The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted certification to the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engine variant for the Airbus A321XLR, marking a significant step toward the aircraft's service entry in 2025. Pratt & Whitney announced that this addition to the type certificate data sheet of its Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine family occurred on December 16.
Rick Deurloo, president of commercial engines at Pratt & Whitney, stated that this certification represents an important milestone for the GTF program, which initially powered the A320neo aircraft family. He noted, "The longer range and higher payload capability of the Airbus A321XLR aircraft will provide customers with expanded route flexibility to more destinations."
Pratt & Whitney emphasized that operators of PW1100G-powered A321XLRs would benefit from best-in-class fuel efficiency and reduced carbon emissions for single-aisle jets. The company reports that 13 airlines have chosen GTF engines for 217 A321XLRs, with over 2,100 such engines delivered worldwide. These engines offer a 20% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to previous models.