Budget carrier VietJet Air said it has secured a-600-million-USD deal with US aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney on the purchase of PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine to power its ten new airplanes.

The signing ceremony of cooperation deal between VietJet Air and Pratt & Whitney (Photo: VietJet Air)

The signing ceremony between the sides took place in Hanoi on November 12, witnessed by President Tran Dai Quang and US President Donald Trump, during the latter’s official trip to Vietnam.

The deal also includes a 12-year EngineWise™ Fleet Management Program. 

Dinh Viet Phuong, vice president of VietJet Air, said the airline is delighted to add the GTF-powered aircraft to its fleet with high hope on the engine’s efficient performance and environmental benefits.  

Rick Deurloo, senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney, said: “We were honored to celebrate a new relationship with VietJet last year, and we are thrilled to extend this relationship now and into the future."

Since its debut in early 2016, the GTF engine has proven its capacity to reduce fuel burn by 16 percent, emissions by 50 percent and noise footprint by 75 percent. 

Vietnam Airlines, Pratt & Whitney seal $1.5-billion deal

Scene at the signing ceremony between Vietnam Airlines and Pratt & Whitney (Photo: Vietnam Airlines)

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and US aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney signed a contract worth over 1.5 billion USD in the presence of President Tran Dai Quang and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi on November 12.

The contract focuses on the purchase of Pratt & Whitney’s 44 PurePower Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines and support services for Vietnam Airlines’ 20 Airbus A321NEO aircraft in accompany with comprehensive terms of warranty, maintenance and repair of the engines. The two parties also signed a memorandum of understanding on maintenance contracts for these engines.

The signing ceremony was held as part of President Trump’s official state visit to Vietnam. 

Vietnam Airlines President and CEO Duong Tri Thanh said the signing ceremony marked a new development of Vietnam Airlines' A321 fleet, adding that he believes these pacts will contribute to reinforcing Vietnam – US economic and trade ties.

Rick Deurloo, senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney, said his company has been powering Vietnam Airlines since the early 1990s, and is looking forward to reinforcing the partnership.

Since its first operation in 2016, the GTF engine has shown a strong performance compared to the current engine, with the reduction of 16 percent in fuel consumption, 50 percent in emission and 75 percent in noise. 

Vietnam Airlines expects to receive 20 A321NEO airplanes, equipped with GTF engines, in 2018 and 2019.

VNA