EVENDALE, OHIO -- Emirates has finalized an agreement to purchase 10 Boeing 747-8 freighters, powered by GEnx engines. The purchase agreement for the 45 GEnx engines is valued at more than $600 million (USD). Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2010.
Emirates has also signed an 10-year, $300 million OnPointSM Solutions agreement for the maintenance and overhaul of the GEnx fleet.
Emirates and General Electric have established a strong relationship and cooperation. As one of the world's fasting growing international airlines, the company operates CF6-powered Airbus A310s, CFM56-powered A340s, and GE90-powered 777-300ERs with an additional 46 GE90-powered 777 aircraft on order. The airline is also the largest customer for the Airbus A380 and the Engine Alliance's GP7200 engines with 45 A380s on order.
To enhance the engine maintenance requirements of its growing fleet, Emirates is building a new jet engine testing facility in Dubai, designed and managed in cooperation with GE. Opening next year, the facility will be the only one of its size in the Middle East and will be capable of testing aircraft engines up to 150,000 pounds of thrust.
"Emirates and GE have worked together to ensure the airline has had great success flying GE-powered aircraft," said Scott Donnelly, President and CEO of GE-Aviation. "We will continue to work together to ensure the GEnx has this same level of success with Emirates."
The GEnx, based on the highly successful GE90, will succeed GE's CF6 engine. Under development, GEnx is a best-selling engine for new wide-body aircraft, with orders exceeding 600 engines.
Powering the new Boeing 747-8F, the GEnx provides significantly better specific fuel consumption and payload performance than the CF6. 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 GEnx also features a new combustor for efficient fuel mixing prior to ignition, resulting in significantly lower oxides of nitrogen (Nox) levels.
The GEnx and the GE90 are 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 is also the world's leading provider of maintenance and support services for jet engines.
SMOnPoint is a service mark of General Electric Company.