MUMBAI, India -- Jet Airways launched its first daily flight from India to the United States with its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, powered by GE90-115B engines. The flight took off Sunday from Mumbai heading to Newark via Brussels, the airline's newly created European hub.
"GE and Jet Airways have enjoyed a long, prosperous relationship since the airline launched its first routes with CFM56* engines on Boeing 737 aircraft in 1993," said David Joyce, vice president and general manager of Commercial Engines for GE Aviation. "It is with great pride that we join with the airline today and are part of their inaugural flight to the United States with our outstanding GE90 engines."
The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft is part of Jet Airways firm order for 13 GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777 aircraft. With these aircraft, the airline will begin daily service from Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Ahmedabad in India to New York, Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles via its Brussels hub.
Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 64 aircraft with four Boeing 777-300 ER, 48 classic and next generation Boeing 737-400/700/800/900 aircraft, four Airbus A330-200 aircraft and eight modern ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft. With an average fleet age of 5.1 years, the airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleets in the world.
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 per pound of thrust. The engine also exhibits superior fuel burn and low overall emissions due in part to its improved combustor. The combustor emits no more than 40 percent of the hydrocarbons that will be allowed by 2008 international standards.
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 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.
*CFM56 engines are produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture between Snecma (SAFRAN Group) and General Electric Company.