GE Aircraft Engines and Emirates, the United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s national airline, have signed a combined spare engine sales and service program agreement valued at one billion dollars. GE’s engine and service contract will support Emirates’ new fleet of Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft on lease, all to be powered by GE90 engine.
As part of the engine and service deal with Emirates, GE will provide seven spare GE90-115B engines to back those installed on the carrier’s 26 new 777 aircraft. GE will also perform maintenance and overhaul for the high-thrust engines at the company’s full-service facility in Cardiff, Wales, as part of a 12-year engine Maintenance Cost Per Hour (MCPH) contract for the new fleet.
“This is a significant milestone in building our long-term relationship with Emirates, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. Emirates is expanding worldwide and the GE90-powered 777s will provide the best economics on the routes they support,” David Calhoun, president and CEO of GE Aircraft Engines, said.
The MCPH program allows Emirates airlines to benefit from GE’s extensive maintenance network, engineering resources and program management expertise. In addition, the program, which is based on a flat rate per engine flight hour, enables the UAE-based airline to forecast operating costs with a higher degree of accuracy.
Emirates expects deliveries of its 777s to begin from 2005. The UAE-based airline is a long-standing customer of GE, with its engines powering a large number of the carrier’s aircraft. Last year, Emirates awarded GE-P&W Engine Alliance a $1.5 billion contact to supply engines for its fleet of A380s.
The world’s largest aircraft engine, with total orders to date in excess of $2.5 billion, the GE90-115B is being certified at an unprecedented 115,000 pounds of thrust. GE has been active in the Gulf since 1933. Its activities in the region are conducted through direct presence, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and a wide network of distributors.
GE has completed strategic projects in various hi-tech industrial sectors, defense-related contracts and major infrastructure developments. GE is a diversified technology, manufacturing and services company. It operates in more than 100 countries and employs nearly 300,000 people worldwide.
GE Aircraft Engines (GEAE), a division of General Electric Company is an international manufacturer of jet engines for civil and military aircraft, including engines produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of Snecma of France and GE. In addition, GEAE provides comprehensive maintenance support, through its GE Engine Services operation, for GE and non-GE jet engines in service throughout the world. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
