Delta’s new 155,000-square-foot facility exemplifies investments being made to support the growing demand for GTF engines

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ATLANTA, Feb. 7, 2023 – Delta TechOps and Pratt & Whitney today celebrated the unveiling of a new, larger TechOps engine overhaul facility dedicated to the global Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine MRO network.

The 155,000-square-foot facility in Atlanta will house disassembly, assembly and test capability for engines powering Airbus A220 and A320neo family aircraft. Leadership from Delta and Pratt & Whitney were in attendance alongside Commissioner Pat Wilson from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, media and employees.

“As both a customer and a member of our GTF MRO network, our relationship with Delta is one underpinned by transparency, teamwork and commitment. For more than 90 years, we have worked together to overcome challenges and find creative, mutually beneficial solutions,” said Shane Eddy, president of Pratt & Whitney. “This beautiful larger facility marks the latest chapter in our shared commitment to providing customers with world-class MRO service and exemplifies the growing demand for GTF engines.”

With more than 10,000 engine orders and commitments from more than 90 customers, GTF engines now power more than 1,400 aircraft with 64 operators across three aircraft families. To keep pace with the growing fleet, the GTF MRO network continues to expand around the globe.

“Pratt & Whitney is facing a steep ramp in MRO output this year and the coming years,” said Rick Deurloo, president, Commercial Engines, Pratt & Whitney. “Our GTF MRO Network is making significant investments to ensure our customers’ needs remain our top focus and our overhaul services quickly return engines to service. Delta’s new overhaul shop will significantly increase the number of engines they service each year.”

“Pratt & Whitney GTF engines will not only power Delta’s fleet of the future, but many other commercial operators in the Americas and beyond,” said Mahendra Nair, Delta’s Senior Vice President, TechOps Operations and Supply Chain. “The opening of this new facility will help us continue to provide dependable jobs and dependable engines for years to come.”

Delta’s larger facility will allow the shop to overhaul more than 300 GTF engines per year. A member of the GTF MRO Network since 2019, Delta TechOps inducted its first PW1100G-JM engine in 2020 and its first PW1500G engine earlier this year at the end of January within the new facility.

“We are incredibly proud of our new engine shop and what it means for the future of Delta, our customers and our partnership with Pratt & Whitney,” said Don Mitacek, Delta’s Senior Vice President of TechOps and President, Delta TechOps Services Group. “The investments we’ve made in new capabilities and facilities over the past five years solidifies our position as a strong global MRO provider and allows our people to continue providing exceptional service and reliability.” 

Pratt & Whitney currently powers more than 260 aircraft in Delta’s fleet – about 80 of which are either A220s or the A321neo. In addition to GTF MRO work, Delta TechOps also provides additional offload support for Pratt & Whitney mature commercial engines, including the PW2000 and the PW4000-94” engines.

The expanding GTF MRO network is comprised of the industry’s leading MRO companies. There are currently 10 active GTF MRO engine centers worldwide. The GTF MRO network is part of Pratt & Whitney’s EngineWise® solutions, which provide engine operators with a variety of aftermarket services resulting in long-term, sustainable value. Visit https://prattwhitney.com/enginewise for more information.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more, visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

Dreieich, 8^th February 2023. To further strengthen the support and guidance for its airline partners, Hahn Air appointed Adriana C. Carrelli as Vice President Airline Business. The Canadian-Italian aviation professional brings extensive experience from former positions at Star Alliance and Air Canada, among others. In her role, Adriana oversees an international team of experts who are managing and optimising the commercial performance of Hahn Air’s global partner portfolio of more than 350 airlines. She will also steer the acquisition and implementation of new partner carriers.

Before joining Hahn Air, Adriana was Director Customer Experience at Star Alliance where she managed a global team. She led the delivery of customer-centric products, steered global business development projects, and built global partnerships with airlines, airports and aviation suppliers.  She started her career with Air Canada and successfully led multiple airline reservation and customer loyalty projects. Further, working in the banking and insurance industry, she steered transformational programmes and obtained valuable experience in the financial sector. A graduate in Business Administration from Montreal, Canada, she is fluent in English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Adriana C. Carrelli comments: “I am excited to take on the role of Vice President Airline Business. Hahn Air has gained an impressive reputation within the travel industry over the past 20 years and has been a major player with a portfolio of more than 350 airlines. I look forward to working with my team to build upon the success of our partner airlines to optimise their distribution capabilities and increase their revenue potential.”

