EVENDALE, OH - On December 28, 1995, the world's most powerful jet engine--the GE90--on a new Boeing 777 was delivered to China Southern Airlines. Since then, GE and China Southern have developed a strong relationship and demonstrated the outstanding reliability of the GE90 engines. 

China Southern was the first Asian airline to operate the GE90-powered, 777 aircraft, and the airline has continued to garner more firsts with this engine and aircraft. In 1997, China Southern made aviation history with the world's first, non-stop flight between mainland China and the United States with the GE90 engine-777 aircraft combination. In 2000, the airline awarded GE a 10-year, $215 million engine service agreement for the GE90 engines, which was the first long-term maintenance agreement with a Chinese airline. This service agreement was extended through 2013. Today, China Southern operates 10 777 aircraft and 25 GE90 engines. 

"China Southern operates the largest fleet and the highest density routes in China, as well as handling the highest volume turnover," said Mr. Yuan Xin An, Vice President of China Southern. "Over the past 10 years, the GE90 has played an important role in supporting our operations by improving operational safety, customer satisfaction, and helping to establish the China Southern brand. We are continuing to build our relationship with GE and look forward to a long and successful future together." 

Throughout the last decade, GE has continued to invest in the GE90 engine family, which has grown from its initial certification at 76,400 pounds of thrust to an unprecedented 115,000 pounds of thrust today. To date, more than 350 GE90 engines are in service. 

GE introduced the first major derivative growth engine, the GE90-94B, in 2000. The baseline GE90-76B through the GE90-94B engines have logged more than 6.4 million flight hours. The GE90-94B engine, in particular, has an outstanding in-flight shutdown rate of 0.003 per 1000 engine flight-hours, well below the current 180-minute ETOPS requirement of 0.020 per 1000 engine flight-hours. With this level of performance, the GE90-94B engine has set a high standard of performance for high-thrust engines. 

In 2004, the GE90-115B entered service, powering the 777-300ER. To date, the GE90-115B engine has completed more than 160,000 hours and 22,000 cycles with no engine removals and no in-flight shutdowns--a remarkable achievement for an entry into service of a new jet engine. The GE90-115B engine is currently awaiting type certification on the 777-200LR. Delivery of the first 777-200LR aircraft is scheduled for January 2006. 

"This year has been outstanding for engine orders with more than 130 GE90 engines ordered by eight customers," says Tom Wygle, general manager of the GE90 engine program. "These new orders reflect our customers' trust in the technology and recognition of the operational benefits the GE90 engine has demonstrated." 

Technologies from the GE90 continue to play a role in the new engines that GE is developing. The Engine Alliance, a joint venture between GE and Pratt & Whitney, utilized the GE90's hot section design for the GP7200, which will power the Airbus A380. The GE90's highly successful composite fan blades will be incorporated into the new GEnx engine for Boeing's 787 and 747-8 aircraft and the Airbus A350 aircraft. 

GE - Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE also is a global provider of maintenance and support services for operators of GE jet engines.