GE Aviation’s ties with Emirates have grown significantly over the years

TWO Gulf  Airlines have figured in maintenance deals with one of them – Emirates – signing a 12-year OnPoint solution agreement with GE Aviation valued at more than $13 billion for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the airline’s new GE9X engines that will power its 150 Boeing 777X aircraft.

The other maintenance deal was signed by Oman Air with Jordan Aircraft Maintenance (Joramco) to provide the carrier with base maintenance services.

The OnPoint solution agreement is part of the finalisation of Emirates airline’s record commitment for 150 Boeing 777X twin-engine aircraft, powered by GE’s new GE9X engine. The agreement for the 300 GE9X engines announced at the 2013 Dubai Air Show is worth more than $15 billion. With this agreement, GE Aviation secured its largest ever commercial jet engine award from an airline.

“The relationship between GE and Emirates continues to grow with the recent GE9X commitments,” said David Joyce, president and CEO of GE Aviation. “The OnPoint solution agreement will allow us to provide comprehensive MRO support along with OEM parts and workscopes to ensure the engines remain in peak operating condition.”

Emirates is the world’s largest operator of the highly successful GE90-powered Boeing 777-300ERs, with 96 aircraft in fleet and another 56 pending delivery. Emirates also operates the largest fleet of A380s powered by the GP7200 engine produced by the Engine Alliance, a joint company of GE Aviation and Pratt & Whitney. But the relationship between GE Aviation and Emirates over the past decade has extended beyond the delivery and support of jet engines. GE has been integral to the construction of Emirates’ expanding engine overhaul capability both in the Middle East and Asia.

OnPoint solutions are customised service agreements tailored to the operational and financial needs of each customer for any size fleet. These agreements are designed to help lower the customers’ cost of ownership and maximise the use of their assets. Backed by GE’s global support network, OnPoint services may include overhaul, on wing support, new and used serviceable parts, component repair, technology upgrades, engine leasing, integrated systems support and diagnostics and integrated systems.

GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE, is a world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components and integrated systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these offerings.

 

OMAN AIR

Following Oman Air’s deal with Joramco, maintenance checks will take place by November for two Embraer 175 and three Airbus A330 aircraft in the carrier’s fleet, said a statement.

Salim Al Kindy, acting CEO, Oman Air, said: “Joramco has provided excellent support to Oman Air over the last year, and we are pleased to be expanding our relationship with them. This will now include not just our Embraer aircraft, but also three of our Airbus A330s.

 Osama Fattaleh, CEO of Joramco, said: “We’re pleased that our partnership with Oman Air has expanded to include the A330 in addition to the Embraer fleet. Joramco is keen on continuously improving the services it provides Oman Air to further develop the relationship to cover additional maintenance services.”

With a current fleet of 30 aircraft and 20 further aircraft on order, Oman Air operates scheduled regional and international services to destinations throughout the Gulf and Middle East, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Europe and the Far East.

Joramco’s facility serves a wide range of customers in the Middle East, Europe, South East Asia, Africa, Russia and the CIS countries, offering services to several aircraft models from the Airbus, Boeing, and Embraer fleets.