Sustainable Aviation
Pratt Whitney GTF Engines Achieve Record Orders in Sustainable Aviation
Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engines surpass 12,000 global orders with 20% fuel efficiency gains, driving airline sustainability and operational cost reductions.
As the aviation industry faces mounting pressure to reduce emissions and enhance operational efficiency, engine manufacturers are stepping up with innovative solutions. Among the leaders in this space is Pratt & Whitney, a business unit of RTX Corporation, which has made significant strides with its Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine program. With nearly 1,100 new orders and commitments in just the first half of 2025, the GTF engine continues to gain traction among global airlines seeking fuel efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and reduced environmental impact.
The GTF engine represents a transformative shift in single-aisle aircraft propulsion. Its revolutionary geared architecture allows different components of the engine to operate at optimal speeds, enhancing performance and fuel economy. As of June 2025, total GTF engine orders and commitments have surpassed 12,000 units, a clear signal of industry confidence in the technology. This article explores the GTF engine’s growth, technological advancements, and its broader implications for the future of aviation.
Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine program has seen a remarkable uptick in demand in 2025. According to RTX, nearly 1,100 orders and commitments have been secured since the beginning of the year. Airlines such as Aegean Airlines, Air Niugini, ANA, Frontier Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, and Wizz Air have all placed orders, joined by two undisclosed customers. This surge brings the total number of GTF engines ordered or committed to over 12,000 units worldwide.
Such demand is not only a testament to the engine’s performance but also reflects the aviation industry’s strategic pivot toward more sustainable technologies. The GTF’s ability to deliver up to 20% lower fuel consumption compared to previous generation engines translates directly into cost savings and reduced carbon emissions, two priorities for modern carriers.
With approximately 2,400 GTF-powered aircraft already delivered to over 85 customers globally, the engine’s presence in commercial fleets continues to expand. These numbers underscore a growing consensus among airlines that the GTF engine is a reliable and future-ready solution for narrow-body aircraft.
“These orders demonstrate confidence in Pratt & Whitney and the value the GTF delivers to customers with its industry-leading fuel efficiency.” — Rick Deurloo, President of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney
At the core of the GTF engine’s appeal is its unique geared architecture. This design allows the fan to spin slower and the low-pressure turbine to spin faster, optimizing efficiency and reducing noise. The result is a 75% smaller noise footprint and up to 20% lower fuel burn compared to traditional engines.
Pratt & Whitney has continued to evolve the GTF platform with new innovations. The GTF Advantage variant, which received FAA type certification earlier in 2025, is scheduled to enter service in 2026. This upgraded engine offers improved range capability, enhanced durability, and even better fuel efficiency, making it a compelling option for airlines planning fleet renewals or expansions.
Another notable upgrade is the GTF Hot Section Plus (HS+) option. This enhancement nearly doubles time on wing by increasing engine durability. Extended maintenance intervals reduce aircraft downtime and maintenance costs, providing further value to operators. The aviation sector is under increasing scrutiny for its environmental footprint. With international regulations tightening and public demand for greener travel growing, airlines are under pressure to adopt cleaner technologies. The GTF engine directly supports these goals by reducing both fuel consumption and noise pollution.
Single-aisle aircraft, which form the backbone of global commercial aviation, particularly for low-cost and regional carriers, benefit significantly from the GTF’s efficiencies. These aircraft typically operate on high-frequency routes, where fuel savings and noise reduction can have a cumulative impact on both costs and community relations.
Moreover, the GTF engine’s architecture offers a scalable foundation for future propulsion technologies. As the industry explores hybrid-electric and hydrogen-powered solutions, having an adaptable core engine design positions Pratt & Whitney to integrate next-generation innovations more seamlessly.
RTX Corporation, the parent company of Pratt & Whitney, stands as the world’s largest aerospace and defense company, with 2024 sales exceeding $80 billion and a global workforce of over 185,000 employees. This scale enables RTX to invest heavily in research, development, and global support infrastructure.
