UTC Aerospace Systems will supply aircraft wheels and carbon brakes to British low-cost airline easyJet for 68 new Airbus A320ceo jets it is adding to its fleet. UTC Aero has been the wheel and brake supplier to easyJet since its A320 aircraft fleet entered service in 2008.
The components and systems will be manufactured at UTC Aero’s Landing Systems operation in Troy, Ohio. The value and other terms of the contract, which also includes unspecified MRO services for easyJet, was not announced.
The United Technologies Corp. business unit also will provide MRO services to easyJet at its Hatfield, England, location, close to the airline’s Luton Airport headquarters.
"This selection demonstrates easyJet's confidence in our track record of providing quality products and services with the lowest total cost of ownership," stated Jim Wharton, president, Landing Systems. UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures, and services systems and component parts for commercial and military aerospace and defense.
The A320 is family of twin-engine, narrow-body passenger jets for short- to medium-range routes. The “ceo” suffix refers to the “current engine option” — either the CFM International CFM56, the International Aero Engines V2500, or Pratt & Whitney PW600 — in contrast to the “new engine option” (A320neo.)
EasyJet has over 200 variants of the A320 series in service. In 2013 it announced plans to purchase 35 Airbus A320ceos for delivery between 2015 and 2017, and 100 Airbus A320neos for delivery between 2017 and 2022. It also has purchase options for 100 part of the agreement the airline will have purchase rights on a further 100 A320neo aircraft. The A320ceos and fifty of the A320neos will replace current aircraft.
"We are very pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with UTC Aerospace Systems who has supported our fleet since 2003," said Ian Davies, head of engineering and maintenance. “We look forward to optimizing our maintenance and reliability with this equipment.”
