SINGAPORE, December 05, 2019 -- Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), and China Airlines announced selection of the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engine to power an order of up to 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft. The order includes 25 firm A321neo aircraft with purchase options for an additional five aircraft, and represents a combination of new aircraft purchases from Airbus and leased aircraft from ALC and CALC. Pratt & Whitney will provide China Airlines with engine maintenance through a long-term EngineWise® Comprehensive service agreement.  The order announcement was commemorated with a signing ceremony hosted in Singapore with Pratt & Whitney and China Airlines representatives in attendance.

"We are confident that the Pratt & Whitney GTF engines will provide our airline with the reduced noise, environmental consciousness, and fuel efficiencies we look for to support our operation to various destinations in the future.” said Su-Chien Hsieh, Chairman of China Airlines.   China Airlines, based in Taiwan, was established in 1959 and currently operates international flights.

“Today we are sharing a momentous occasion with China Airlines, a relationship that originated 60 years ago when they first began operating aircraft powered by the Pratt & Whitney Twin WASP engines. China Airlines shares in Pratt & Whitney’s commitment to providing innovative solutions and advanced technology to support long-term growth in the Asia-Pacific region, and the GTF engines are integral in powering this evolution,” said Mary Ellen Jones, vice president of sales for Asia Pacific at Pratt & Whitney.

Since entering into 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.