Emirates signs $1.5bn engine deal

The A380 will be launched in 2006

General Electric and Pratt & Whitney have won a $1.5bn deal to supply up to191 engines for Emirates' planned fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.

The engine contract is one of the first to be awarded for the A380, a wide-bodied jet currently awaiting delivery to half-a-dozen airlines.

The two US firms are to supply their jointly-developed GP7200 engine.

Emirates bought 21 A380s in July, doubling its existing order, and making it one of Airbus's biggest customers.

High hopes

So far, Airbus has sold 121 A380s, an achievement that has helped it push ahead of rival Boeing in terms of market share.

Engine Alliance has only one rival in the A380 market

The firm hopes that the first A380s will begin commercial flights in 2006.

GE and Pratt & Whitney have launched the Engine Alliance, a venture aimed at supplying engines to the A380s currently under order.

The alliance is in direct competition with Rolls-Royce, the only other firm capable of making engines for the A380.

Rolls-Royce has supplied engines to Emirates in the past, but also missed out on an earlier order for A380 engines, which went to Engine Alliance.