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Aircraft industry

Korean Air Selects Pratt & Whitney Engines for Airbus and Boeing Aircraft

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Korean Air has signed a deal with Pratt & Whitney to power its new Airbus Industrie A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft. The airline has opted for growth versions of the PW4000 engine family, with the largest engine, the PW4098, providing 98,000 pounds of takeoff thrust. This marks the launch of the "stretch" 777, with eight firm and eight option aircraft planned for delivery between 1997 and 2001. Four of the firm and four of the option aircraft will be "B-model" 777s powered by the 90,000 pound thrust PW4090, while the remaining four firm and four option aircraft will be "stretch" 777s powered by the 98,000 pound PW4098. Korean Air's seven firm and two option A330s will also be delivered between 1997 and 2001, powered by the PW4168 engine rated at 68,000 pounds of thrust.

Key Takeaways:

  • Korean Air has selected the PW4000 engine family to power its new Airbus Industrie A330 and Boeing 777 aircraft, with a total order value of approximately $850 million.
  • The airline plans to power eight firm and eight option Boeing 777s with the PW4098 engine, providing 98,000 pounds of takeoff thrust.
  • Four of the firm and four of the option aircraft will be "B-model" 777s powered by the 90,000 pound thrust PW4090.
  • Korean Air's seven firm and two option A330s will be powered by the PW4168 engine, rated at 68,000 pounds of thrust.
  • Pratt & Whitney's market share on the 777 will increase to 57 percent and 54 percent on the A330 with this order.
  • Korean Air is one of the world's largest users of the PW4000 engine family, with experience on its A300-600s, MD-11s, and Boeing 747s.

Statistics:

  • $850 million: The total value of the order to Pratt & Whitney.
  • 98,000 pounds: The takeoff thrust of the PW4098 engine.
  • 90,000 pounds: The takeoff thrust of the PW4090 engine.
  • 68,000 pounds: The thrust rating of the PW4168 engine.
  • 57 percent: Pratt & Whitney's expected market share on the 777 after the order.
  • 54 percent: Pratt & Whitney's expected market share on the A330 after the order.
  • 8 firm, 8 option: The number of Boeing 777s ordered.
  • 7 firm, 2 option: The number of A330s ordered.
  • 1997-2001: The delivery period for the aircraft.
  • 1994: The year the PW4168 engine entered service aboard the A330.
  • 99.85 percent: The dispatch reliability of the PW4168 engine in service.
  • 180 minutes: The Extended Twin Operations (ETOPS) ratings given to the PW4084 engine.

Sources:

  • "PRNewswire" - June 13, 1995
  • Mark Sullivan of Pratt & Whitney, UTC Chalet A 100, 33-1-48-37-58-40
  • United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX)
  • Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corporation.

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