EAST HARTFORD, Conn., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- IndiGo has selected Pratt & Whitney PurePower PW1100G engines to power its fleet of 150 new Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The decision represents 300 firm PW1100G engines with options for additional engines. In addition, IndiGo has also chosen Pratt & Whitney to provide maintenance for these PurePower engines. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

"Our selection underscores the confidence in the Pratt & Whitney PurePower engine and is another important milestone in IndiGo's history," said Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia, founders of IndiGo. "At IndiGo, we are committed to maintain low fares while reducing our impact on the environment through the use of green technology such as these PurePower engines."

"The PurePower engine's benefits will allow us to make dramatic improvements in environmental performance with reduced emissions and significant savings in fuel consumption," said IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh. "We are very pleased to extend these benefits to our customers, as they select IndiGo as India's greenest carrier."

"We are honored IndiGo chose the PurePower engine -- one of the largest engine orders in recent aviation history -- for their new A320neo family fleet," said Pratt & Whitney President David Hess.  "For more than 85 years Pratt & Whitney has delivered dependable engines for its global customers.  We look forward to delivering these dependable PurePower engines with its fuel burn, maintenance and environmental benefits to IndiGo as they grow to meet India's new demands."

Each IndiGo Airbus A320neo family aircraft will be powered by two PurePower PW1100G engines with benefits including double-digit reductions in fuel burn, environmental emissions, engine noise and operating costs when compared to today's engines.

"PurePower PW1100G engines are the ideal choice for IndiGo," said Todd Kallman, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines & Global Services president. "This revolutionary engine will allow IndiGo significant operating cost savings combined with emissions and noise reductions."

With this selection, Pratt & Whitney now has more than 1,200 PW1000G engines on order, including options. The PurePower engine uses an advanced gear system allowing the engine's fan to operate at a different speed than the low-pressure compressor and turbine. The combination of the gear system and an all-new advanced core delivers double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency and environmental emissions as well as a 50 percent reduction in noise.  

IndiGo is India's largest low-cost carrier, as well as the fastest growing carrier. It operates domestic services linking 25 destinations. Its main base is Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.  

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines, space propulsion systems and industrial gas turbines. United Technologies, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the global aerospace and building industries.

This release includes "forward looking statements" concerning future business opportunities and other matters involving this engine that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in forward looking statements include changes in the health of the global economy and the strength of end market demand in the aerospace industry; as well as company specific items including the ability to achieve cost reductions at planned levels; challenges in the design, development, production and support of advanced technologies including this engine, and new products including the engine discussed in this press release; and delays and disruption in delivery of materials and services from suppliers. For information identifying other important economic, political, regulatory, legal, technological, competitive and other uncertainties, see UTC's SEC filings as submitted from time to time, including but not limited to, the information included in UTC's 10-K and 10-Q Reports under the headings "Business," "Risk Factors," "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Cautionary Note Concerning Factors that May Affect Future Results," as well as the information included in UTC's Current Reports on Form 8-K.

For more information on the Pratt & Whitney PurePower engine, visit www.purepowerengines.com

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SOURCE Pratt & Whitney