EVENDALE, OHIO - Qantas Airways Limited has selected GE engines to power 19 wide-body aircraft, as part of its previously announced fleet program valued at $4.6 billion.The engine order to GE is valued at more than $600 million.Qantas ordered CF6-80E1 engines to power 13 Airbus A330-200s and -300s and CF6-80C2 engines for six Boeing 747-400ERs. Aircraft delivery begins in 2002.The airline's selection of GE engines for these new Airbus and Boeing aircraft reflects a market preference toward engines with superior reliability and operational versatility."We are very gratified with Qantas' confidence in our CF6 family," said David Calhoun, president and chief executive officer of GE Aircraft Engines. "GE has continued to make considerable technology investments in the CF6 family to meet and exceed growing customer requirements." The CF6-80C2 is the best-selling engine for wide-body aircraft. However, the CF6-80E1 engine for the A330 is also making outstanding market inroads. In total, 11 customers have now ordered 75 firm CF6-80E1-powered A330 aircraft, with an engine value of more than $2 billion.Qantas currently operates three Boeing 747-400s and 22 767-300ERs with CF6-80C2 engines. The airline's decision to order six GE-powered 747-400ERs is based on the outstanding performance of its initial GE-powered 747 fleet. The CF6-80C2B5F engines that power the airline's new 747-400ERs are rated at 61,500 pounds thrust.