AirAsia X has placed a large order for 150 Airbus A220 aircraft equipped with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines, with first deliveries expected to begin in 2028.
The deal also includes a 12-year engine maintenance service agreement through Pratt & Whitney's EngineWise program.
“This is a significant milestone and we are pleased to welcome AirAsia to the GTF family. The order demonstrates the airline’s confidence in the engines’ fuel efficiency and lower noise levels,” said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney.
AirAsia sees the venture as an important step in the company's continued expansion and development of its low-cost network.
“This aircraft gives us the opportunity to build an even larger and denser route network. The range of up to seven hours opens up completely new possibilities and allows us to better adapt capacity to demand,” says Bo Lingam, CEO of AirAsia X.
According to Pratt & Whitney, the GTF engines have been used by over 90 airline customers worldwide to date. The engines are said to provide approximately 20 percent lower fuel consumption and significantly lower noise levels compared to previous generations of engines.
AirAsia has built an extensive low-cost network in Asia for more than two decades and now wants to continue expanding internationally with the help of the new fleet.
Source: breakingtravelnews.com