“With Adriana, Hahn Air is welcoming a strong leader who is skilled in global business development and in optimising the potential of teams and business relationships”, said Alexander Proschka, Executive Vice President Commercial at Hahn Air. “With her strong background in aviation, customer experience management and global partnerships, Adriana is the perfect fit to recognise the opportunities of today’s distribution landscape and create added value for our partner airlines.”

For more information about Hahn Air, visit www.hahnair.com.

The deployment of SITA Smart Path brings a comprehensive biometric passenger processing solution across all terminals and airlines at Frankfurt Airport

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Longueuil, Quebec, February 9, 2023 – Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR, the world’s number one regional aircraft manufacturer, today announced an agreement to collaborate on an initiative to achieve 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) readiness in PW127 series engines, including the new PW127XT powering next-generation ATR deliveries, by 2025.

“Our collaboration with ATR will be underway throughout 2023 and 2024 and builds on our recent 100% SAF test flight with Braathens Regional Airlines, which was an industry first for regional aviation,” said Anthony Rossi, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “Alongside our efforts to continually enhance aircraft engine efficiency, SAF has a critical role to play on the journey to achieve the aviation industry’s goal of net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. While all Pratt & Whitney Canada engines have already been certified for 50% SAF blends for more than a decade, ensuring readiness to operate with 100% SAF blends in future will allow us to maximize their potential for decarbonization.”

Nathalie Tarnaud Laude, ATR’s chief executive officer added, “It is our collective responsibility as an industry to continue taking action to ensure that the vital connections provided by our aircraft across the globe are operated sustainably. We have recently demonstrated with our collaborators, Braathens Regional Airlines and Pratt & Whitney Canada, that ATR aircraft are SAF-ready. Now, we need to continue to join forces to increase SAF availability, as part of our common journey towards net-zero.” 

In June 2022, Pratt & Whitney Canada, ATR and Braathens jointly conducted a successful flight test on an ATR 72-600 aircraft with both Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines fueled exclusively with SAF. ATR is aiming to obtain the authorization to use 100% SAF compatible fuel for ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft in the next phase of the program.

Working together, Pratt & Whitney Canada and ATR will conduct the necessary compatibility studies, engineering analyses, and aircraft ground and flight tests, among others. Certification of 100% SAF will ultimately depend on ASTM International defining a specification for that fuel, which we expect could happen as soon as 2025. The program will adhere to standards established by ASTM International.

 About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more, visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 13, 2023 — Pratt & Whitney and Frontier Airlines (“Frontier”) today revealed “Edward the Bald Eagle,” the airline’s third GTF-powered A321neo featuring Pratt & Whitney’s hallmark bald eagle on the tail. The engine manufacturer’s employees named the plane after the late Edward Hall, one of the first African American military aviators trained as a bombardier and navigator and a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. Following his military service, Hall spent a 33-year career at Pratt & Whitney, retiring as a metallurgist in 1983.

“The Tuskegee Airmen were among the most talented and decorated U.S. World War II pilots, yet they returned from distinguished military service only to face a battle for desegregation and equality at home,” said Earl Exum, vice president of Mature Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney – a member of the company’s Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board and chair of the steering committee that will bring a marquee Tuskegee Airmen exhibit to the New England Air Museum this summer. “Aviation pioneers like Hall have been the talent and intelligence behind decades of groundbreaking engines at Pratt & Whitney. We believe diversity and inclusion are differentiators for creativity and innovation, so it is moving to see his heroism, life and legacy honored in this way.”

Hall earned a physics degree from Virginia State University and carried out graduate work at the RCA Institute in New York before joining Pratt & Whitney’s Hartford, Conn. headquarters in 1950. During that time, Hall witnessed the development and evolution of many of the company’s remarkable engines for both military and civilian aircraft. Technological advancements in this era included the air-cooled radial Wasp engines; gas turbines like the J57, the first engine in the U.S. with more than 10,000 pounds of thrust; the F100 turbofan, which has powered decades of national defense; the PT6 turboprop, on which general aviation and many helicopters have been built; and the JT3D turbofan, which ushered in the jet age with the Boeing 707.