Through its integrated businesses, Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, and Raytheon, RTX is uniquely positioned to drive innovation across both commercial and defense aviation sectors. The GTF engine program benefits from this synergy, drawing on cross-disciplinary expertise in materials science, digital engineering, and systems integration.
Global partnerships further reinforce RTX’s strategic positioning. Recent agreements, such as the memorandum of understanding with the Singapore Economic Development Board, outline long-term growth roadmaps and support the company’s vision for sustainable aviation leadership.
The diversity of airlines ordering the GTF engine, from full-service carriers like ANA to budget operators like Wizz Air, illustrates its broad market appeal. These customers are betting on the engine’s long-term performance, efficiency, and reliability to support their business models in an increasingly competitive environment.
Fleet planning decisions are made with decades-long horizons, and the GTF engine’s track record of over 250 million projected flight hours by the mid-2030s offers a compelling case for long-term value. With maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) support embedded into the RTX global network, customers can also count on consistent service and parts availability. As sustainability becomes a core pillar of airline branding and investor relations, the GTF engine’s environmental credentials provide additional strategic leverage. Operators can market their use of fuel-efficient technology as part of broader ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) commitments.
Despite its many advantages, the GTF engine program has not been without challenges. Earlier iterations faced durability concerns, which Pratt & Whitney has addressed through continuous upgrades like the HS+ option. Ensuring consistent performance across diverse operating environments remains a key focus for the company.
Supply chain resilience is another area of attention. As global aerospace manufacturing ramps up post-pandemic, ensuring timely delivery of engines and parts is critical. RTX’s scale and diversified supplier base help mitigate these risks, but ongoing vigilance is necessary.
Looking ahead, the integration of digital monitoring tools and predictive maintenance will further enhance engine performance and reliability. These technologies will be central to managing large fleets of GTF-powered aircraft efficiently and cost-effectively.
The strong market response to Pratt & Whitney’s GTF engine in 2025 underscores a broader shift in aviation toward sustainability, efficiency, and innovation. With over 12,000 orders and commitments and a growing presence in global airline fleets, the GTF engine is fast becoming a cornerstone of modern commercial aviation.
As the GTF Advantage enters service and new durability enhancements like the HS+ option are adopted, Pratt & Whitney is poised to solidify its leadership in the single-aisle engine market. Backed by RTX’s global reach and technological ecosystem, the GTF engine program is well-positioned to meet the evolving needs of airlines and regulators alike.
What is the GTF engine? How many GTF engines have been ordered? What are the environmental benefits of the GTF engine? RTX News Center, Airbus – Aegean Airlines, Airbus – Air Niugini, Airbus – LOT Polish Airlines, RTX – GTF Hot Section Plus
Pratt & Whitney’s GTF™ Engines: Driving the Future of Sustainable Aviation
Unpacking the Surge in GTF Engine Orders
Record-Breaking Demand in 2025
Key Technological Advancements
Market and Environmental Impact
Strategic Positioning and Industry Implications
RTX’s Role in Aviation Innovation
Customer Confidence and Long-Term Value
Challenges and the Path Forward
Conclusion
FAQ
The GTF (Geared Turbofan) engine is an advanced aircraft engine developed by Pratt & Whitney that uses a geared architecture to optimize performance, reduce fuel consumption, and lower noise.
As of mid-2025, more than 12,000 orders and commitments have been made by over 90 customers worldwide.
The engine offers up to 20% fuel savings and a 75% reduction in noise compared to previous-generation engines, supporting greener aviation initiatives.
Sources
Photo Credit: RTX
Sustainable Aviation
Airbus-led ECLIF-X Campaign Studies Aviation Non-CO2 Emissions 2025-2027
The ECLIF-X campaign investigates how low-sulphur and low-aromatic fuels reduce contrail formation and non-CO2 emissions in aviation from 2025 to 2027.
This article is based on an official press release from Airbus.
