The Boeing 757, a rare sight in Europe, remains incredibly popular in Northern America. Despite a significant age increase, UPS continues to rely on the 757 and its dependable PW2000 turbofan engine.
UPS also foresees a significant role for the Boeing 757 and the Pratt & Whitney engines that power a large portion of these aircraft in the future. The American package giant has 75 Boeing 757s in active service, with an average age of close to 32 years. Some of these planes are even approaching 38 years old. Almost half of these aircraft are powered by the PW2000 turbofan engine. Pratt and Whitney specifically developed the engine for the Boeing 757 in the 1980s. This very engine remains essential in the fleet of cargo airline UPS.
Delta
Instead of modernization, UPS is opting for proven reliability. The airline has therefore signed a ten-year maintenance contract with Delta Tech Ops, the maintenance division of Delta Air Lines. They are going to keep the PW2000 engines in optimal condition. ‘Delta Tech Ops is pleased to announce an MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) contract with UPS for the maintenance of the Pratt & Whitney PW2037 engines,’ said a spokesperson.
This contract covers the entire UPS 757 fleet equipped with these engines and is valid for the next ten years. The choice of Delta does not come as a surprise. The airline was the first operator of the PW2037 upon the introduction of the Boeing 757-200. Even today, Delta still flies over 110 Boeing 757s, mainly of the -200 type.
For UPS, it is a clear indication that the Boeing 757 – and particularly the PW2000 – is far from obsolete. With specialised support from Delta, this freighter aircraft type appears capable of lasting at least another decade, despite its age. In the current era, sustainability, innovation, and the replacement of older aircraft is of high priority. UPS, however, consciously chooses reliability, experience, and proven technology.