EVENDALE, OHIO -- Qatar Airways has ordered 40 high-thrust GE90 engines to power 20 longer-range Boeing 777s in an engine order valued at more than $750 million (USD).
Qatar Airways ordered 14 777-300ERs, powered by the GE90-115B; and six 777-200LR Worldliners, powered by the GE90-110B. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2007.
The order is part of a growing relationship between General Electric Company and Qatar Airways, which has built a significant reputation among the world's elite airlines. The airline already operates a large fleet of Airbus A330 aircraft powered by the GE CF6 engine.
Qatar Airways is one of the world's fastest growing airlines, operating a fleet of 47 aircraft flying to 70 destinations worldwide from its operational hub of Doha, capital of the State of Qatar.
Recently named "Airline of the Year" at the annual Middle East and North Africa (MENA) travel awards, Qatar Airways is also one of only four airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry monitoring agency.
"There is a strong working relationship between the two companies," said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker. "GE works well with our maintenance teams with a goal of maximizing the performance of our CF6 fleet. We look forward to operating the GE90 as well."
The GE90-115B, the world's most powerful jet engine, is experiencing one of the most successful airline service entries of a high-thrust jet engine in aviation history.
The GE90-115B entered service in 2004 at an unprecedented 115,000 pounds (512 kN) thrust. Since then, the GE90-115B has accumulated more than 475,000 hours and 70,000 cycles with no in-flight shutdowns-- a remarkable achievement for a new jet engine.
Production of the GE90 engine family will more than double between 2005 and 2007--capitalizing on the extraordinary success of Boeing's 777-300ER (Extended Range) and 777-200LR aircraft.
This has propelled production rates at GE's Durham, North Carolina, engine assembly facility from 73 GE90 engines in 2005 to more than 170 engines in 2007.
In total, 30 customers have ordered about 950 GE90 engines for the 777 family, including nearly 500 of the higher-thrust GE90-115B engines for the longer-range 777-300ER and 777-200LR aircraft.
The GE90-115B is 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 one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE also is a world-leading provider of maintenance and support services for jet engines.