GTF comeback: Pratt & Whitney nets 1,100 engine orders and commitments in 2025
Pratt & Whitney has received nearly 1,100 orders and commitments for its troubled geared turbofan (GTF) engine since the beginning of 2025.
Airlines that have announced orders so far this year include Aegean Airlines, Air Niugini, ANA, Frontier Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines and Wizz Air along with GTF engine selection from two undisclosed customers, the engine maker said.
That is being taken as a much-needed vote of confidence in the engine type, which has suffered from ongoing issues that continue to impact airline operations worldwide.
In July 2023, Pratt & Whitney parent company RTX said that a “new rare condition in the powdered metal used to manufacture certain engine parts will require accelerated inspection of the PW 1100G-JM GTF [geared turbofan] fleet”. The engine maker became aware of the issue after a 2020 engine failure.
The issue left hundreds of aircraft grounded. At one point, more than 600 GTF-powered aircraft were in storage, around a third of the total fleet.
‘Strong demand for the GTF’
In total, over 12,000 geared turbofan engine orders and commitments have been placed by more than 90 customers worldwide, with around 10% of that coming over the last six months.
Commenting on the significant order tally for the first half of this year, Pratt and Whitney said there continued to be significant interest in the engine from airline customers.
“We continue to see strong demand for the GTF engine, as evidenced by the large number of orders we’ve received only halfway into the year,” said Rick Deurloo, president of commercial engines at Pratt & Whitney.
“These orders demonstrate confidence in Pratt & Whitney and the value the GTF delivers to customers with its industry-leading fuel efficiency.
“We will continue to build on this with the entry into service next year of the GTF Advantage, which received FAA type certification earlier this year and will provide even more range capability, better fuel efficiency and enhanced durability.”
Fuel-efficient engine
Pratt and Whitney says the GTF is the most fuel-efficient engine for the single aisle market, delivering up to 20% lower fuel consumption and a 75% smaller noise footprint compared to the prior generation of engines.
To date, about 2,400 GTF-powered aircraft have been delivered to more than 85 customers worldwide.
The newly introduced GTF Hot Section Plus (HS+) option will enhance durability, nearly doubling time on wing.
Earlier this year, Pratt & Whitney announced the development of a new additive manufacturing repair technique for its GTF engine components, slashing repair process time by more than 60% and promising to recover $100 million worth of parts over the next five years.