In a closely coordinated chase across the sky, the aviation industry is taking aim at one of its most visible and complex climate challenges: condensation trails. While carbon dioxide emissions have long dominated sustainability discussions, recent scientific consensus highlights that non-CO2 emissions account for a significant portion of commercial aviation’s total climate warming impact.
To address this, Airbus, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney have launched ECLIF-X (Emissions and Climate Impact of alternative Fuels – X). According to an official Airbus press release, this joint research campaign utilizes a “flying laboratory” to investigate the effects of fuel composition on aviation’s non-CO2 impact.
Running from 2025 to 2027, the ECLIF-X campaign captures real-time data on how low-sulphur and low-aromatic fuels interact with advanced engine combustors. At AirPro News, we recognize this initiative as a critical step toward understanding and mitigating the formation of climate-warming contrails before new environmental regulations take full effect.
The methodology behind the ECLIF-X campaign involves two aircraft flying in tandem at cruising altitude. The “emitter” is an Airbus A321XLR test aircraft (registration MSN11058), powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines. Research reports indicate these engines are equipped with the TALON-X rich-burn combustor, a technology specifically designed to reduce soot emissions. During the tests, the A321XLR is flown with three different types of fuel to compare their respective emission profiles.
Following closely behind is the “sniffer,” DLR’s heavily instrumented Falcon 20E research aircraft. Drawing on over 30 years of atmospheric research expertise, DLR scientists pilot the Falcon 20E directly into the exhaust wake of the A321XLR.
Flying at distances of just 50 to 300 meters, the Falcon 20E captures precise, real-time data on the physical and chemical properties of the emissions before they dissipate.
This proximity allows researchers to analyze the exhaust plume in real-time, providing unprecedented insights into the immediate atmospheric reactions triggered by different fuel blends.
Contrails are line-shaped ice clouds that form when hot, humid engine exhaust mixes with cold, high-altitude air. Depending on atmospheric conditions, these contrails can persist and spread into cirrus clouds that trap outgoing infrared radiation from the Earth. According to industry research, studies suggest that non-CO2 effects could represent anywhere from 35% to roughly two-thirds of aviation’s total accumulated climate impact. Airbus refers to the microphysics of contrail formation as the “sticky seed” problem. Conventional jet fuel contains aromatic compounds, which are the primary precursors for soot particles during combustion. These soot particles act as the foundational condensation nuclei, or “seeds,” for contrails. Furthermore, even trace amounts of sulphur in jet fuel result in the formation of sulphuric acid. This acid coats the soot particles, making them “sticky” and highly attractive to water vapor.
By utilizing fuels with low aromatics and low sulphur, such as highly refined Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF), engines produce significantly fewer soot particles and less sulphuric acid. Fewer seeds mean fewer ice crystals, resulting in contrails that are thinner, shorter-lived, or completely prevented.
The current campaign builds upon the landmark ECLIF3 study, which concluded in 2024. Data from ECLIF3 proved that flying on 100% SAF reduced the number of contrail ice crystals by 56% and cut the overall climate-warming impact of contrails by at least 26% compared to conventional jet fuel.
The ECLIF-X research arrives at a critical regulatory juncture. As of January 2025, the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) requires airlines to monitor and report their non-CO2 effects. With the first verified reports due in 2026, the industry faces immediate pressure to understand and quantify these emissions.
The introduction of the EU’s Non-CO2 Aviation Effects Tracking System (NEATS) means airlines are now legally required to track these metrics. Research initiatives like ECLIF-X provide the foundational science necessary to create accurate monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) models for the commercial aviation sector.
We view the ECLIF-X campaign as a pivotal transition point for airline operations. Historically, the push for Sustainable Aviation Fuel has been framed almost entirely around lifecycle carbon reduction. However, the empirical data gathered by Airbus and DLR highlights a crucial dual benefit: SAF physically alters the clouds aircraft leave behind.
