February 09, 2005 -- EVENDALE, OHIO - First Choice Airways, based in Manchester, England, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to purchase General Electric Company's GEnx engine to power six Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The airline has purchased rights for an additional six 787s. The airline is part of the international leisure travel corporation First Choice Holidays PLC. Aircraft deliveries begin in 2009.
"We are thrilled to have First Choice as our first customer on the 787 and to embark on this new long-term relationship," said Tom Brisken, general manager of the GEnx program. "Breakthrough technologies in our new GEnx engine will bring outstanding economics, low noise, and low emissions to the First Choice fleet."
While the GEnx is a new engine, it is based heavily on technologies GE has invested in over several years. In 2005, the focus will be on maturing those technologies through an aggressive schedule of validation testing. Among the GEnx's unique technologies are a front fan case and fan blades made of composites - for greater engine durability and weight reduction - and a next-generation combustor for efficient fuel mixing before ignition, resulting in significantly lower NOx levels.
Based on the architecture of the renowned GE90 engine, the GEnx is being designed to meet the aggressive performance targets for the twin-engine 787. The first full engine will go to test in 2006, with engine certification scheduled for 2007.
First Choice, founded in 1987 as Air2000, is one of the United Kingdom's leading leisure airlines. Operating a fleet of 33 aircraft from 15 UK airports, the airline flies six million customers on more than 30,000 flights to about 60 destinations worldwide each year. The airline re-branded as First Choice Airways in March 2004, taking on the name of its parent company to reflect its status as the airline of one of the UK's four major tour operators. The airline also works with more than 80 other tour operators.
GE Transportation - Aircraft Engines, a part of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE), is one of the world's leading manufacturers of jet engines for civil and military aircraft. GE Transportation is headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Take an inside look on-line at the GEnx advanced features through a comprehensive tour at the GEnx Theater at www.geae.com.
Rick Kennedy
GE Aviation
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