China Express took delivery of Airbus A320neo powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF Engines

China Express Airlines has taken delivery of its first Airbus A320neo aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. This delivery brings the China Express total fleet to a milestone 50 aircraft, with 28 more A320neo aircraft on order.  

“Today is a significant milestone for our airline, and for the evolution of our growing fleet,” said Mr. Li Zhi Liang, President of China Express Airlines. “The industry-leading technology that the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine brings enables us to offer passengers a quieter flight experience, while also meeting our goals to achieve reductions in fuel burn and emissions.”

Founded in 2006, China Express is an independent airline with long-term focus on regional aviation in China. China is home to one of the largest GTF fleets, powering 10 airlines with more than 120 A320neo family aircraft in operation. Pratt & Whitney has been powering Chinese aviation for more than 90 years, with a growing presence in training and service and support offerings in 20 cities throughout China.  

“We’d like to congratulate China Express as they take delivery of their first GTF-powered A320neo aircraft, and welcome the airline to our Pratt & Whitney family,” said Rick Deurloo, chief commercial officer at Pratt & Whitney. “Given the airline’s focus on fuel efficiency and sustainability, the GTF engine is the ideal solution, and we value the trust they’ve placed in our geared engine architecture. We’re ready to support China Express and their growing fleet well into the future.”

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 compared to the regulatory standard, and to reduce the noise footprint by 75 percent.