Beyond fuel certification, this research paves the way for “climate-friendly routing.” As airlines and meteorologists better understand exactly how and when contrails form, flight dispatchers could soon pair clean fuels with tactical flight path adjustments to avoid atmospheric regions prone to persistent contrail formation. This operational shift will likely become a standard practice as regulatory bodies tighten non-CO2 reporting requirements.
Sources: Airbus
The ECLIF-X Campaign: A High-Altitude Chase
The Emitter and the Sniffer
Decoding the “Sticky Seed” Problem
How Contrails Form and Trap Heat
Building on Previous Success
Regulatory Urgency and Future Operations
EU ETS and NEATS Compliance
AirPro News analysis
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
ECLIF-X (Emissions and Climate Impact of alternative Fuels – X) is a joint research initiative by Airbus, DLR, and Pratt & Whitney running from 2025 to 2027 to study how fuel composition affects contrail formation.
Persistent contrails can spread into cirrus clouds that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Studies indicate these non-CO2 emissions account for 35% to two-thirds of aviation’s total climate impact.
Soot and sulphuric acid from conventional jet fuel create “sticky” particles that attract water vapor, forming the ice crystals that make up contrails. Low-sulphur and low-aromatic fuels reduce these seeds.
Under the EU ETS, airlines were required to begin monitoring non-CO2 effects in January 2025, with the first verified reports due in 2026.
Photo Credit: Airbus
Sustainable Aviation
SHEIN Expands Sustainable Aviation Fuel Use with DHL Partnership
SHEIN partners with DHL Express to pilot Sustainable Aviation Fuel in air freight, supporting emissions reduction amid market and regulatory challenges.
This article is based on an official press release from SHEIN.
On March 24, 2026, global fashion retailer SHEIN announced a new agreement with DHL Express to utilize the logistics provider’s GoGreen Plus service. This initiative integrates Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) into SHEIN’s international air freight operations, marking another step in the company’s efforts to address lifecycle emissions associated with its supply chain.
According to the official press release, the partnership is designed as an early-stage pilot to help the retailer evaluate economic feasibility, certification frameworks, and operational integration. SHEIN explicitly acknowledges that the immediate emissions impact will be modest relative to its total air transport footprint, reflecting broader constraints in the global SAF market where alternative fuels represent only a fraction of conventional jet fuel supply.
We note that this move builds upon SHEIN’s previous SAF pilot programs initiated in 2025, signaling a continued corporate push to support capacity-building activities and demand signaling, particularly within the rapidly evolving Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Under the new agreement, SHEIN will leverage DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, which utilizes an “insetting” approach to reduce Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Rather than fueling specific cargo planes directly with SAF, the fuel is introduced into DHL’s broader aviation network. The resulting lifecycle emissions reductions are then allocated to SHEIN using internationally recognized carbon accounting and certification frameworks.
“Signing the GoGreen Plus agreement with SHEIN marks another important milestone in DHL Express’s commitment to driving the green transformation of air logistics. As a long-term partner in SHEIN’s global logistics network, we are pleased to work together to explore how sustainable aviation fuel can be integrated into their air cargo operations.”
The DHL partnership is part of a broader, multi-carrier strategy. Industry research highlights that in 2025, SHEIN procured 187.3 tonnes of SAF across 14 Atlas Air charter flights, achieving an estimated emissions reduction of 579.1 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). Furthermore, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lufthansa Cargo in August 2025 to accelerate SAF adoption.
Regionally, SHEIN is also participating in a China-based SAF pilot program organized by China National Aviation Fuel (CNAF) and the Second Research Institute of Civil Aviation of China (CASRI). Through this initiative, the retailer plans to procure an initial batch of SAF from Air China Cargo, utilizing traceability mechanisms to track usage.
“Working with partners such as DHL allows us to better understand how sustainable aviation fuel solutions may be incorporated into air cargo logistics. Initiatives like this are part of SHEIN’s broader efforts to explore how emerging approaches across the aviation sector may contribute to addressing carbon emissions associated with air transport.”
