GE Aviation

--EVENDALE, Ohio - Airbus Industrie and GE Aircraft Engines have signed an exclusive agreement under which a joint team will study the engine requirements for a stretched version of the Airbus A340 aircraft.The GE engine under study would have a thrust capability beginning at 51,000 pounds and would be used to power the planned A340-600 growth version of the A340. The A340-600 aircraft would be a 20-frame stretch of today's A340, capable of carrying 375 passengers in a three-class layout over 7,000 nautical miles (13,000 kilometers). The contemplated changes would increase today's A340 capacity by 75 seats, while maintaining the A340's range capability. Airbus Industrie is studying the A340-600 for a potential entry into airline revenue service in the early 2000s."Airbus Industrie selected GE to power its first commercial aircraft more than 25 years ago, and this has resulted in a very important and long-standing relationship," said Gene Murphy, president of GE Aircraft Engines. "We are pleased at the prospect of once again being associated with the development of a new Airbus Industrie aircraft." "With the support of GE, Airbus Industrie has been able to offer customers unmatched versatility, ranging from the 125-seat A319 to the 300-seat A340," said Jean Pierson, managing director of Airbus Industrie. "I am hopeful that together we can extend this very successful tradition to offer our customers an aircraft perfectly suited to the needs of the 21st century." To date, Airbus Industrie has won 312 firm orders from 39 customers worldwide for its A330/A340 family, of which more than 100 aircraft have already been delivered and are in service with 23 operators.