FARNBOROUGH, U.K. -- Lufthansa Technik AG and GE Aviation signed new long-term agreements for maintenance services for the GE9X and GEnx-2B engines as part of a continued effort to expand maintenance choice and shop capacity for customers operating the latest generation of engines.
The GE Branded Services Agreements (GBSA) for the GE9X and GEnx-2B include comprehensive TrueChoiceTM Materials agreements and provisions for technical support and assistance on overhaul workscoping, component repair licenses, joint repair development and training. The agreements facilitate establishment of a planned GE Aviation and Lufthansa Technik joint venture overhaul facility due to open in 2018.
"We are building on our long-standing relationship with Lufthansa Technik to provide customers industry-leading MRO offerings to optimize their cost of ownership," said GE Aviation, Services President and CEO Kevin McAllister.
"We have done two further important steps in our common efforts to offer the best possible services for these two state-of-the-art engine types. I am really looking forward to continuing this successful cooperation," added Dr. Johannes Bussmann, chairman of the Executive Board at Lufthansa Technik.
For more than 40 years, Lufthansa Technik AG has provided technical support for GE engines. Lufthansa is the largest operator of the GEnx-2B-powered Boeing 747-8 and is the launch customer for the Boeing 777-9X aircraft, with 34 aircraft on order and deliveries scheduled to begin in 2020. Lufthansa Technik also collaborates with GE Aviation on repair, development and mobile support services.
More than 500 GEnx-2B engines are in service, and the fleet has accumulated more than 4.5 million flight hours and 730,000 cycles with outstanding performance. Compared to GE's CF6 engine, the GEnx engine offers up to 15 percent better fuel consumption, which translates to 15 percent less CO2.
The GE9X engine will be in the 100,000 pound thrust class. Key features include a 134-inch diameter composite fan case and 16 composite fan blades; a next-generation 27:1 pressure-ratio 11-stage high-pressure compressor; a third-generation TAPS III combustor for high efficiency and low emissions; and CMC material in the combustor and turbine. Almost 700 GE9X engines have been ordered by customers since it was launched on the Boeing 777X aircraft last year. Engine certification is scheduled for 2018.
About Lufthansa Technik:
The Lufthansa Technik Group, with more than 30 subsidiaries and about 26,000 employees worldwide, is one of the leading providers of services for the aviation industry. Lufthansa Technik is licensed internationally as a repair, production and development enterprise. The Group's portfolio encompasses the entire spectrum of services in the areas of maintenance, repair, overhaul, modification and conversion, engines and components. For more information, visit www.lufthansa-technik.com or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lufthansatechnikgroup.
About GE Aviation:
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components, integrated digital, avionics, electrical power and mechanical systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings and is part of the world's Digital Industrial Company with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive.
TMTrueChoice is a trademark of General Electric Company.