KLM selects GE Engines to power new Airbus

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has selected the General Electric CF6-80E1 engine to power its six Airbus A330-200 aircraft on order. Delivery of the new aircraft using these engines will begin summer next year.

Additionally, KLM's Engineering & Maintenance division will become a CF6-80E1 Overhaul Center of Excellence, expanding its CF6 maintenance and overhaul capability for KLM's own fleet and for other customers.

KLM has an extensive fleet of GE-powered aircraft. The airline operates CF6-80C2 engines on its Boeing 747-400, 767-300ER and MD-11 aircraft and GE90-94B engines on its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.

KLM's Boeing 737 fleet is powered by CFM56 engines. CFM International is owned equally by Snecma Moteurs and GE and KLM Engineering & Maintenance is exercising maintenance on this type of engine as well.

"KLM is pleased to be finalizing the A330 engine selection process together with General Electric," said KLM's COO and Managing Director Peter Hartman. "We are now prepared for the engineering and maintenance of this engine type well ahead of the phasing in of our first A330-200 aircraft starting in the summer of 2005."

"We're excited that KLM has selected the CF6-80E1 engine to power its new Airbus aircraft," said Dave Calhoun, president and CEO of GE Transportation. "This order will strengthen our relationship, and we look forward to continuing our working relationship with KLM as customer and business partner."