Emirates' new deals with GE Aviation, including a $16 billion contact for the MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul) of GE9X engines that will power the airline’s fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft, have further strengthened business ties between the two and made them longstanding. 

The UAE carrier signed the MRO deal for the GE9X engines that will last over 12 ars.

This is Emirates’ largest engine MRO contract to date, the airline said in a statement.

At the 2013 Dubai Air Show, Emirates had placed a record $76 billion order for 150 Boeing 777X twin-engine aircraft, powered by GE’s new GE9X engine.

The single largest order by value in the history of US commercial aviation, it included 300 units of GE9X engines, alone worth $16 billion at list price. It was also GE Aviation’s largest ever commercial jet engine award from an airline.

Emirates also signed a 12-year OnPoint solution contract with GE Aviation worth $36 million, covering the maintenance and inventory support for various avionics, electrical power and mechanical systems on all Emirates Boeing 777 aircraft currently in service and the 44 more 777-300ERs on order.

Under this programme, GE will provide the maintenance and support services for Emirates’ Boeing 777 fleet with a strengthened local programme management and stock support in Dubai, supported by GE’s global repair, overhaul and logistics facilities in the UK, the US, and Asia.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates airline and Group, said:

“Operating a modern and efficient fleet is at the foundation of Emirates’ success. Aircraft and engine purchases are long-term investments. It is also a commitment that involves many other related services over the life-span of the aircraft, generating and sustaining jobs throughout the aviation supply chain.

“Emirates currently operates GE engines on over 100 Boeing 777 in our fleet. Over the years, we have built a successful relationship with the GE team, and we cooperate in many areas including technology and innovation sharing, and also at our state-of-the-art engine maintenance centre in Dubai. We look forward to extending this partnership to our GE9X-powered Boeing 777X fleet.”

David Joyce, president and CEO of GE Aviation, said: “The relationship between GE and Emirates remains strong, and the finalisation of the GE9X OnPoint agreement further extends our partnership well into the future. The OnPoint solution agreement will allow us to provide comprehensive MRO support along with OEM parts and work scopes to ensure the engines remain in peak operating condition.”

OnPoint solutions are customised service agreements tailored to the operational and financial needs of each airline customer.

NEW FACILITY

Meanwhile, GE Aviation has signed a Heads of Agreement with Mubadala, the Abu Dhabi-based investment and development firm, for establishing a GEnx engine MRO facility, which will further enhance the companies’ current GEnx MRO relationship.

The MRO facility will be set up at the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park. GE will also establish a dedicated GEnx parts logistics centre to service the JV as well as regional GEnx operators. The transaction reinforces Abu Dhabi’s position as a member of the global GEnx MRO network.

Mubadala will expand its GEnx partnership with GE Aviation through its dedicated engine MRO subsidiary, Turbine Services & Solutions (TS&S). The deal will expand TS&S’ current GEnx capabilities and reinforces TS&S’ position as a leading provider of MRO services for GEnx in the world today, ahead of the establishment of the JV in Al Ain.

Homaid Al Shemmari, CEO, Aerospace & Engineering Services, Mubadala said: “Our new GEnx JV MRO facility provides an important platform as we continue to expand Mubadala’s aerospace capabilities. Our longstanding relationship with GE along with our global vision and local expertise will make this new facility a success. It is Mubadala’s goal to become a diversified global aerospace supplier through partnerships like this.”

The agreement will build on Mubadala and GE Aviation’s manufacturing framework that will see Mubadala become a key global supplier to GE by 2020.

DAFZA ASSET

GE has opened its Middle East Aviation Technology Centre at the Dubai Airport Free Zone, in Dubai. 

The new centre will aid GE to support its customers’ operations by leveraging data analytics, domain experience and software capabilities to increase productivity, maximise performance and minimise down time for customers using GE’s platform for the Industrial Internet, said a statement from the company.