26 October, 2018:Pratt & Whitney and Qingdao Airlines celebrated delivery of the airline's first Airbus A320neo aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney GTF engines. Pratt & Whitney will also provide the startup Chinese airline with engine maintenance through a long-term EngineWise Comprehensive service agreement. Qingdao Airlines is the eighth GTF engine operator in China.
"It is an exciting milestone for Qingdao Airlines as we take delivery of our first A320neo aircraft," said Wu LongXue, President of Nanshan Aviation Industry Group & President of Qingdao Airlines Co.,Ltd. "We believe the GTF engines will deliver the fuel savings, reduced environmental footprint, and quieter flight experience for our passengers that we have been looking forward to."
"It is our pleasure to welcome Qingdao Airlines to the Pratt & Whitney family," said Rick Deurloo, senior vice president of sales, marketing and customer support at Pratt & Whitney. "The GTF engines offer proven economic benefits to support Qingdao'soperations, and we are honored to be a part of their growing fleet.”