RIGA, Latvia - Latvian flag carrier airBaltic in the nation's capital Riga sought a company to maintain its GTF engines on its Airbus A220-300 aircraft. They found their solution from Pratt & Whitney, an RTX company, in Hartford, Conn.
The airline and Pratt & Whitney announced a long-term EngineWise comprehensive maintenance services agreement, which links airBaltic's maintenance costs to the use of the airline's engines.
EngineWise, developed by Pratt & Whitney, is a maintenance and data analytics platform designed to enhance the efficiency and reliability of aircraft engines. RTX says its technology helps airlines and operators improve engine performance, lower maintenance costs, and better manage the engines throughout their lifecycle.
Related: Viva Aerobus selects Pratt & Whitney GTF engines for its new A321neos
The platform gathers real-time data from sensors embedded in aircraft engines during flight. These sensors track key parameters such as temperature, pressure, fuel consumption, and vibration. EngineWise then employs advanced analytics and machine learning to process this data, identifying patterns, predicting maintenance needs, and spotting potential issues before they become serious.
One of the core advantages of EngineWise is its predictive maintenance capabilities. By analyzing engine data, it can anticipate when specific components are likely to fail or deteriorate, allowing maintenance teams to perform timely repairs or replacements. This proactive strategy helps reduce unplanned maintenance, limits aircraft downtime, and extends the life of engine components.
"Pratt & Whitney has been a long-term, trusted collaborator of airBaltic since we became the global launch operator of the Airbus A220-300 aircraft type back in 2016," said Martin Gauss, president and CEO of airBaltic. "The aircraft's PW1500G GTF engines have delivered a 25% reduction in fuel burn per seat compared to previous generations, resulting in significant cost savings. This agreement will support the growth plans of airBaltic towards a 100 Airbus A220-300 fleet by the year 2030. We are looking forward to many more years of successful cooperation with Pratt & Whitney."
Related: LATAM selects Pratt & Whitney GTF engines to power Airbus A320neo family aircraft
"We will provide long-term support to airBaltic to optimize fleet performance as they expand their route network," said Rick Deurloo, president of Commercial Engines at Pratt & Whitney. "We appreciate the airline's continued confidence in the GTF engine and the value it provides with industry-leading fuel efficiency, lower carbon emissions, and smaller noise footprint. Together, we share a strong commitment to make air travel more accessible while reducing the environmental impact."
