Are new engines worth the wait? Not really. |

As readers may have noticed from our posts last week, we've been analyzing a large set of ADS-B flight data—over 1 million flights—to understand airline operational dynamics better. One key focus has been Total Ground Time (TGT) across narrowbody aircraft types. The chart below categorizes 737-family aircraft by generation, providing a more precise comparison than the previously posted summary chart. We’ve also included A320 and A321 variants to highlight cross-fleet trends. [caption id="attachment_94994" align="aligncenter" width="775"] TGT by generation2[/caption] Aircraft equipped with new-generation engines (LEAP, GTF—categorized as "current") consistently show higher TGT than their predecessors. This supports our earlier analysis of EU LCCs, but here we extend the lens to a global dataset. The tradeoff airlines face is straightforward: Newer engines require longer warm-up and cool-down periods. However, they also offer better fuel efficiency, and our analysis suggests that real-world fuel burn improvements exceed the ~16% initially promised, with some operators achieving gains of 20% or better, based on DOT data. At a recent Paris Air Show pre-briefing, Pratt & Whitney’s Rick Deurloo confirmed that GTF customers value reliability even above fuel burn, and are willing to trade some performance for durability. Still, it’s notable that the GTF is outperforming expectations on fuel burn. The last row of the table presents a rough estimate of the tradeoff—TGT cost vs fuel savings. These are not exact figures but provide a ballpark understanding. Results will naturally vary by operator, turnaround practices, and local airport conditions. One curious point: A321 TGTs are identical across engine generations. That likely reflects operational procedures or infrastructure rather than engine-related factors. It warrants a deeper dive. [caption id="attachment_95007" align="aligncenter" width="742"] Various sources: AirInsight[/caption] Takeaway: Time > Fuel While fuel savings are significant, time remains the most valuable resource for airlines. Minutes lost on the ground erode aircraft utilization and schedule flexibility. The data here reinforces a persistent operational truth: fuel is relatively inexpensive compared to time.

US Flight Planner - US DoT On-Time Data	Airbus vs Boeing - Official OEM Data
US Airline Schedule Performance - US DoT Data	Daily OEM Production & Deliveries -

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