December 10, 2003 -- DUBAI - Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, today signed a letter of intent with GE Engine Services (GEES) on a long-term maintenance agreement to support the CFM56-5C engines that will power the airline's Airbus A340-300 aircraft.
Emirates will begin operating eight leased four-engine A340s in 2004. Today's letter of intent, with a potential value of more than $200 million over the life of the agreement, covers the initial overhaul of the 32 CFM56-5C engines installed on these aircraft, followed by a nine-year Maintenance Cost Per Hour (MCPH) program.
GEES is a division of GE Aircraft Engines, the world's leading manufacturer of jet engines for civil and military aircraft.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Emirates, said: "The advantage of this agreement with GE is that Emirates will be able to efficiently forecast with great accuracy the long-term operating costs of the CFM56-5C engines powering our A340s."
Under the MCPH package, GEES will use its maintenance network, engineering resources, and program management expertise to maintain the Emirates fleet of CFM56-5C engines based on a flat rate per engine flight hour. The CFM56-5C maintenance work will be conducted at GE's full-service facility near Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
David Joyce, vice president and general manager of Commercial Engines Operation at GE Aircraft Engines, said at the signing ceremony: "This agreement reflects the growing, long-term relationship between GE and Emirates, one of the world's fastest growing airlines. Nowhere has this been more apparent than this week at the Dubai 2003 International Aerospace Exhibition."
GEES, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio (USA), provides comprehensive maintenance support for GE and non-GE jet engines in service throughout the world. Visit GEAE online at: http://www.geae.com.
Rick Kennedy
GE Aviation
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