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COPA Orders CF34-10-Powered EMBARER 190 Aircraft

October 19, 2004

PANAMA CITY, Panama - In a ceremony here today, COPA (Compania Panamena de Aviacion) Airlines announced that it will purchase 10 EMBARAER 190s powered by GE's CF34-10 engine. The aircraft are scheduled to begin delivery in 2006, and the order is worth approximately $40 million at list price. 

Copa began scheduled service in 1947 and today is Panama's major commercial airline, operating routes to 31 destinations in 20 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean from its hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, Panama. In addition, Copa offers flights to 120 other international destinations through code-share agreements with Continental and Mexicana airlines. 

"Copa is one of the most successful airlines in Latin American, and we're pleased and honored by its choice to make the CF34 such an integral part of its operations," said Charles Blankenship, general manager of the Small Commercial Engine Operation for GE Transportation - Aircraft Engines (GE). "The CF34-10 powerplant represents the state of the art for jet engines and is the culmination of GE's $1.5 billion investment in this market segment. This engine will provide Copa the right combination of reliability and operational economics to help the airline maintain a profitable operation long term." 

GE launched the CF34-10E propulsion system for the 100-passenger EMBRAER 190/195 aircraft in 1999. The CF34-10, rated at 18,500 pounds (82 kN) thrust, successfully completed its first flight in March of this year, powering the 90-passsenger EMBRAER 190. Aircraft certification is scheduled for July 2005. 

By combining mature technology with new advancements, the CF34-10 will give airlines better performance, higher reliability, easier maintainability, and the lowest overall of cost of ownership. Technologies include a wide chord fan that enables the engine to achieve higher thrust from a smaller diameter fan for significant weight savings; advanced materials to enhance performance and durability; 3-D aero compressor technology for better efficiency; and the latest controls technology developed for CF34-8, providing better performance, better aircraft integration, and easier maintainability. 

GE Transportation - Aircraft Engines, a division of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is the world's leading manufacturer of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. 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.