A day after GE officially unveiled its GEnx engine at the renowned Paris Air Show, Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, announced that it has selected the new GEnx-1B engine to power its new fleet of 35 Boeing 787 “Dreamliners,” with delivery scheduled for 2015. Etihad has also ordered 10 Boeing 777s powered by the giant GE90-115B — with delivery scheduled for late next year. The engines, and a multi-year service contract also signed, total $3.9 billion. Etihad also inked a deal with Engine Alliance — which is a 50/50 joint venture of GE and Pratt & Whitney — for GP7200 engines to power its 10 new Airbus A380s. That deal, which also includes a service agreement, totals more than $1.3 billion.


Turn me loose: Emissions from the GEnx will be as much as 95 percent below current regulatory limits. The engine will also be the quietest one that GE has produced, based on a pound-of-thrust-per-decibel ratio. It’s the world’s only jet engine with both a front fan case and fan blades made of carbon fiber composites.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ CEO, said: “The GEnx and GE90 engines not only are more fuel efficient, but also are among two of the most technologically advanced products currently available. The GEnx-powered Boeing 787 and GE90-115B-powered Boeing 777-300ER aircraft will help us to maintain one of the youngest and fuel efficient fleets in the sky.”

The total value of both engine orders is worth $2.2 billion list price. Additionally, the airline holds options for 25 Boeing 787 aircraft and 10 Boeing 777-300ERs with purchase rights for a further 10 Boeing 787 and five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, has also signed a multi-year agreement with GE Aviation under its OnPoint unit for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of its entire GEnx and GE90 engine fleet that is valued at more than $1.7 billion over the life of the agreement. OnPoint services may include overhaul, on-wing support, parts, repair, technology upgrades, engine leasing, systems support and diagnostics.

With more than 1,100 engines sold to date, the GEnx is the fastest-selling engine in GE’s history. Based on the proven GE90, the GEnx will succeed GE’s CF6 engine. Compared to the CF6, the GEnx — which is part of GE’s ecomagination line of more efficient products — will offer 15 percent improved fuel efficiency, which translates into 15 percent less CO2. It is designed to stay “on-wing” 30 percent longer than the CF6, while using 30 percent fewer parts, which greatly reduces maintenance.

* Read the GE Aviation announcement
* Read about the Engine Alliance deal with Etihad
* See why the GEnx is part of our ecomagination product line
* See why the GE90 is part of ecomagination
* Watch videos about the technology in the GEnx in the GEnx Theater
* Watch a video about the GEnx’s relation to the GE90
* Read our coverage of the Paris Air Show