Emirates has signed a $1 billion, 12-year cost-per-hour contract
with General Electric for engine maintenance on the 26 GE90-115Bpowered
Boeing 777-300ERs that it ordered on Monday. GE Engine Services
will do the work at its Cardiff, Wales facility.
"This is a huge day in building our long-term relationship
Emirates," said David Calhoun, president and CEO of General
Electric Aircraft Engines.
The GE90-115B is currently under undergoing a 1,600-hour test
programme aboard a Boeing 777-300ER. With certification for this
engine/aircraft combination due in early 2004, initial deliveries
to Emirates are expected in March 2005.
The Dubai-based airline is leasing 14 of its 777-300ERs from General
Electric Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) and the other 12 from
Los Angeles-based International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC),
in a deal worth $6.8 billion.
