PHOENIX, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that it will provide its 131-9A Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for Air China's new A320 aircraft deliveries and will also administer an exclusive supply agreement for APUs on 141 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, at a total contract value of $64 million.

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"Honeywell's APU has a simple design that delivers high reliability and lower on-aircraft maintenance costs - up to 36 percent less than other APUs," said Mike Madsen, Vice President, Airlines, Honeywell Aerospace. "Air China will also benefit from an exclusive supply agreement that lowers inventory costs."

Honeywell's 131-9A is the most popular APU for single-aisle commercial transport, with more than 1,700 APUs in the field, including both forward-fit and retrofit applications. 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.

The Honeywell 131-9A has had many technology improvements since its introduction in 1998, including a 5 percent fuel consumption savings due to a de-rate modification.

Air China's 25 A320 deliveries begin this year. The maintenance agreement covers 89 Boeing Next-Generation 737s, which use Honeywell's 131-9B APU, and a total of 52 A320s, which use Honeywell's 131-9A.