PARIS AIR SHOW, Paris, June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Korean Air has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Pratt & Whitney to provide its PurePower^® PW1100G-JM engines for 30 firm plus 20 option A321neo aircraft for Korean Air. The PurePower engine family has completed more than 19,000 hours and 34,000 cycles of full engine testing, including 5,000 hours of flight time. Pratt & Whitney is a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company.

"We look forward to further enhancing our fleet with Pratt & Whitney's PurePower engines," said Walter Cho, Executive Vice President, Korean Air. "Our customers expect operational efficiency and reliability from Korean Air; the PW1100G-JM engine will ensure we meet those expectations with the added benefit of a step-change improvement in environmental performance."

"From our PW4000 engines to our PW1500G engines, Pratt & Whitney and Korean Air have had a fruitful partnership and we are excited to expand our relationship with our PW1100G-JM engine for the Airbus A321neo aircraft," said Greg Gernhardt, president, Pratt & Whitney Commercial Engines. "We are proud to provide Korean Air our industry-changing PurePower engine, which will enable the airline to slash regulated emissions by almost half."

Korean Air, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, is one of the world's top 20 airlines. The airline offers flights to 129 cities in 46 countries. It is a founding member of SkyTeam, the global airline alliance.     

Pratt & Whitney is a world leader in the design, manufacture and service of aircraft engines and auxiliary power units. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, provides high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace industries. To learn more about UTC, visit its website at www.utc.com, or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.

This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning future business opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to changes in levels of demand in the aerospace industry, in levels of air travel, and in the number of aircraft to be built; challenges in the design, development, production, performance and support of advanced technologies; the ability of the parties to reach a definitive agreement for the sale and support of engines; as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time to time in United Technologies Corp.'s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

For more information about Pratt & Whitney, visit http://www.pratt-whitney.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/prattandwhitney
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prattandwhitney
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/prattandwhitney1925
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pratt-&-whitney

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/korean-air-selects-pratt--whitneys-purepower-engines-to-power-30-firm-plus-20-option-a321neos-300099958.html

SOURCE Pratt & Whitney