Abu Dhabi,  Etihad Airways and the Engine Alliance have signed agreements for the purchase of the GP7200 engines to power its fleet of 10 Airbus A380 aircraft and for a long-term Fleet Management Agreement for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the engines. The agreements are worth up to $1.5 billion (USD).

"The Engine Alliance is proud to confirm Etihad as our customer and to provide a comprehensive support program to fulfill Etihad’s service needs," said Engine Alliance President Mary Ellen Jones. "Under this program, we will help Etihad keep its GP7200 engines in optimum condition to enable them to operate reliably at the lowest cost possible."

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: "The GP7200 engines, provided by the Engine Alliance in this agreement, will offer significant fuel efficiencies and cost optimisation for Etihad’s first Airbus A380s when they enter our fleet from 2014.

"The operational, environmental and economic factors of the GP7200 engines are ideal for the A380 and these aircraft and engines will play a crucial part in Etihad’s ambitious expansion plans over the coming years."

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive and Mary Ellen Jones, Engine Alliance President, sign the GP7200 Engine and Fleet Management Agreements at Etihad’s head office complex in Abu Dhabi.
The GP7200 engine is the leading engine for the Airbus A380 aircraft with 19 GP7200-powered A380s in service and 109 more on order. Emirates and Air France currently operate GP7200-powered A380 aircraft. Other GP7200 customers include Korean Air, which will begin operating the A380 in June, Air Austral and International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC).

The Engine Alliance is a 50/50 joint venture of General Electric (NYSE:GE) and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). The GP7200 is the result of innovations to the combined technologies of its member companies’ most successful wide-body engines: the GE90 and the PW4000.

The GP7200 utilizes the lessons learned from more than 25 million flight hours of successful operation with these legacy engines and incorporates new technology to produce the quietest, most fuel-efficient engine for the A380. The GP7200 is certified at 76,500 pounds (340 kN) of thrust and has the capability to produce more than 81,500 pounds (363 kN). Its emissions are well below current and anticipated regulations.

GP7200 Engine Program participants include SNECMA (France), Techspace Aero (Belgium) and MTU Aero Engines (Germany).

Source: Press Release (Etihad Airways & Engine Alliance)