Honeywell is to supply its 131-9A auxiliary power units (APUs) for Air Arabia’s existing order of 120 Airbus A320neo aircraft.

Air Arabia will receive comprehensive maintenance support for the Honeywell APUs, ensuring enhanced dispatch reliability and fleet availability, and lower unplanned maintenance costs across the carrier’s fleet.

With the integration of the 131-9A APUs, the low-cost carrier will also be able to implement Honeywell’s High Efficiency Mode (HEM) upgrade, which allows for a 1-2% improvement in fuel efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions reduction of up to 22 metric tonnes 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.

Khaled Hashem, president of Honeywell Middle East and Africa, said: “Our APUs are addressing the increasing demands of customers who require more reliable components with improved environmental performance.

“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 chief executive of  Air Arabia, said: “This agreement builds on our existing partnership with Honeywell and supports Air Arabia’s broader fleet growth strategy, emphasising our commitment to implementing sustainable practices across our operations while adopting the latest technology to enhance fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.”

The 131 series APU has become one of the most successful APUs of all time, with over 100 million hours of in-service use.

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