EVENDALE, Ohio -- Continental Airlines (NYSE: CAL) has chosen GE - Aviation's GEnx jet engine to power its additional order of 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The engine order is valued at more than $250 million. 



This additional order from Continental doubles the airlines' Boeing 787 fleet to 20 aircraft, all powered by GEnx engines. Continental is the first U.S.-based airline to select the GEnx engine for its 787 fleet. Aircraft deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2009. 



A leading operator of GE jet engines, Continental flies more than 300 aircraft powered by GE and CFM56* engines. Continental was also one of the first operators of GE90-powered 777 aircraft. The airline's fleet includes 767s powered by GE's CF6-80C2 engines and 737s powered by CFM56 engines. 



Testing began earlier this year on the GEnx engine. Engine certification is scheduled for 2007. 



The GEnx is based on the highly successful GE90 architecture. It will succeed GE's CF6 engine family, which is the most reliable and best-selling engine on wide-body aircraft. It provides significantly better specific fuel consumption and payload performance than GE's CF6 engines. 



The GEnx engine is the world's only jet engine with both a front fan case and fan blades made of composites, which provide for greater engine durability, weight reduction and lower operating costs. The fan blades will utilize GE90 composite technology that has performed well, with no routine on-wing maintenance required and no in-service issue for more than a decade. The GEnx will operate with 18 fan blades (50 percent fewer than the CF6) at noise levels lower than any large GE commercial engine. The GEnx also features a new combustor for efficient fuel mixing before ignition, resulting in significantly lower oxides of nitrogen (Nox) levels. 



The GEnx is part of GE's "ecomagination" product portfolio--GE's commitment to develop new, cost-effective technologies that enhance customers' environmental and operating performance. 



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. 



*CFM56 is a trademark of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma of France and General Electric Company.