“We are extremely proud that our newest A321neo features a bald eagle on its tail named for the late Edward Hall, who valiantly served our country as a Tuskegee Airman, achieved remarkable professional success following his military career, and helped break barriers for African Americans through his advocacy and leadership,” said Barry Biffle, president and CEO, Frontier Airlines.  “This latest A321neo to join the Frontier fleet is powered by the groundbreaking Pratt & Whitney GTF engines and their innovative sustainability benefits which are helping to support our mission as America’s Greenest Airline.”

In recognition of the companies’ relationship, Frontier asked Pratt & Whitney employees to name the first three of the airline’s 144 A320neo family aircraft powered by GTF engines. The first plane was named “Frederick the Bald Eagle” in honor of the company’s founder Frederick B. Rentschler, and the second was named “Maria the Bald Eagle,” after Pratt & Whitney Canada’s Maria Della Posta, the company’s first female president and a pioneer in sustainable aviation.

The Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine is the only geared propulsion system delivering industry-leading sustainability benefits and dependable, world-class operating costs. It offers the greatest fuel efficiency and lowest greenhouse gas emissions for the Airbus A320neo family. GTF-powered aircraft reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by 16% to 20%, NOx emissions by 50% and noise footprint by 75%.* Certified for operation on 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and successfully tested on 100% SAF, the engines are capable of further reductions in carbon emissions, which will help the aviation industry meet its goal of net zero emissions by 2050. The engine’s revolutionary geared fan architecture is the foundation for more sustainable aviation technologies in the decades ahead, with advancements like the Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage™ engine and beyond. Learn more at pwgtf.com.

*Reductions vs. prior-generation aircraft, based on 75 dB noise contour and ICAO CAEP/6 emissions regulations.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

For further information: media@prattwhitney.com, +1 860 565 9600

14 February 2023

Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY) today announces it has received an order from Air India for 68 Trent XWB-97 engines, plus options for 20 more. This is the biggest ever order for the Trent XWB-97, which exclusively powers the Airbus A350-1000. Air India has also ordered 12 Trent XWB-84 engines, the sole engine option for the Airbus A350-900.

This is the first time that an Indian airline has ordered the Trent XWB and the deal will make Air India the largest operator of the Trent XWB-97 in the world. Financial details of the order are not being disclosed.

Tufan Erginbilgic, CEO, Rolls-Royce plc, said:

“Today’s announcement marks an exciting and truly remarkable occasion for Tata Group and Air India; the size and magnitude of this order reflects the level of their ambition for the future. I congratulate them on taking this bold step towards becoming one of the world’s greatest airlines and I would like to thank them for putting their trust in Rolls-Royce to power them on this journey. Air India is the first Indian airline to order the Trent XWB and the size of the commitment, including options, will make them the biggest operator of the Trent XWB-97 in the world. With a dynamic and growing aviation industry, India is a strategically important market for us and we look forward to working with Air India as they connect their passengers across global communities and cultures.”

The Trent XWB will support Tata Group and Air India’s ambitious growth plans for the airline, providing reliability, flexibility and efficiency to its fleet as it takes on ultra-long-range routes between India and the US. The choice of the latest generation of Rolls-Royce engines also reflects Tata Group’s vision for Air India to become the world’s most technologically advanced airline, with a focus on service, competing on the world stage to deliver best-in-class customer experience.
As the world’s most efficient aero engine in service, the Trent XWB will also allow Air India passengers to travel in the knowledge they have chosen the most sustainable long-haul aviation option available. With a 15% fuel consumption advantage over the first generation of Trent engine, the Trent XWB goes further on less fuel, and offers leading performance and noise levels. It is also ready to operate on a 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel blend.
Campbell Wilson, CEO, Air India, said:

“We are delighted to commence this partnership with Rolls-Royce, and to have their Trent XWB engines power our new fleet of A350 aircraft. We are confident that they will provide us with the reliability and efficiency consumers expect of today’s leading airlines, and thereby play an important part in Vihaan.AI, Air India’s comprehensive transformation and growth strategy.”

