EASA certifies A320neo with GTF Advantage, clearing path to service entry

P&W insists the Advantage will address some of the durability problems affecting earlier-generation GTFs

Europe’s aviation regulator has certificated Airbus A320neo-family jets powered by Pratt & Whitney’s new GTF Advantage PW1100G turbofans, an engine the manufacturer says burns less fuel and is more durable than prior variants.

P&W disclosed the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s approval on 17 April, saying the milestone paves “the way for production engine deliveries and entry into service”, planned for this year.

P&W revealed its Advantage development programme in late 2021 and achieved the powerplant’s type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in February 2025.

EASA validated that certification last October, but had still to approve the engine and airframe combination.

P&W says the Advantage is more efficient than baseline GTFs and generates 4-8% more thrust at take-off, “enabling higher payload and longer range, unlocking new destinations for airlines”.

Being “intermixable and interchangeable” with earlier variants will give airlines flexibility to swap the new models into their fleets, it says.

P&W also claims the Advantage will be more durable than earlier GTFs, helping address the widespread reliability issues that have challenged operators.

Toward that end, P&W added more durable components to the Advantage. These feature double-walled structures and new cooling holes to reduce the temperatures experienced by the parts.

P&W is offering customers an upgrade package called ‘Hot Section Plus’ that involves installing some of those improved components in baseline GTFs to achieve 90-95% of the Advantage’s durability benefit, it says.

P&W plans to slowly ramp Advantage production until it is producing and delivering only the new variant in 2028.