The most powerful commercial jet engines in the world
November 2, 2025
In the last decade, the commercial aviation industry shifted from quad-engine aircraft to twin-engine planes. Operating costs, improved engine technology, and extended ETOPS regulations add to the smooth transition to twin-engine long-haul aircraft.
The quest for higher thrust has driven the development of more powerful engines. Modern long-haul commercial jets feature some of the most powerful jet engines ever built. The power of a jet engine is measured through the maximum output thrust it can generate at operating conditions.
GE Aerospace GE9X
The GE9X is the world’s most powerful commercial jet engine designed to power the Boeing 777X. Yet to enter commercial service, the GE9X holds the Guinness World Record for most thrust ever achieved by a commercial jet engine, having generated 134,300 pounds-force (lbf) of thrust.
While the engine is certified to operate at 105,000 lbf, it set the thrust record during testing. Boeing designed the 777X to carry 414-426 passengers in a typical two-class configuration and exclusively powered by a pair of GE9X engines. GE Aerospace claims that the engine supersedes its predecessor, GE90, delivering approximately 10% greater fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
GE Aerospace GE90
The GE90 is the most powerful commercial jet engine in service today. Powering the Boeing 777 family aircraft, the engine was first to set a world record for 127,900 Ibf of thrust during tests.
Designed in the early 1990s, the first variant of the type, GE90-77B, entered commercial service in November 1995, onboard a British Airways Boeing 777-200. The most recent variant of the engine family, the GE90-115B, is rated at 115,540 lbf thrust, greater than the GE9X.
The GE90 was the first engine to feature a composite fan blade and additive-manufactured compressor sensor. Over the years, the GE90 has achieved a world-class reliability rate of 99.98%. With more than 2,800 engines delivered worldwide, the manufacturer expects a long service life ahead of it.
Pratt & Whitney PW4000
The Pratt & Whitney PW4000 is another high-bypass-ratio engine designed to power a range of aircraft, including Boeing 747, 767, 777, and the Airbus A330. The most powerful variant of the PW4000 family, the -112, powers the Boeing 777-200, -200ER, and -300 variants, generating up to 99,040 lbf.
Technological advancements like the use of single-crystal superalloy materials, powdered metal turbine disks, and the Full-Authority Digital Electronic Control (FADEC) significantly contribute to the engine’s extraordinary operational performance.
Rolls-Royce Trent XWB
The Rolls-Royce Trent XWB exclusively powers Airbus’ newest widebody aircraft, the A350. The most powerful variant of the family, the XWB-97, is the only new-generation high-thrust engine in service.
Generating up to 97,000 lbf, it achieves up to 25% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to its predecessors. According to Rolls-Royce,
“As the highest thrust engine in the Trent family, the Trent XWB-97 is built for power. With a 99.9% dispatch reliability and having twice the customer base of the competition, the engine continues to define the future of long-range performance and sustainability on the A350-1000.”
Engine Alliance GP7200
GE Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney joined forces to create the iconic GP7200 to power the world’s largest passenger airliner, the Airbus A380. The Engine Alliance GP7200 is rated at 81,500 lbf, offering the required thrust performance to the quad-jet.
Complementing technologies and experiences from the two manufacturing giants resulted in a highly fuel-efficient and reliable engine. At 17.6dB under stage 4 noise rating, the GP7000 engines greatly contribute to the whisper-quiet flying experience onboard the A380.
Featured Image: Boeing
