Air New Zealand takes delivery of its first A321neo

Air New Zealand has become a new operator of the A321neo, following the delivery of its first aircraft this weekend. In total, Air New Zealand will acquire 20 A320neo Family aircraft.

Air New Zealand’s first A321neo is painted in the airline’s iconic all black livery. The aircraft is powered by Pratt & Whitney PurePower engines and accommodates 214 passengers in a comfortable single-class layout.

Selected for its outstanding operational efficiency, comfort and range, Air New Zealand’s fleet of A320neo aircraft will initially add capacity on the carrier’s trans-Tasman and Pacific Island routes and at a later stage on domestic services.

Air New Zealand is an important operator of the A320 Family, with a total of 30 A320ceo currently in service on its domestic, trans-Tasman and Pacific Islands routes.

Featuring the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky, the A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies, including new-generation engines and Sharklets, which together deliver 15 percent fuel savings. With more than 6,100 orders received from over 100 customers, the A320neo Family has captured nearly 60 percent share of the market.

Vietjet encarga otros 50 A321neo

Hanói, 2 de noviembre de 2018 – La aerolínea vietnamita Vietjet ha cursado un pedido en firme a Airbus por otros 50 aviones de pasillo único A321neo, confirmando un MOU firmado en julio pasado con ocasión del Salón Aeronáutico de Farnborough. El acuerdo de compra ha sido firmado hoy en Hanói por Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Presidente y CEO de Vietjet, y Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer de Airbus.

La firma se ha producido en presencia de Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Primer Ministro de Vietnam, y Edouard Philippe, Primer Ministro de Francia, durante una visita oficial a Vietnam.

“El avión de bajo consumo A321neo nos permitirá aumentar nuestra capacidad y ampliar significativamente nuestra red, especialmente en las rutas internacionales”, ha afirmado el Presidente y CEO de Vietjet, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.

“Es para nosotros un honor ser socio desde hace tantos años  de Vietjet y haber culminado este nuevo pedido”, ha dichoChristian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer de Airbus. “La preferencia por los productos Airbus, especialmente el A321, expresada últimamente por Vietjet, pone claramente de manifiesto la profesionalidad de la compañía y supone un tremendo respaldo para el A321 en un mercado altamente competitivo”.

El nuevo acuerdo de adquisición eleva a 171 el número de aviones de la familia A320 encargados por Vietjet, de los que ya se han entregado 46. La aerolínea tiene pues actualmente un backlog de pedidos con Airbus de 125 aviones para su entrega futura, compuesto por 120 A321neo y cinco A321ceo.

El A321neo es el miembro más grande de la familia de aviones de pasillo único de mayor éxito de ventas de Airbus, y que se ha consolidado claramente como el avión más popular de su categoría de tamaño, con capacidad hasta para 240 pasajeros en una configuración de clase única. Ofrece también la mayor autonomía de su categoría, pudiendo volar hasta 4.000 millas náuticas sin escalas. Dotado de los últimos motores, avances aerodinámicos e innovaciones de cabina, el A321neo ofrece una reducción en consumo de combustible mínima del 15 por ciento por plaza.

A fecha de hoy, la familia A320 contabiliza más de 14.700 pedidos, y presenta una flota de más de 8.000 aviones en servicio actualmente con 334 operadores de todo el mundo.

EASA and FAA certify long-range capability for A321neo

Up to three Additional Centre Tanks (ACTs) are now certified on the A321neo, including for ETOPS operation;

Paving the way for the A321neo customers to start “Long Range” (LR) operations;

Facilitating the most flexible and capable version of the A321 to date: the “A321LR”

Readiness to start “Long Range” (LR) operations with launch customers of the most capable and flexible A321neo version to date – the A321LR – has moved a significant step closer with recent joint EASA and FAA approval of the aircraft to operate with up to three underfloor Additional Centre Tanks (ACTs), including for ETOPS operation.
This latest milestone is one of various A321neo capability options which when combined, allow the A321LR version to fly up to 4,000nm with 206 passengers with extra fuel stored in three ACTs, including on ETOPS routes. Moreover, the ETOPS authorisation enables up to 180 minutes single-engine diversion time, which is sufficient for performing any transatlantic route.