SHEIN’s press release notes that wider adoption of SAF remains constrained by limited production capacity and higher costs. Data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released in December 2025 provides stark context for these limitations. According to IATA, global SAF production reached 1.9 million metric tons in 2025. While this doubled the output of 2024, it still represented only 0.6% of total global jet fuel consumption. Growth is projected to slow slightly in 2026, reaching an estimated 2.4 million metric tons, or roughly 0.8% of global demand. Furthermore, SAF currently trades at two to five times the price of conventional fossil jet fuel. IATA estimates that this premium added approximately $3.6 billion to the aviation industry’s fuel costs in 2025 alone.
The macroeconomic challenges are compounded by regulatory friction. IATA has publicly criticized certain regional mandates, arguing that they have distorted markets and increased compliance costs without guaranteeing adequate fuel supply.
“SAF production growth fell short of expectations as poorly designed mandates stalled momentum in the fledgling SAF industry… If the objective is to increase SAF production to further the decarbonization of aviation, then they [policymakers] need to learn from failure and work with the airline industry to design incentives that will work.”
The press release emphasizes strengthening the demand signal for SAF in the Asia-Pacific region through capacity-building activities. Industry data shows that APAC is currently undergoing a massive shift in SAF infrastructure and regulation, transitioning from voluntary goals to concrete mandates.
Singapore implemented a confirmed goal of 1% SAF by 2026, funded by a passenger levy, while Japan is finalizing a 10% SAF mandate by 2030. South Korea, India, and Indonesia are also rolling out blending roadmaps expected to take effect around 2027.
To support this regulatory push, physical infrastructure is scaling up. Neste operates a significantly expanded SAF refinery in Singapore, and Hong Kong-based EcoCeres is expanding into Malaysia. Additionally, in May 2025, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and GenZero launched “Green Fuel Forward,” an initiative specifically designed to scale SAF demand and build regional capacity for aviation decarbonization in APAC, involving major airlines and logistics firms like DHL.
SHEIN’s latest announcement reflects a maturing corporate approach to aviation decarbonization. By explicitly stating that the emissions impact of these early-stage pilots will be “modest,” the company avoids the pitfalls of greenwashing and aligns its messaging with the stark realities of the global SAF market. The reliance on DHL’s GoGreen Plus “book-and-claim” model highlights that, for global shippers, insetting remains the most viable mechanism to participate in the SAF economy without requiring direct physical access to alternative fuels at every origin airport. As APAC mandates like Singapore’s 2026 target take effect, corporate demand signals from high-volume freight users like SHEIN will be critical in justifying the massive capital expenditures required for regional SAF refineries.
GoGreen Plus is a service offered by DHL Express that allows customers to reduce the Scope 3 carbon emissions associated with their freight. It uses an “insetting” or “book-and-claim” model, where DHL purchases Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and introduces it into its broader aviation network, allocating the certified emissions reductions to the participating customer.
According to December 2025 data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), SAF accounts for only 0.6% of global jet fuel consumption, constrained by limited production capacity and high costs. SAF is currently two to five times more expensive than conventional fossil jet fuel due to the high costs of feedstock collection, complex refining processes, and a lack of scaled production infrastructure globally.
Sources: SHEIN Press Release
Expanding SAF Pilots and Logistics Partnerships
The DHL GoGreen Plus Agreement
Building on 2025 Initiatives
Global Bottlenecks and the Cost of Decarbonization
Production and Pricing Realities
Policy Friction
The Asia-Pacific Momentum
Regulatory Shifts and Capacity Building
AirPro News analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DHL’s GoGreen Plus service?
How much of global aviation fuel is currently SAF?
Why is SAF more expensive than conventional jet fuel?
Photo Credit: SHEIN
Sustainable Aviation
Aviation Capital Group Publishes 2025 Sustainability Report Highlighting Fleet Modernization
Aviation Capital Group’s 2025 Sustainability Report details fleet modernization, emissions reductions, and new sustainability-linked financial commitments.