The size of the Air India order reflects the increasing demand for air travel in India, which now has the third biggest airline market in the world and is ranked as the fifth largest economy globally. The rise of aviation has been fuelled by continued business growth, favourable government policies, sustained infrastructure development, rising disposable incomes and the travel aspirations of its young, affluent middle class. Industry forecasts* show that air passenger traffic in India is expected to grow at more than 6% per year and the industry will require more than 400 medium and large aircraft to support demand. This makes India a strategically important market for Rolls-Royce as it represents enormous growth potential for its products and services far into the future.
Rolls-Royce already has long-standing partnerships with the Tata Group. These include a strong supply chain commitment with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) for the manufacture of a significant number of parts for the Trent XWB engine in India, as well as several high-precision components for other Rolls-Royce civil aerospace engines. In addition, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) provides engineering services, particularly to support our digital engineering and data innovation teams in India.

Imagery is available for download from: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAs8MD

Accelya, a leading global provider of technology solutions to the travel industry, recently announced that ambitious Egyptian carrier Air Cairo has become the first North African airline to benefit from its market-leading revenue management solution.

The multi-year agreement will enable the Cairo-based hybrid airline to quickly identify sales opportunities, optimize pricing decisions, and better respond to the fast-changing market conditions.

Used by more than 80 of the world’s leading carriers, Accelya’s revenue management, inventory control and reporting tool offers alternative approaches to traditional forecasting methods. It aggregates data from a variety of unique sources, including real-time competitor insights.

By implementing Accelya’s revenue management solution, Air Cairo will join many hybrid carriers, which already rely on the state-of-the-art tool to unlock opportunities and maximize revenues across their key markets.

“Following a comprehensive selection process, it was clear that Accelya’s cutting-edge functionalities and bespoke services were best suited to address our requirements,” commented Mr. Hussein Sherif, CEO of Air Cairo. “Working closely with the Accelya team, we look forward to rolling out the market-leading revenue management solution, which will help us navigate today’s volatile market conditions and drive optimized pricing decisions.”

“Air Cairo has recognized the added value of our best-of-breed solution over the broad array of alternatives available. The powerful science and proven technology behind our revenue management solution, combined with first-class business consulting and continued support, has made Accelya a leading provider in the market,” added Mario Segovia Sman, VP Commercial, Middle East, at Accelya. “We’re confident that our milestone partnership with Air Cairo will unlock new revenue opportunities for the airline in a rapidly transforming market.”

For more information, please visit www.accelya.com

Getting the finance team involved early in the process could be the key to unlocking the high-performance retailing potential of ONE Order, writes Muffi Lokhandwala, Business Development for Financial Solutions at Accelya.

Technological changes typically bring opportunities for airlines. That covers both expanded commercial potential and the simplicity of systems and processes. Maximizing those opportunities though requires that every team that will be impacted by the change is involved from the start. Bringing the finance team out from “behind the scenes” in the planning and integration phase could be critical in a transformational change such as the implementation of ONE Order.

Early input from all key teams is critical

Although often regarded as “back office”, finance has a critical role to play in compliance, risk, and reporting. Best practice demands that finance has a 360-view of what’s going on in the organization so that surprises can be avoided. Ensuring this is delivered in a change as fundamental as new messaging and standards for Order transformation, and subsequent settlement and accounting is therefore essential.

Too often, however, the input of teams that will implement and integrate new standards is introduced too late. Early cooperation can help to avoid bottlenecks and difficulties further down the line.

There’s a lot to think about as airlines consider the implementation of ONE Order to drive order transformation. And in this journey to high-performance retailing, it’s critical to think as carefully about what happens on the back end in accounting and control systems as the front end. This is particularly urgent if airlines are to achieve IATA’s goal of being in control of 100% of Offers & Orders by 2030.

To read the entire blog from Muffi Lokhandwala, please click on this link or visit Accelya.com

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., Nov. 29, 2022 – Pratt & Whitney joins Korean Air in announcing the delivery of the airline’s first Airbus A321neo aircraft, which will deploy starting in December. The plane is the first of up to 50 A321neo aircraft for which the airline selected GTF engines in 2020. In 2021, Korean Air joined the Pratt & Whitney GTF MRO network, providing disassembly, assembly and test capabilities for GTF engines for the A320neo family.

“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 began their relationship more than 60 years ago, flying Boeing 707 aircraft powered by JT3D engines. 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.

