Etihad Airways Confirms Mammoth Aircraft Engine Order

Etihad Airways has selected GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, Engine Alliance and International Aero Engines (IAE) to power the new Airbus and Boeing aircraft that it ordered at last year’s Farnborough International Airshow.

The Farnborough deal included 100 firm orders and options and purchase rights for a further 105 aircraft, which will be delivered between 2011 and 2020.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline confirmed firm orders at this week's Paris Air Show for:

- 78 GEnx engines, to power its 35 new Boeing 787 aircraft

- 45 Engine Alliance GP7200 engines, to power its 10 new Airbus A380 aircraft

- 44 IAE V2500 engines, to power its 20 new narrow-body Airbus A320 aircraft

Rolls-Royce and GE Aviation will supply engines for the airline’s new Airbus A350 fleet and future Boeing 777 aircraft deliveries, respectively, as previously announced at Farnborough:

- 50 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, to power its 25 new Airbus A350 aircraft

- 22 GE90 engines, to power its 10 new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft

The firm orders for 239 engines, which include 19 spares, is worth US $7 billion at list prices, including maintenance contracts.

If all options and purchase rights are exercised, the total number of engines will be 469, at a list price value of US $14 billion, including maintenance contracts. This represents oneof the largest engine orders in commercial aviation history.

Etihad Airways’ chief executive James Hogan, said, “The new aircraft, and engines that will power them, are scheduled for delivery between 2011 and 2020 which demonstrates the confidence we have in our plans for sustainable future growth. These plans will establish Etihad Airways as the world’s leading airline and our hub of Abu Dhabi as a leading global centre of commerce and tourism.

“We are operating in a very challenging environment at the moment but we have absolute confidence in our future, intrinsically linked to the exciting and on-going development of Abu Dhabi, as well our engine and aircraft manufacturers partners.”

Etihad Airways made history in July 2008 at the Farnborough International Airshow when it placed a firm order for 100 new aircraft. The airline confirmed at the time that the 25 A350 aircraft ordered would be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines and the 10 Boeing 777s by GE90 engines.

Mr Hogan added: “Following a comprehensive research and an intensive competition, we are now able to announce the engine manufacturers for the remaining 65 aircraft: 35 Boeing 787s, ten Airbus A380s and 20 Airbus A320s. The deals represent the best overall engines solution, taking into account operational, environmental and financial factors.”

Etihad Airways selected the IAE International Aero Engines V2500 to power its new fleet of 20 Airbus A320-family aircraft. The engines are particularly suitable for Middle East operations and are able to perform consistently well in high temperatures. The airline already operates a fleet of ten V2500-powered aircraft with three more to be delivered later this year, and was the launch customer for V2500 SelectOne in the Gulf Region.

Currently, the airline operates a fleet of 42 Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft, powered by a combination of Rolls-Royce, GE, CFM and IAE engines.

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