LE BOURGET – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has selected Engine Alliance GP7200 engines to power its ten new firm Airbus A380 aircraft. The Abu Dhabi-based airline has also signed a multi-year long-term Fleet Management Agreement with the Engine Alliance for MRO of its firm GP7200 engine fleet. Total value of the deal is more than $1.3 billion (USD).
A380 deliveries to Etihad Airways are scheduled to begin in 2012. The Engine Alliance will manage services for the GP7200 engine and utilize the MRO capabilities of its member companies, GE Aviation, and Pratt & Whitney, as well as other MRO facilities in its support network.
"Engine Alliances' engines offer impressive propulsion technology combined with a great support package," says James Hogan, CEO, Etihad Airways. "The GP7200-powered A380s will play an integral role in our ambitious expansion plan in the coming years. The deal represents the best overall engines solution, taking into account operational, environmental, and financial factors."
"We are delighted with Etihad Airways' GP7200 engine selection," says Jim Moravecek, Engine Alliance President. "Our best-in-class fuel consumption product on the aircraft and our commitment to fulfill Etihad’s service needs will enable them to improve revenue generation activities at the lowest operating costs possible. We look forward to playing a role in Etihad’s growth plans for the region and beyond."
The GP7200 is manufactured at GE and Pratt & Whitney, with GE assembling the core in Durham, N.C., and Pratt & Whitney manufacturing the fan module, low pressure compressor, and low pressure turbine. Final engine assembly is conducted at Pratt & Whitney's Engine Center in Middletown, CT. GP7000 Engine Program participants include SNECMA (France), Techspace Aero (Belgium), and MTU Aero Engines (Germany).
The GP7200 entered revenue service in August 2008, with the first Emirates A380. Since entering service, the GP7200-powered A380 has not had an in-flight shutdown and has demonstrated a departure reliability rate greater than 99.9 percent.
In addition to Emirates, the Engine Alliance GP7200 has been selected to power A380 aircraft for Air France, Korean Airlines, and the International Lease Finance Company (ILFC). Air France is scheduled to receive its first GP7200-powered A380 aircraft in October. The Engine Alliance is a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp.
