Italy's first privately owned airline, Air One, has chosen GE Aviation to provide the engines for 12 new Airbus 330 jets it has in the pipeline. GE says the order is worth more than $480 million. GE will also be the engine maker for eight more Airbus jets for Air One, should the airline choose to exercise an option to order them. Cincinnati-based GE Aviation also landed a $250 million contract for maintenance and overhauling of the new engines plus some existing GE engines in the airline's Airbus fleet. That brings GE's recent deal with Air One to a grand total of at least $730 million.
The engines, part of GE's CF6 engine family, are among the widest-used in the aerospace industry, powering more than 10 models of wide-body aircraft used by more than 250 customers around the world. The engine provides "the best fuel efficiency and overall low cost of ownership for Air One's new A330 fleet," says Jack Lutze, a VP of sales for GE Aviation. New technology incorporated this year will improve reliability, lower maintenance costs and increase fuel efficiency, GE says.
The engine purchase means Air One can close on its purchase of long-range aircraft, says Air One Chairman Carlo Toto. The GE engines, he says, "provide great efficient performance in full respect of the environment."
Writer: David Holthaus
Source: Rick Kennedy, GE Aviation
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