Pratt & Whitney PW1000G

The Pratt & Whitney PW1000G family, also marketed as the Pratt & Whitney GTF (geared turbofan), is a family of high-bypass geared turbofan engines produced by Pratt & Whitney. The various models can generate 15,000 to 33,000 pounds-force (67 to 147 kilonewtons) of thrust. As of 2025, they are used on the Airbus A220, Airbus A320neo family, and Embraer E-Jet E2. They were also used on new Yakovlev MC-21s until exports to Russia were stopped as part of the international sanctions during the invasion of Ukraine.

Following years of development and testing on various demonstrators, the program officially launched in 2008 with the PW1200G destined for the later-canceled Mitsubishi SpaceJet. The first successful flight test occurred later that year. The PW1500G variant, designed for the A220, became the first certified engine in 2013. P&W is estimated to have spent $10 billion to develop the engine family.

Unlike traditional turbofan engines whose single shaft forces all components to turn at the same speed, the PW1000G has a gearbox between the fan and the low-pressure core. This allows each section to operate at its optimal speed: the large front fan spins slower for air-intake efficiency, while the core with its compressor and turbine spins much faster for thrust. Pratt & Whitney says this enables the PW1000G to use 16% less fuel and produce 75% less noise than previous generation engines.

The engine family initially garnered interest from airlines due to its fuel efficiency, but technical problems have hurt its standing in the market. For example, early problems with the PW1100G variant, which powers the A320neo family, grounded aircraft and caused in-flight failures. Some engines were built with contaminated powdered metal, requiring repairs of 250 to 300 days. Some airlines chose the CFM LEAP engine instead.