EVENDALE, OHIO -- Cathay Pacific Airways today announced the purchase of ten GEnx-powered Boeing 747-8 Freighters and seven GE90-powered 777-300ER aircraft. The firm engine order is valued at approximately $1 billion (USD) at list price.
In addition, Cathay Pacific signed a 15-year OnPointSM solutions engine maintenance agreement for the 40 GEnx-2B67 engines plus spares.
"We are obviously very pleased with the growing relationship we are developing with Cathay Pacific," said Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of GE Aviation. "We are honored by the opportunity to bring the technology benefits of our GEnx and GE90 engines to their operations and believe it will support this great airline's continued growth. In addition, the OnPoint agreement will help Cathay Pacific maintain the technical superiority of its fleet while keeping its costs predictable, thus improving asset value and utilization and increasing its operating efficiency."
As one of the world's pre-eminent airlines, Cathay Pacific has long been noted for both the technical excellence of its fleet and its world-class service. The airline will take delivery of its first 747-8 in late 2009.
Cathay Pacific took delivery of its first GE90-powered 777-300ER in September of this year and will operate the aircraft principally on North American routes. This latest order brings the airline's GE90-powered 777-300ER orders to 30 aircraft, with deliveries extending through 2012. The airline recently announced a trio of major regional awards, including Airline of the Year and and Best North Asian Airline from TTG Travel Awards and 2007 Best Asia Pacific Airline MRO Operation from Overhaul & Maintenance Magazine.
Based on the highly successful GE90 architecture, the GEnx engine is one of the most fuel-efficient and lowest emissions jet engines ever. In addition to the B747-8 Freighter, the GEnx engine will power the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in addition to the 747-8 Intercontinental. It will succeed GE's CF6 family, the best-selling engine on wide-body aircraft. More than 1,000 GEnx engines have been sold to 34 customers, making it the fastest-selling large engine in GE Aviation history.
The GEnx completed its flight test program this summer on GE's 747 flying test-bed, validating the GEnx engine's performance in real world flight conditions. Certification tests for vibration, emission, bird ingestions and fan blade containment were also completed with very positive results.
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 extremely well, with no routine on-wing maintenance required and no in-service issues for more than a decade.
The GE90-115B, which is the world's largest and most powerful engine, entered service in 2004 and the fleet achieved the one million flight hour milestone earlier this year. GE has sold more than 750 GE90-115B/-110B engines to date and the production rates for this engine family will double to nearly 200 engines annually by 2008. These rates are the result of the dramatic success of the GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777-300ER and the GE90-110B-powered 777-200LR and 777 Freighter.
The GE90-115B engine is one the quietest engines based on per pound of thrust with superior fuel burn and low overall emissions due in part to its improved combustor. The combustor technology emits no more than 40 percent of the hydrocarbons that will be allowed by 2008 international standards.
Both the GE90 and GEnx engines are part of GE's "ecomagination" product portfolio--GE's commitment to develop new, cost-effective technologies that enhance customers' environmental and operating performance.
Snecma of France, Avio SpA. of Italy, and IHI of Japan are revenue-sharing participants in the GE90 program. IHI, TechSpace Aero of Belgium, Avio SpA., Volvo Aero of Sweden and Samsung Techwin of Korea are revenue-sharing participants in the GEnx program.
OnPointSM Solutions are flexible, long-term commitments designed to meet customers' unique engine services needs. Backed by GE's world-class support, these solutions help lower our customers' cost-of-ownership and improve the use of their assets. Available OnPoint services include overhaul, on wing support, new and used serviceable parts, component repair, technology upgrades, engine leasing and diagnostics.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of commercial and military jet engines and components as well as integrated digital, electric power, and mechanical systems for aircraft. GE Aviation also has a global service network to support these offerings.
SMOnPoint is a service mark of General Electric Company.