Frontier Airlines choose P&W engines for first time to power 134 A320neos

U.S. ulta-low cost carrier Frontier Airlines has signed an agreement with aircraft engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney for ultra-efficient GTF (Geared turbofan) engines to power 134 A320neo family aircraft scheduled for delivery beginning in 2022.

The Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines will power 49 A320neo, 67 A321neo and 18 A321XLR aircraft. The agreement includes 268 installed engines plus spares as well as an engine maintenance agreement with Pratt & Whitney that includes on-site technical support. This is a unique move, because until now, Frontier operated a fleet of nineteen A320-200ceo, twenty-one A321-200ceo and sixty A320-200neo all powered by CFM engines (CFM56-5B and CFM LEAP-1A).

Frontier has the largest A320neo fleet in the United States. The use of these aircraft, Frontier’s seating configuration, weight-saving tactics and baggage process have all contributed to the airline’s average of 43 percent fuel savings compared to other U.S. airlines (fuel savings is based on Frontier Airlines’ 2019 fuel consumption per seat-mile compared to the weighted average of major U.S. airlines), which makes Frontier the most fuel-efficient U.S. airline.

Frontier has a total of 156 more A320neo-family jets on order. It has not disclosed which engines will power the other 22 jets.