Pratt defends its engines for Airbus jetliner

New York

AN engine supplier for Airbus Group SE's revamped A320neo jetliner, due for its first delivery this month, has rebutted a report by JPMorgan Chase & Co analysts that the power plants may not meet performance benchmarks because of possible modifications.

"Our engines are currently meeting the fuel-efficiency commitments we have made to our customers," said Jay DeFrank, a spokesman for United Technologies Corp's Pratt & Whitney division.

The company's response underscored the importance of fuel economy metrics in Pratt's competition with General Electric Co to power narrow-body jets, the biggest and most lucrative segment of the global airline fleet.

Pratt has promised a 15 per cent fuel saving on its so-called geared-turbofan engine, whose development has required…