GE Aviation

--EVENDALE, OHIO -- Alitalia has ordered GE CF6-80C2 engines to power five firm and three option Boeing 747 aircraft in an engine order worth more than $200 million. "Alitalia is a long-time GE customer," said John Mor, sales director for GE Aircraft Engines' southern Europe region. "We are gratified by the continued confidence this latest order shows in our products." Delivery of the firm 747 aircraft is scheduled to begin in 2001. Alitalia, headquartered in Rome, is one of GE's largest customers, with more than 200 GE engines in service or on order. Since entering service in 1985, the CF6-80C2 has established itself as the most reliable, cost-efficient powerplant in its thrust class. With almost 60 million flight hours, the CF6-80C2 enjoys a dispatch reliability of 99.97 percent which translates to less than one departure per 5,000 being delayed or cancelled for engine related issues; and in-flight shutdown rate of 0.005, or one event every 200,000 flight hours. "GE continually invests in technology for the CF6 to provide customers with leading reliability and low cost of ownership," said Mor. "This is why the CF6 family of engines continues to be the powerplant of choice for wide-body aircraft."