JEDDAH, 5 March — Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the GE-P&W Engine Alliance for the GP7000 engine family to power its 22 firm and 10 option Airbus A380-800 aircraft.
Emirates’ Chairman Ahmed ibn Saeed Al Maktoum, signed the MOU to buy the engines, which have a list price, including options, of about $1.5 billion. (5.5 billion dhirams). Lloyd Thompson, President of the Engine Alliance, signed for the partnership. Ahmed said: “As Emirates grows to become a truly global airline, we need an engine to power our future A380 flagship over the world’s biggest air routes. After exceptionally exhaustive studies of the various engines on offer, we have selected the Engine Alliance GP7000 as the one best suited to our present and future network. “The GP7000 proudly bears the pedigree of two world leaders in engineering, and its specification, projected performance and price combined to convince us that it is the best deal for Emirates - technically, operationally and commercially.” Comprehensive negotiations are now taking place between Emirates and the Engine Alliance to finalize the GPA. Emirates was the world’s first airline to place firm orders for the A380 and the first to put down a deposit, making its commitment at Britain’s Farnborough Air Show. The airline now becomes the second customer for the GP7000 family, following Air France’s launch order for 10 firm aircraft in May 2001. At last year’s Dubai Air Show, Emirates unveiled a stunning US$15 billion fleet expansion, increasing its A380 order to 22 plus 25 new Boeing 777s, eight A340-600s and three A330s — a total of 58 aircraft and the largest order ever placed by the airline.
