DUBAI, 15 November 2007 — Saudi Arabian Airlines and GE Aviation have reached a cooperative agreement to support the airline’s ambitious plan to launch overhaul services on GE90, CF6 and CF34 engines.

According to a statement from GE, GE Aviation will support Saudi Arabian Airlines’ new state-of-the-art facility that will be built in King Abdul Aziz Airport in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The facility will serve the Saudi Arabian and the region market. Additionally, Saudi Arabian Airlines and GE have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for GE to supply material to the airline for 14 years from when the new overhaul facility begins operation. The agreement is valued at about $1.4 billion over the life of the contract.

“Saudi Arabian Airlines and GE have a strong 20-year history of cooperation,” said Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of GE Aviation. “With this overhaul support agreement, we look forward to support the airlines’ fleet and services growth plan for many years to come.”

In a related development, Al-Jaber Group has announced its intention to buy two Airbus A380 and signed purchase agreement for two Airbus A318 Elites. Al-Jaber is the first company in the UAE to purchase Airbus A318 Elites, which will be powered by CFM International CFM56-5B9/P engines.

Obeid Al-Jaber, chairman, Al-Jaber Group, said: “Our intention to buy the Airbus A380 highlights the strong growth goals we have set for ourselves. We already see a growing need in the region for private aviation services for the high-end market including families and business delegations, for which the spacious Airbus A318 Elite is a perfect solution. The widely spaced cabin zones and ease of movement around the cabin provided by Airbus A318 Elite are unmatched by anything in its category.”

Airbus said in a statement that it has received 163 firm orders valued at over $28 billion at catalogue prices from 10 customers. Airbus also won its largest ever order in terms of value for 70 A350 XWBs and 11 A380s from Emirates Airline. In addition, it received 132 commitments from three customers.

Meanwhile, GECI International received a letter of intent from the Group ACT Airlines-Aviation Management Solutions for 15 Skylander SK-100 to be delivered between 2011 and 2021 ACT Airlines Group, based in Istanbul, specialist of freight transportation is planning to expand from Turkey into Eastern Europe and Middle East regions.

Qatar Airways has chosen the GEnx engine to power its 30 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft as well as ordered five Boeing 777 Freighters powered by GE90-115B engines.

The Enx order is valued at more than $800 million list price. The order for the GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777 Freighters follows orders for two Boeing 777 freighter, 14 Boeing 777-300ER and six Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, which are also powered by the GE90-115B engines. The combined list price of the GE90-115B engines ordered for all 27 Boeing 777 aircraft is more than $1.2 billion list price.

Qatar Airways has also opted for a 15-year OnPointSM solution agreement for the maintenance and overhaul of the GEnx and GE90-115B engines. The OnPointSM solution agreement is valued at $2.5 billion.

“Qatar Airways has been an important GE customer, operating CFM56 and CF6, and soon the GE90 engines,” said Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of GE Aviation. “This GEnx order and the additional GE90 engine order will enhance our continued cooperation and support to Qatar Airways as it implements its aggressive growth plans.” Doha International Airport is to install Tarsier, a new runway debris detection system developed by international defense and security technology company QinetiQ.

The announcement was made at the Dubai Air Show yesterday following a contract signing by Akbar Al-Baker, cief executive officer of Doha International Airport, and Phil McLachlan, managing director of QinetiQ Airport Technologies.

In related development, Royal Jordanian has signed a 12-year OnPointSM solution service agreement for the maintenance, overhaul and repair of 12 Boeing 787 powered by GEnx engines for its 787 aircraft. Royal Jordanian has grown to cover a network of 54 destinations on four continents. It is currently in its final stages of the Privatization, and the IPO process is expected to be concluded in December 2007.

Separately, Bombardier Aerospace announced that Rizon Jet has placed firm orders for a widebody Challenger 605 business aircraft and a high-speed Global 5000 jet. The transaction is valued at approximately $69 million. The new Bombardier Challenger 605 and Global 5000 jets will be based in Bahrain.