United Airlines has received the first commercial aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney’s new GTF Advantage engine, after the Federal aviation Administration (FAA) approved the design last year.
On September 24, 2026, RTX, which owns Pratt & Whitney, confirmed that a United Airlines Airbus A321XLR was the first aircraft to feature GTF Advantage engines.
According to RTX, the GTF Advantage engine will deliver up to twice the time on wing compared to today’s GTF engines.
“The first delivery of a GTF Advantage-powered aircraft to United Airlines signifies a new chapter in our relationship that spans nearly a century,” said Rick Deurloo, President, Commercial Engines, Pratt & Whitney. “United will be the first to benefit from the world-class efficiency, durability and additional thrust capability of the GTF Advantage engine, which is particularly well-suited to the long-range A321XLR.”
The GTF Advantage has 4-8% more takeoff thrust than current engines, enabling longer range capability.
Pratt & Whiney said that the GTF Advantage is “fully intermixable and interchangeable with today’s GTF engine model, simplifying operations for airlines like United that maintain combined fleets”.
“Pratt & Whitney has been a key supplier for United Airlines throughout our long, shared history, powering multiple United aircraft types,” said Ankit Gupta, United Airlines Senior Vice President and Chief Air Operations Officer. “GTF-powered aircraft are helping us reduce fuel burn and improve reliability as we add new destinations around the world for our customers.”
Pratt & Whitney will transition its entire PW1100G-JM production line to the Advantage specification by 2028.
There is also an option for GTF customers to benefit from the GTF Advantage’s durability through the GTF Hot Section Plus (HS+) upgrade option for the PW1100G-JM engine. This will be available for incorporation during maintenance visits early next year.
Both the FAA and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved the GTF Advantage in 2025, paving the way for entry into service in 2026.