 engines will be maintained to world-leading levels of service.”

John Kelly, Senior Vice President Customers, Rolls-Royce, said: “Our TotalCare agreement will ensure Uganda Airlines, the latest member of the family of Trent operators, receives our flagship standard of service, maximising aircraft availability and the ability to plan forward financially.”

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce pioneers cutting-edge technologies that deliver clean, safe and competitive solutions to meet our planet’s vital power needs.
2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 70 navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
3. Annual underlying revenue was £15.45 billion in 2019, around half of which came from the provision of aftermarket services.
4. In 2019, Rolls-Royce invested £1.46 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 29 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.

For further information, please contact:
Lydia-Claire Halliday
LCH Consultancy Ltd
Tel: +25408000510 / +442032896011
Email : lydia@lchconsultancy.com

Bill O’Sullivan
Communications Manager – Civil Aerospace
Rolls-Royce plc
Tel +44 (0)7968 767 172
bill.osullivan@rolls-royce.com

Accelya, a leading global provider of technology to the travel industry, today announced that Hawaiian Airlines is investing in comprehensive omnichannel retailing, enabled by Accelya’s full suite of offer management products and New Distribution Capability (NDC) API.

Since 2014, Hawaiian has been using FLX Merchandise to sell ancillaries such as its Extra Comfort main cabin seats and branded fares through direct channels. For greater control and reach of Hawaiian’s offers in its third-party (Agency and Meta) channels, the carrier has now licensed the full suite of offer engines from Accelya – FLX Shop & Price, FLX Availability Calculator, and FLX Schedule Builder – to enable efficient shopping and pricing, independent availability calculation, and dynamic schedule building. Hawaiian is also implementing an omnichannel retailing approach with FLX NDC API and FLX Open Connect which will allow for new and exciting content from Hawaiian to be available in indirect channels.

“Providing our guests with an innovative and seamless purchasing experience, regardless of where they are shopping, is an extension of the award-winning hospitality we are known for,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, senior vice president of sales and alliances at Hawaiian Airlines. “As a longtime Accelya customer, we are confident in its suite of products and we look forward to collaborating with our third-party partners to deliver Hawaiian’s industry-leading offers through full-scale NDC programs.”

“Hawaiian Airlines recognizes that greater control over revenue generation across all channels will be key to future profitability once we emerge from this pandemic,” said Jim Davidson, Chief Product Officer at Accelya. “By extending its existing deployment to include the full suite of offer management products from Accelya, Hawaiian will have full control over its retailing capabilities in both direct and indirect channels and the ability to tailor the offer to maximize the value of every seat, no matter where it is sold, while ensuring customers continue to enjoy the experience they have come to expect of the airline.”

 About Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian^® has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 16 years (2004-2019) as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumer surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure and TripAdvisor have placed Hawaiian among the top of all domestic airlines serving Hawai‘i.

Now in its 92nd year of continuous service, Hawaiian is Hawai‘i’s biggest and longest-serving airline. In 2019, Hawaiian offered nonstop flights between Hawai‘i and more U.S. gateway cities (13) than any other airline, along with service connecting the islands with Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Tahiti. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hawaiian is offering an adjusted schedule of daily flights within the Hawaiian Islands, and between Hawai‘i and the U.S. mainland as well as Japan and South Korea.

The airline is committed to the health and safety of its guests and employees and has reinforced enhanced cleaning procedures across its business. While the experience may be a little different, the authentic Hawaiian hospitality remains unchanged. Additional details on how Hawaiian is keeping guests and employees safe can be found at HawaiianAirlines.com/KeepingYouSafe.

Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. is a subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HA). Additional information is available at HawaiianAirlines.com. Follow Hawaiian’s Twitter updates (@HawaiianAir), become a fan on Facebook  (Hawaiian Airlines), and follow us on Instagram (hawaiianairlines). For career postings and updates, follow Hawaiian’s LinkedIn page.

For media inquiries, please visit Hawaiian Airlines’ online newsroom.

 About Accelya

Accelya is a leading global provider of technology platforms, software and services to the travel and transport industry. Accelya has been delivering business-critical financial, commercial, cargo and analytics solutions for more than 40 years. The company has over 250 airline customers, operations spread across 9 countries, and employs 2,500 professionals worldwide.

Accelya offers a modular suite of technology solutions for air travel, from offer to settlement, solving critical business problems for airlines, travel agents and industry bodies such as IATA. Accelya’s solutions are organized around customers’ key functions including commercial planning and optimization, sales and distribution management, and financial reconciliation and settlement. Paramount to Accelya’s success is the exceptional breadth of understanding of industry data which enables the delivery of insightful and reliable solutions that reduce process friction in a complex inter-dependent industry.

For more information, please visit www.accelya.com.

 

Source: Accelya

Pratt & Whitney and Volaris announced the selection of the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine to power an additional 80 A320neo family aircraft. Pratt & Whitney will also provide Volaris with engine maintenance through a long-term EngineWise^® Comprehensive service agreement. Volaris previously placed an order for 44 GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft. This brings Volaris’ total commitment to 124 GTF-powered aircraft. 

“This selection will expand upon the fuel savings we have already been realizing with the GTF engine,” said Enrique Beltranena, CEO, Volaris. “We are always looking for new ways to better serve our passengers. These GTF engines will help us further grow our network of routes and give us a strong foundation for the future.”

 Volaris is a low-cost carrier headquartered in Mexico City, Mexico and an affiliate of Indigo Partners. It was also the first airline in North America to fly the A320neo. Volaris currently operates 30 GTF-powered A320neo family aircraft and a fleet of 56 V2500®-powered A320ceo family aircraft.

“We’ve been honored to help Volaris grow from its first V2500-powered flight in 2006 to the successful airline it is today,” said Rick Deurloo, Chief Commercial Officer, Pratt & Whitney. “We are proud to continue powering their growth with the world-class fuel efficiency and economics required for their low-cost operations.”

The three other airlines affiliated with Indigo Partners – JetSMART in Chile, Wizz Air in Hungary and Frontier Airlines in the United States – have each selected GTF engines to power their A320neo family fleets. Together, the four Indigo Partners airlines have committed to 619 GTF-powered aircraft.

Since entering service in early 2016, the GTF engine has demonstrated its promised ability to reduce fuel burn by 16 percent, to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 50 percent compared to the regulatory standard, and to reduce the noise footprint by 75 percent.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney, a unit of Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. Raytheon Technologies Corporation is an aerospace and defense company that provides advanced systems and services for commercial, military and government customers worldwide. To learn more about RTX, visit its website at www.rtx.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production support, performance and realization of the anticipated benefits of advanced technologies; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

Source: Pratt & Whitney