As part of the Paris Air Show, General Electric sealed agreements with new Saudi Arabian airline Riyadh Air, Garuda Indonesia and American carrier Republic Aiways for the provision of new engines and maintenance services.
See also: Jet2 and Avolon order CFM International engines for future A320neo family and 737 MAX aircraft
Riyadh Air purchases ninety GEnx engines
Riyadh Air, the second airline established by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed a purchase agreement for ninety GEnx-1B engines to power its fleet of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. It also includes spare engines and a service agreement.
«The agreement highlights our determination to significantly extend Saudi Arabia’s connectivity with the world and fulfill our goal of connecting to a hundred destinations by 2030», said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.
«We are proud to partner with Riyadh Air to support its new fleet and fulfill its vision for long international routes», commented Russell Stokes, President & CEO, Commercial Engines and Services for GE Aerospace. «GE Aerospace’s GEnx engine is a perfect fit for the 787 fleet with its combination of power and the ability to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions», he added.
See also: Paris Air Show 2023: what we learned from Riyadh Air’s briefing
Garuda Indonesia and General Electric enter strategic partnership
Separately, GE Aerospace and Garuda Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding to initiate a strategic cooperation for the overhaul and refurbishment of General Electric and CFM International (a joint venture between General Electric and Safran Aircraft Engines) engines for the airline’s operational fleet.
Under the agreement, General Electric will service Garuda Indonesia’s GE90-115B and CFM56-7B engines. It will also enable the airline’s technicians to receive training from GE Aerospace personnel on engines and maintenance, as well as leadership skills.
«This is a strategic step for Garuda Indonesia as a world class airline to strengthen their fleet of General Electric and CFM aircraft engines and develop further skills for overhaul services with our support», said Kathy MacKenzie, VP, GE Commercial Programs for GE Aerospace.
«Aligning with the current airline market trend that shows significant growth amid the pre-endemic phase, Garuda Indonesia mainly focuses on optimizing production capacity through the enhancement of operations», remarked Irfan Setiaputra, the airline’s President and CEO. He also stressed the importance of increasing the number of aircraft in service: in this regard, having the support of General Electric is key to their intentions.
Republic Airways orders engines for its Embraer E170s and E175s
Finally, American regional airline Republic Airways ordered 37 new CF34-8E engines for its Embraer E170s and E175s. This includes access to spare parts and the extension of the existing services agreement.
«Republic Airways is one of the largest CF34 operators in the world and we are extremely proud that they continue to put their trust in our engines, operating these CF34-8Es day in and day out», said MacKenzie. «With our expanded services agreement, our mission is that the airline continues to receive the same high-quality MRO service and support that they have come to expect from GE Aerospace», she added.
«We are excited to extend this two-decade relationship with GE Aerospace with this order for CF34-8E engines and services», said Bryan Bedford, President and CEO of Republic Airways.