This article is based on an official press release from Aviation Capital Group.
Aviation Capital Group (ACG), a prominent global full-service aircraft asset manager, has officially p-shed its 2025 Sustainability Report. The document marks the company’s fifth annual review detailing its progress across key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities.
According to the company’s press release, the 2025 report highlights significant strides in fleet modernization and emissions reductions. As the aviation industry faces mounting pressure to decarbonize, aircraft lessors are increasingly prioritizing newer, more fuel-efficient technology to meet long-term climate targets.
The newly released data underscores ACG’s ongoing transition toward a lower-emission portfolio, supported by strategic financial mechanisms and a growing backlog of next-generation aircraft commitments.
In its official press release, ACG reported that new generation, lower-emissions aircraft now account for 79% of its total fleet. This shift is the result of a deliberate fleet renewal strategy executed throughout the year. During 2025, the lessor added 52 new generation aircraft to its portfolio while simultaneously exiting 36 older generation airframes.
These modernization efforts have yielded measurable environmental benefits. ACG stated that it successfully reduced its relative emissions to 13% below its 2018 baseline. Furthermore, the company noted that its portfolio’s relative emissions are now 14% below the broader aviation industry average.
Looking ahead, the lessor continues to build its pipeline of modern aircraft. As of February 2026, ACG has increased its future aircraft commitments to more than 180 aircraft, ensuring a steady influx of fuel-efficient technology in the coming years.
Beyond fleet metrics, the 2025 Sustainability Report outlines ACG’s integration of ESG principles into its financial and corporate operations. The company announced the extension and upsizing of its Sustainability Linked Loan, which now totals $575 million. Additionally, ACG signed its first Sustainability Linked Leases, aligning its leasing structures with environmental performance metrics. On the social responsibility front, the press release highlighted that ACG contributed to more than 20 worthy causes worldwide during the 2025 calendar year.
Company leadership emphasized the importance of these initiatives in the context of broader industry goals.
“I am pleased to share ACG’s 2025 Sustainability Report, which reflects the progress we have made embedding sustainability, social responsibility and governance excellence into all aspects of our business. While the path to achieving net zero by 2050 is becoming increasingly demanding, we remain committed to shaping a sustainable future by deepening our impact as a business and broadening our influence across the wider aviation ecosystem through action, leadership, and collaboration.”
, Thomas Baker, Chief Executive Officer and President of ACG, in a company statement.
We observe that aircraft leasing companies like Aviation Capital Group play a pivotal role in the aviation industry’s transition to net-zero emissions. Because lessors finance a substantial portion of the global commercial fleet, their procurement decisions directly influence the speed at which older, less efficient aircraft are retired.
By tying financial instruments, such as the $575 million Sustainability Linked Loan and newly introduced Sustainability Linked Leases, to environmental targets, lessors create tangible economic incentives for airlines to operate cleaner aircraft. ACG’s reported metric of maintaining portfolio emissions 14% below the industry average demonstrates how aggressive fleet renewal strategies can outpace the broader market’s decarbonization curve.
Founded in 1989, Aviation Capital Group is a premier full-service aircraft asset manager and a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokyo Century Corporation. According to the company, it has approximately 450 owned, managed, and committed aircraft as of December 31, 2025.
As of the end of 2025, ACG leases its aircraft to roughly 85 airlines operating in approximately 50 countries worldwide.
The company reported that its future aircraft commitments have grown to more than 180 aircraft as of February 2026, focusing heavily on new generation, lower-emissions technology.
Fleet Modernization and Emissions Reductions
Financial Commitments and Corporate Governance
AirPro News analysis
The Leasing Sector’s Role in Aviation Sustainability
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Aviation Capital Group (ACG)?
How many airlines does ACG serve?
What are ACG’s future fleet plans?
Sources
Photo Credit: Aviation Capital Group
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