MUMBAI, India -- Celebrations were held in Mumbai, India, yesterday as Air India prepares to make history as the first India-based operator to offer direct, nonstop flights between India and the United States with its new GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner aircraft.
The aircraft is the first delivery of Air India's order of eight Boeing 777-200LRs powered by the GE90-110B and 15 Boeing 777-300ERs powered by the GE90-115B engines. Air India begins service from Mumbai, India, to New York's JFK International Airport on the newly delivered aircraft today.
"GE is very excited to power Air India's new Boeing 777-200LR Worldliner as it makes history," said Roger Seager, vice president of sales for GE Aviation. "The GE90 engine has performed extremely well, and we are thrilled to be part of the airline's major fleet renewal."
Air India currently operates a fleet of eight 747-400s, one 747-400 Combi, two 747-300 Combis, four 777-200s and 19 Airbus 310-300s. The 777s will replace the airlines' current fleet of 747-200 aircraft. Air India also ordered 27 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, powered by the GEnx engine.
GE and Air India have also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on joint environmental initiatives, including the reduction in fuel burn and lower operating costs achieved with the advance GE90 and GEnx engines.
Engineers at the John F. Welch Technology Centre (JFWTC) in Bangalore, India, GE's research and development centre, played a key role in the technology development of the GE90 and GEnx engines. The Centre provided analysis and test validation support for the development phase of TAPS combustion system for the GEnx and composite fan blades, which were first used in the GE90 and will also be used in the GEnx.
The GE90-115B, the world's most powerful engine, recently passed its one million flight hour milestone and has an outstanding departure reliability rate of 99.96 percent GE has sold more than 750 GE90-115B/-110B engines to 28 customers since it began selling the engine in 2000.
The engine is one the quietest based on per pound of thrust with superior fuel burn and low overall emissions due in part to its improved combustor. The combustor technology emits no more than 40 percent of the hydrocarbons that will be allowed by 2008 international standards.
The GE90-115B and GEnx are part of GE's "ecomagination" product portfolio--GE's commitment to develop new, cost-effective technologies that enhance customers' environmental and operating performance.
Snecma of France, Avio SpA. of Italy, and IHI of Japan are revenue-sharing participants in the GE90 program.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.