<a href="http://news.airwise.com/display/story.html?name=2002/02/1014897677.html" target="_blank">http://news.airwise.com /display/story.html?name=2002/02/1014897677.html</a>
Feb 28, 2002
Middle East airline Emirates has signed a USD$1.5 billion deal with Engine Alliance to power its fleet of super jumbo A380 aircraft.
The Alliance, a partnership between engine makers General Electric and Pratt and Whitney, will provide its GP7000 family of power units for the 22 aircraft Emirates has on firm order.
The deal will be a blow to Rolls Royce who are bidding to win a share of the engine market for the worlds' biggest passenger jet. This latest Alliance success means it is leading the field in the race to power the A380 with 32 aircraft now committed to the GP7000.
Emirates, a launch customer for the Airbus giant, has also taken options on another 10 planes, the first of which are due for delivery in September 2006.
After signing the memorandum of understanding with Engine Alliance today, Emirates chairman, Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum 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... is the best deal for Emirates - technically, operationally and commercially."
The Dubai-based carrier was the first to place firm orders for the A380. The airline now becomes the second customer for the GP7000 family, following Air France's launch order for 10 aircraft in May 2001.
Last November, Emirates unveiled a USD$15 billion fleet expansion which, in addition to the A380s, includes 22 new Boeing 777s, eight A340-600s and three A330s - a total of 58 aircraft.
Also,
<a href="http://www.flightdailynews.com/singapore2002/mar1/airtransport/emirates.shtm" target="_blank">http://www.flightdailynews.com/singapore2002/mar1/airtransport/emirates.shtm</a>
[ 28 February 2002: Message edited by: Jopa ]</p>