FARNBOROUGH - Emirates has signed an agreement to purchase 10 Boeing 747-8 freighters, powered by the new GEnx engine. The agreement for 45 GEnx engines is valued at more than $600 million (USD). Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2010.
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.
One of the world's fastest growing international airlines, Emirates has a significant relationship with General Electric Company. The airline operates CF6-powered Airbus A310s, CFM56-powered A340s, and GE90-powered 777-300ERs, and has an additional 46 GE90-powered 777 aircraft on order. The airline also has a 12-year OnPointsm engine services agreement with GE. The airline is the largest customer for Airbus A380 and Engine Alliance GP7200 engines with 45 A380s.
"GE has a significant presence in Emirates' expanding airline fleet," says Scott Donnelly, President and CEO of GE - Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company. "With the GEnx, we are out to repeat the successful entry into service of our GE90 with the 777s at Emirates."
Emirates began operating the 777-300ER in April 2005, and has currently 16 aircraft in its fleet. Overall, the GE90-115B has experienced no in-flight shutdowns, and has an engine departure reliability of 99.97 percent.
To manage the testing requirements of its growing fleet, Emirates is building a new jet engine testing facility in Dubai, designed and financed in cooperation with GE. The facility, the only one of its size in the Middle East, will be capable of testing aircraft engines with up to 150,000 pounds of thrust. The facility opens next year.
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 also is a world-leading provider of maintenance and support services for jet engines.