“Korean Air becomes the fifth airline to operate two different fleets of GTF-powered aircraft,” said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. “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 the only geared propulsion system delivering industry-leading sustainability benefits and dependable, world-class operating costs. It offers the greatest fuel efficiency and lowest greenhouse gas emissions for the Airbus A320neo family. GTF-powered aircraft reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions by 16% to 20%, NOx emissions by 50% and noise footprint by 75%.* Certified for operation on 50% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and successfully tested on 100% SAF, the engines are capable of even lower carbon emissions, which will help the industry meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050. The engine’s revolutionary geared fan architecture is the foundation for more sustainable aviation technologies in the decades ahead, with advancements like the Pratt & Whitney GTF Advantage™ engine and beyond. Learn more at pwgtf.com. 

*Reductions vs. prior-generation aircraft, based on 75 dB noise contour and ICAO CAEP/6 emissions regulations.

About Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft and helicopter engines, and auxiliary power units. To learn more visit www.prattwhitney.com. To receive press releases and other news directly, please sign up here.

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Rolls-Royce and easyJet today confirmed they have set a new aviation milestone with the world’s first run of a modern aero engine on hydrogen.

The ground test was conducted on an early concept demonstrator using green hydrogen created by wind and tidal power. It marks a major step towards proving that hydrogen could be a zero carbon aviation fuel of the future and is a key proof point in the decarbonisation strategies of both Rolls-Royce and easyJet.

Both companies have set out to prove that hydrogen can safely and efficiently deliver power for civil aero engines and are already planning a second set of tests, with a longer-term ambition to carry out flight tests.

The test took place at an outdoor test facility at MoD Boscombe Down, UK, using a converted Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A regional jet engine. Green hydrogen for the tests was supplied by EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre), generated using renewable energy at their hydrogen production and tidal test facility on Eday in the Orkney Islands, UK.

Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Grant Shapps, said: “The UK is leading the global shift to guilt-free flying, and today’s test by Rolls-Royce and easyJet is an exciting demonstration of how business innovation can transform the way we live our lives.

“This is a true British success story, with the hydrogen being used to power the jet engine today produced using tidal and wind energy from the Orkney Islands of Scotland – and is a prime example of how we can work together to make aviation cleaner while driving jobs across the country.”

Grazia Vittadini, Chief Technology Officer, Rolls-Royce, said: “The success of this hydrogen test is an exciting milestone. We only announced our partnership with easyJet in July and we are already off to an incredible start with this landmark achievement. We are pushing the boundaries to discover the zero carbon possibilities of hydrogen, which could help reshape the future of flight.”

Johan Lundgren, CEO of easyJet, said: “This is a real success for our partnership team. We are committed to continuing to support this ground-breaking research because hydrogen offers great possibilities for a range of aircraft, including easyJet-sized aircraft. That will be a huge step forward in meeting the challenge of net zero by 2050.”

Following analysis of this early concept ground test, the partnership plans a series of further rig tests leading up to a full-scale ground test of a Rolls-Royce Pearl 15 jet engine.

The partnership is inspired by the global, UN-backed Race to Zero campaign that both companies have signed up to, committing to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Images

Images of testing at Boscombe Down can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/rolls-royceplc/iJED272Gw1

About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc

1. Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030 (excluding product testing) and joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, affirming our ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which we operate achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
2. Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.
3. Annual underlying revenue was £10.95 billion in 2021, underlying operating profit was £414m and we invested £1.18 billion on research and development. We also support a global network of 28 University Technology Centres, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.
4. Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)

About easyJet

easyJet is Europe’s leading airline offering a unique and winning combination of the best route network connecting Europe’s primary airports with great value fares and friendly service. The airline joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in November 2021 and has recently published its roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with a focus on new technology, such as hydrogen, and the ultimate ambition to achieve zero carbon emission flying across its entire fleet, which the airline is working on together with its partners including Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN Aerospace and Cranfield Aerospace Solutions. The roadmap also features a combination of fleet renewal, operational efficiencies, airspace modernisation, Sustainable Aviation Fuel and carbon removal technology. Additionally, it includes an interim carbon emissions intensity reduction target of 35% by 2035. Since 2000, easyJet has already reduced its carbon emissions per passenger, per kilometre by one-third.

For further information, please contact:

Daisy Omissi

Senior Vice President External Communications

Rolls-Royce – Civil Aerospace

Tel +44 (0)7500 990583

daisy.omissi@rolls-royce.com

 

Sonja Hildebrandt

Senior Sustainability Communications Manager – easyJet

Tel: +44 (0)7929876597

sonja.hildebrandt@easyJet.com