CFM LEAP edges out Pratt & Whitney GTF as most powerful narrowbody jet engine

Three variants of the CFM LEAP exist: the -1A for Airbus A320neo family aircraft, -1B for Boeing 737 MAX jets, and -1C for China’s COMAC C919. The COMAC C919 is China’s first large-scale passenger jet designed to compete internationally; it entered service with China Eastern Airlines in May 2023. Currently, only three Chinese carriers—China Eastern Airlines (10 aircraft), China Southern Airlines (5), and Air China (4)—operate the type.

In contrast, development on Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan (GTF) PW1000 series began in the early 2000s. It received certification for use on Airbus A320neo jets at the end of 2015 before entering service with Lufthansa several months later. Pratt & Whitney described its product at launch: “The Geared Turbofan engine is a game-changer for the commercial aviation industry, delivering breakthrough improvements in fuel efficiency, emissions, and noise reduction. Our innovative gearbox technology allows the fan and turbine to operate at optimal speeds independently, unlocking unprecedented performance and environmental benefits for airlines worldwide.”

While primarily powering Airbus A320neo family jets today—the same as its competitor—the GTF also has variants like PW1900G used by Embraer E2 series regional jets which debuted commercially with Widerøe airline in April 2018.

Both engines offer notable improvements over previous generations regarding efficiency—CFM LEAP achieves about a 15-20% improvement due to advanced materials such as ceramic matrix composites alongside aerodynamic enhancements; Pratt & Whitney’s GTF provides similar or slightly higher savings at approximately 16-20%, largely because of its higher bypass ratio (13:1 versus LEAP's maximum of about 11:1) made possible by its geared fan design.

Noise reduction features are built into both models as well: chevrons on the nacelle help quieten operations on CFM LEAP units while slower fan speeds afforded by gearing make GTF-equipped planes quieter still.

Pratt & Whitney’s GTF initially faced reliability challenges including gearbox durability issues—such as premature wear or overheating—and compressor blade problems that affected operators like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, IndiGo among others. These resulted in increased maintenance needs until recent years when design changes improved reliability.

Southwest Airlines is currently recognized as having the largest fleet powered by CFM LEAP engines with over 270 Boeing 737 MAXs operating these units; future deliveries will increase this number further. Other major users include American Airlines along with Chinese carriers like China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.

For Pratt & Whitney GTF-powered fleets globally IndiGo leads—with more than three hundred A320neos fitted out—while Lufthansa and Korean Air also have significant numbers; American Airlines operates about eighty such planes while Delta has seventy.

In terms of raw power output measured by thrust:

- The CFM LEAP-1A delivers up to 35,000 pounds-force (lbf) powering Airbus A320neo

- The -1B version offers up to 28,000 lbf for Boeing's narrowbody

- The -1C supplies up to 30,000 lbf on COMAC's new jet

- Pratt & Whitney PW1000G reaches up to approximately 33,000 lbf on A320neo family types

- Its smaller PW1900G variant produces up to 23,000 lbf for Embraer E2

This data shows that among comparable applications—for example on an Airbus A320neo—the CFM LEAP-1A is currently rated as more powerful than its direct rival from Pratt & Whitney.