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 GEnx 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, said an official spokesman.

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 US$2.5 billion.

“Qatar Airways has been an important GE customer, operating CFM56 and CF6, and soon the GE90 engines,” said president and CEO of GE Aviation Scott Donnelly. “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.”
      
Based in Doha, Qatar Airways has been recognized as one of fastest growing airlines in the world. Since it began operations 10 years ago, Qatar Airways has made great strides to become one of the best airlines in the skies today flying a modern fleet of 58 aircraft to 80 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Far East and North America.

“Today’s announcement by Qatar Airways to bring the Boeing 787 Dreamliner into its fleet is a significant move forward as we grow our business well into the next decade,” said CEO of Qatar Airways Akbar Al Baker.

“I am also pleased to announce that we have chosen the GEnx engines to power our new aircraft as it provides the best optimum solution for our operational needs. Qatar Airways has enjoyed a long association with GE Aviation and looks forward to a prosperous partnership for years to come as we enter an extremely exciting period in our growth plans,” he added.
 
Based on the highly successful GE90 architecture, the GEnx engine is one of the most fuel-efficient and lowest emissions jet engines ever. The GEnx engine will power both the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the 747-8 Intercontinental.

It will succeed GE's CF6 family, the best-selling engine on wide-body aircraft. More than 1,000 GEnx engines have been sold to 33 customers, making it the fastest-selling large engine in GE Aviation history.

The GEnx completed its flight test program this summer on GE's 747 flying test-bed, which validated the GEnx-1B engine's performance in real world flight conditions. Certification tests for vibration, emission, bird ingestions and fan blade containment were also completed with very positive results.

Qatar Airways is one of only five airlines in the world with a Five Star ranking for service and excellence awarded by Skytrax, the independent aviation industry-monitoring agency.

Skytrax also named Qatar Airways’ cabin crew as Best in the Middle East for the fifth year running in 2007 and Best First Class in the world following a survey of more than 12 million passengers.

Averaging 35 per cent growth year on year, Qatar Airways carried more than eight million passengers during the 2006/07 financial year. – TradeArabia News Service