Honeywell will provide its 131-9A Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) to Air China, Hainan Airlines and China Southern Airlines in agreements valued at more than $140 million combined.

Honeywell announced it will provide the APUs for Air China’s new A320 aircraft deliveries and will administer an exclusive supply agreement for APUs on 141 Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Honeywell will also provide the APUs and a 10-year maintenance program to Hainan Airlines of China for 13 new Airbus A320 aircraft, and to China Southern Airlines for new Airbus A320 and Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft, as well as supply APU materials, spares and service on existing China Southern aircraft.

“Honeywell’s APU is averaging more than 10,000 hours between unscheduled repair events, a more than 60 percent improvement over other APUs in its class size,” said Mike Madsen, Vice President, Airlines, Honeywell Aerospace. Honeywell’s on-aircraft maintenance costs are up to 36 percent less than other APUs because of the simple design.”

Honeywell’s 131-9A APU is the most commonly used APU for single-aisle commercial transport, totaling more than 1,700 APUs in service including forward-fit and retrofit. An APU is a small gas-powered turbine engine that provides bleed air for main engine starting and electrical power for cockpit and galley systems. Honeywell introduced the 131-9A in 1998 and continues technological advances to the design – a recent de-rate modification reduces fuel consumption by 5 percent. The 131-9A APU reduces emissions and fuel consumption over the life of the APU. The total cost of ownership is further reduced by high reliability and low maintenance costs.

For more information read the press releases on Honeywell’s agreements with Hainan Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines.