Air Arabia selects Honeywell APUs for A320neo fleet

Air Arabia Group selected Honeywell to supply its 131-9A auxiliary power units (APUs) for the airline’s existing order of 120 Airbus A320neo family aircraft. The agreement between Honeywell and Air Arabia provides comprehensive maintenance support for Honeywell APUs, ensuring enhanced dispatch reliability and fleet availability, improved fuel efficiency and lower unplanned maintenance costs across the carrier’s fleet.

An APU is a critical piece of aircraft equipment that provides electrical power and air conditioning to a plane while it is on the ground. It helps ensure passenger comfort and supplies the air source before a pilot is ready to start the main engines.

“Our APUs are addressing the increasing demands of customers who require more reliable components with improved environmental performance,” said Khaled Hashem, President of Honeywell Middle East and Africa. “This latest milestone in our more than 10-year relationship with Air Arabia highlights our long-term dedication to providing the region’s world-class carriers with the highest levels of technology and innovation.”

Adel Al Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia said, “This agreement builds on our existing partnership with Honeywell and supports Air Arabia’s broader fleet growth strategy, emphasizing our commitment to implementing sustainable practices across our operations while adopting the latest technology to enhance fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.

With the integration of the 131-9A APUs, Air Arabia will also be able to implement Honeywell’s High Efficiency Mode (HEM) upgrade, which allows for a 1% to 2% improvement in fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions reduction of up to 22 metric tons per APU per year. The HEM upgrade also supports Air Arabia’s continued industry-wide focus on accelerating sustainability, as the MENA region builds on the outcomes and commitments from COP28.

APUs are part of a broad range of Honeywell technologies that are shaping the future of aviation, one of three global megatrends to which Honeywell’s portfolio is aligned.

Honeywell has produced more than 100,000 gas turbine APUs over the last 70 years. The 131 series APU has become one of the most successful APUs of all time, with over 100 million hours of in-service use.

Air Arabia (PJSC), listed on the Dubai Financial Market, is a Middle East and North Africa low-cost carrier (LCC) operator. Air Arabia commenced operations in October 2003 and currently operates a total fleet of 74 new Airbus A320 & A321 aircraft, serving some 206 routes from its hubs in the UAE, Morocco, Egypt, and Pakistan (Fly Jinnah). Air Arabia Group is an award-winning airline operator that focuses on offering comfort, reliability, and value-for-money air travel.