EVENDALE, Ohio -- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has selected the General Electric CF6-80E1 engine to power its six Airbus A330-200 aircraft on order. Delivery of these new aircraft will begin in the summer of 2005. 

Additionally, KLM's Engineering and Maintenance division will become a CF6-80E1 Overhaul Center of Excellence, expanding its CF6 maintenance and overhaul capability for KLM's own fleet and for other customers. 

KLM has an extensive fleet of GE-powered aircraft. The airline operates GE's CF6-80C2 engines on its Boeing 747-400, 767-300ER and MD-11 aircraft, and GE90-94B engines on its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. 

KLM's Boeing 737 fleet is powered by CFM56 engines produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company of Snecma Moteurs and GE. KLM Engineering and Maintenance is maintaining this type of engine as well. 

"KLM is pleased to be finalizing the A330 engine selection process together with General Electric," said Peter Harman, KLM's Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director. "We are now prepared for the engineering and maintenance of this engine type well ahead of the phasing in of our first A330-200 aircraft starting in the summer of 2005." 

"We're excited that KLM has selected the CF6-80E1 engine to power its new Airbus aircraft," said Dave Calhoun, president and CEO of GE Transportation. "This order will strengthen our relationship, and we look forward to continuing our working relationship with KLM." 

The GE CF6 engine family has been the most reliable and best-selling commercial engine. CF6 engines have flown more hours than any other high-bypass engine family, powering more than 10 models of wide-body aircraft. In recent years, the engine family has also played a major role in military aviation in powering transports, tankers and surveillance aircraft. 

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