Pratt & Whitney is introducing its ‘hot section plus’ or ‘HS+’ upgrade option for the PW1100G-JM geared turbofan (GTF) engine that powers the A320neo aircraft family.
The upgrade option pulls from the company's new GTF Advantage engine, which doubles the GTF engine's time on wing, compared to current GTF engines. Pratt & Whitney said the upgrade option will provide 90-95% of GTF Advantage's durability benefits.
“HS+ brings the durability improvements of the GTF Advantage hot section to today's GTF engine,” said Pratt & Whitney vice president, sales & marketing Nick Tomassetti. “Customers operating the current GTF engine model will have the opportunity to nearly double time on wing.”
The option incorporates around 35 different parts during shop visits. All customers are able to purchase the upgrade, with installations beginning next year. The upgraded engines will be “fully intermixable and interchangeable" with the current and new iteration of the GTF model.
In the high-pressure turbine (HPT), the enhancements include an advanced airfoil design with improved coatings. The HPT and combustor also feature optimized cooling hole size, shape and location, with improved hole drilling techniques to reduce oxidation.
Speaking to a media conference at the Paris Air Show, Rick Deurloo, president of Pratt commercial engines, stated the company anticipates doubling its GTF maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) output in 2026 compared to 2024 levels.
When asked about current challenges faced by the company, in relation to the recall and inspection programme of PW1100 engines, Deurloo stated that Pratt & Whitney is “right on track” to solving issues related to the engine type.
On June 18, 2025, the company also said it has received nearly 1,100 GTF engine orders and commitments since the beginning of this year. In total, over 12,000 GTF engine orders and commitments have been placed by over 90 customers worldwide.