Air Pacific selects the General Electric engine to power Boeing fleet

By Christine Khan l eTN Asia/Pacific

Air Pacific picks General Electric to power its Boeing 787-9 fleet.

Fiji's national airline, Air Pacific, has chosen General Electric to power its Boeing fleet.

Air Pacific CEO John Campbell said: “After extensive and in-depth evaluation and negotiation we have selected the General Electric manufactured GEnx engine rated at up to 74,000 lbs thrust. The GEnx engines have also been selected by Qantas, a significant shareholder in Air Pacific, which supports performance management, spares and maintenance for the engines within the Pacific region.

“The GEnx was chosen due to its superior operating performance and improved environmental impact across the Air Pacific network. The GEnx powered B787-9 is 20 percent more fuel efficient than our current B767 aircraft, will produce up to 20 percent less carbon dioxide, 40 percent less nitrous oxide and have a noise footprint that is 50 percent lower than the B767 aircraft.”

The initial order of eleven engines supports the firm order placed for five B787-9 aircraft with a further order to be placed when purchase rights for three more B787 aircraft are executed. The GEnx powered B787’s will be introduced from 2011 and will replace the current Air Pacific B747 and B767 widebody aircraft by 2012.

Campbell said the new GEnx powered B787-9’s will provide enhanced range, efficiency and technology, allowing Air Pacific to increase frequencies on existing routes to Australia, New Zealand, Japan and North America and develop new direct flights as far as India to the west and South America to the east of Fiji.

“GE is very proud that Air Pacific has selected the GEnx engine to power its new Boeing 787 fleet”, said Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of GE Aviation. “The GEnx engine is performing exceptionally well in our testing program and we look forward to supporting Air Pacific before and after the engines enter service in 2011. Air Pacific is a key carrier in the South Pacific and a terrific GE customer. This decision will extend the excellent relationship that began in 1983 and continues to this day."

Printable Version | published Jun 05, 2007

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