LE BOURGET - Qatar Airways has signed a 10-year maintenance cost per hour agreement for the continued maintenance, repair and overhaul of its Airbus A330 aircraft powered by CF6-80E engines.
"This agreement will enable us to help optimize Qatar Airways' operations and to lower cost of ownership," said Paul McElhinney, president and chief executive officer, GE Aviation Services. "We are extending a strong relationship that goes back several decades. The CF6 engine continues to be the workhorse engine in GE's product portfolio, and we welcome the opportunity to maintain and overhaul Qatar Airways' CF6-80E engine fleet."
"The CF6 engine continues to be the workhorse engine in GE's product portfolio, and our MRO expertise will enable us to help lower Qatar's cost of ownership with this engine line."
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: "We are pleased to be continuing our highly successful professional relationship with GE Aviation Services for the maintenance of engines on selected aircraft. This demonstrates a partnership that has gone from strength to strength."
Qatar Airways is the national carrier of the State of Qatar and flies to more than 128 destinations with 125 aircraft. One of the fastest growing airlines operating among the youngest fleets in the world, Qatar Airways currently has orders worth over US$50 billion for more than 250 aircraft.
Qatar Airways was this week honored with three Skytrax awards – Best Business Class in the World, Best Business Class Lounge in the World and the accolade for Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East for the second consecutive year.
In October 2012, Qatar Airways became the first of the major Gulf carriers to officially announce plans to join a global alliance having been invited into the oneworld group. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com.
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a world-leading provider of jet, turboprop and turboshaft engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.