Pratt & Whitney delivers first GTF Advantage-powered jet to United

Pratt & Whitney, a unit of RTX (NYSE: RTX), has delivered the first aircraft powered by its GTF Advantage engine to United Airlines, marking the debut of the engine variant in commercial service. The aircraft is an Airbus A321XLR.

According to a company press release, the GTF Advantage engine offers 4-8% more takeoff thrust compared to the current GTF model and claims to deliver up to twice the time on wing. The engine is described as fully intermixable and interchangeable with the existing GTF engine, which Pratt & Whitney says simplifies fleet operations for airlines running mixed configurations.

"United will be the first to benefit from the world-class efficiency, durability and additional thrust capability of the GTF Advantage engine, which is particularly well-suited to the long-range A321XLR," said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney.

Ankit Gupta, United Airlines Senior Vice President and Chief Air Operations Officer, said GTF-powered aircraft are helping the airline reduce fuel burn and improve reliability.

Pratt & Whitney said it plans to transition its entire PW1100G-JM production line to the Advantage specification by 2028. Airlines currently operating the existing GTF engine model will have access to a GTF Hot Section Plus upgrade option, which Pratt & Whitney claims can deliver up to 90-95% of the GTF Advantage's durability benefits. That upgrade is expected to be available during maintenance visits early next year.

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