The A321LR’s certification includes: (a) approval of the “major change” to install up to three optional ACTs in the A321neo – with their associated new fuel management systems and lower-fuselage structural reinforcements; and (b) the approval of the A321neo’s “Airbus Cabin Flex” (ACF) option which incorporates a modified fuselage structure with new door arrangements together with a higher Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) capability of up to 97 metric tonnes. It should be noted that only A321neos which have the new ACF structure can offer the 97t MTOW and the ability to install three ACTs. Previously, the A321 Family could accommodate up to two ACTs.

While the ACF configuration will become standard for all new delivered A321neos from around 2020, the 97t MTOW capability and the ability to carry up to three ACTs will be options. For the ACTs, customers would specify prior to aircraft manufacture whether the aircraft is to be equipped with an expanded fuel management system as well as the necessary structural reinforcements to secure the underfloor ACTs.

The ability to add or remove ACTs, combined with the Airbus Cabin Flex, the 97t MTOW capability and the EASA/FAA approval to use the ACTs with ETOPS, together confer unprecedented airline flexibility for cabin layouts, seating density, cargo payload, fuel-capacity and mission routing.

Turkish Airlines Receives First Airbus A321neo Aircraft Powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan™ Engines

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., July 13, 2018/PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), and Turkish Airlines celebrated delivery of the airline's first Airbus A321neo aircraft. The aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan™ (GTF) engines, is the first of the air carrier's order of 92 firm GTF-powered A321neo aircraft. Pratt & Whitney will also provide Turkish Airlines with engine maintenance through a long-term EngineWise™ service agreement.

"We are very excited to integrate our first GTF-powered A321neo aircraft into our ever-expanding fleet," said Ahmet Bolat, chief investment and technology officer, Turkish Airlines. "This airplane and engine will allow us to provide a quiet flight experience to our passengers, expand our route network, and reduce fuel consumption."

Turkish Airlines currently operates a fleet of 97 V2500®-powered A320ceo family aircraft and 10 PW4000-powered A330-200 aircraft.

"We greatly appreciate the trust that Turkish Airlines has placed in our engines and services," said Rick Deurloo, senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney. "Our history together goes back to the Wasp-powered Douglas DC-3. Today we are honored to extend our relationship, which has spanned seven decades."

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 to the regulatory standard and to lower the noise footprint by 75 percent.

The V2500 engine is offered through IAE International Aero Engines AG, a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders comprise Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation; Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH; Japanese Aero Engines Corporation; and MTU Aero Engines GmbH.

Philippine Airlines Takes Delivery of First Airbus A321neo Powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan™ Engines

EAST HARTFORD, Conn., June 4, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX), and Philippine Airlines celebrated delivery of the airline's first Airbus A321neo aircraft last week. The aircraft, powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan™ (GTF) engines, is scheduled to start passenger service in early June.

"We're excited to welcome the GTF-powered A321neo to our fleet," said Jaime Bautista, president and chief operating officer at Philippine Airlines. "We expect this engine to help us significantly reduce fuel burn and emissions while giving our passengers a much quieter flight experience on our brand new A321neos."

Pratt & Whitney powers a significant portion of Philippine Airlines' operating fleet with 24 V2500® powered A321ceos. The airline has an additional 20 GTF-powered A321neo aircraft on order.

"We are pleased to extend our decades-long relationship with Philippines Airlines. The GTF-powered A321neo will support Philippine Airlines in continuing to provide great service to its passengers for many years to come," said Rick Deurloo, senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney. "We thank Philippine Airlines for their confidence and commitment to 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 to the regulatory standard, and to lower the noise footprint by 75 percent.

The V2500 engine is offered through IAE International Aero Engines AG, a multinational aero engine consortium whose shareholders comprise Pratt & Whitney, a division of United Technologies Corporation; Pratt & Whitney Aero Engines International GmbH; Japanese Aero Engines Corporation; and MTU Aero Engines GmbH.