Agreement Will Help Airline Meet Goal of Lowering Costs
AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI) , signed an exclusive agreement today with JET Aircraft Maintenance, Inc., a designated service provider of Pratt & Whitney Global Service Partners EcoPower(R) engine wash services. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) company.
Under the agreement, AirTran will use EcoPower(R) engine wash services on its fleet of 143 aircraft, which consists of Boeing 737-700s and 717-200s, part of America's youngest all-Boeing fleet.
"With today's rising fuel costs, we see EcoPower engine wash and this agreement with JET Aircraft Maintenance as a key step to improving our operating costs," said Kirk Thornburg, vice president of maintenance and engineering for AirTran Airways. "Over time, we expect this agreement to save AirTran Airways about a million gallons of fuel annually, which leads right to savings at the bottom line."
"Pratt & Whitney's EcoPower engine wash service is the best in the industry," said Miguel A. Villacorta, president and CEO, JET Aircraft Maintenance, Inc. "As a leading line maintenance provider in the United States, we are pleased to offer this effective, environmentally friendly service to AirTran Airways."
EcoPower(R) washes reduce engine fuel burn by as much as 1.2 percent, eliminate three pounds of carbon dioxide emissions for every pound of fuel saved, and decrease exhaust gas temperature by as much as 15 degrees Celsius, improving performance and increasing the amount of time an engine can stay on wing.
Through its franchise agreement, JET operates EcoPower(R) service centers at Miami International Airport (MIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), Palm Beach International Airport (PBI), Tampa International Airport (TPA) and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW).
