American Airlines has chosen Boeing and GE Aviation’s GEnx-1B engines for its next order of widebody, long-haul jets.
The order of 47 additional Boeing 787s marks Boeing’s victory over Airbus, the other likely contender and Boeing’s rival.
Engine supplier GE is naturally happy about the announcement, and attributes the choice to the fuel efficiency and relative quiet of the GEnx-1B engines.
“This was a difficult decision between the Boeing 787 and the Airbus A350 and A330neo and we thank both manufacturers for their aggressive efforts to earn more of American’s business. In the end, our goal to simplify our fleet made the 787 a more compelling choice,” American Airlines President Robert Isom said, according to Reuters.
Boeing Chief Executive Kevin McAlliser said, “This new order is a powerful endorsement of the 787 family’s unique passenger appeal and unmatched ability to help airlines open new routes and grow profitably.”
The deal for the 47 planes includes a 20-year-service agreement and is a $6.5 billion transaction in total. It follows up on 42 Boeing 787s several years ago. The newest batch has an expected delivery date between 2020 and 2022.
GE, a longtime partner with Boeing, continues to upgrade its engines in an effort to keep them competitive and to save fuel. GE said that its engineers are looking into using ceramic matrix composites in place of conventional alloys in order to cut down on weight.
