GE Powers Kenya Airways’ 787's

E Aviation's GEnx-1B engine has been selected by Kenya Airways to power its fleet of nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners currently on order, with an option for four additional aircraft, which will be delivered in 2013.

GE Aviation Global Sales vice president and general manager, Kevin McAllister, saiys, "The GEnx-1B engine's thrust capability along with its improved fuel burn and lower emissions and noise will help Kenya Airways achieve its goals of lower operating costs and increasing its performance, both [of] which are elements that are key to its business plan."

Under the contract, GE will supply 19 engines, of which 18 will be used on the nine new aircraft, with each equipping two; the remaining engine will be used as a spare.

Kenya Airways managing director and chief executive, Titus Naikuni, said that the airline had settled on the GEnx-1B engine as GE had designed the engines to provide a base thrust of 70,000 lb to power the Dreamliner aircraft.

"The 787 is expected to achieve between 15% to17% fuel efficiency over the 767 with this particular engine type," Naikuni said.

"This will enable the 787 to fly further with more passengers and cargo than the 767," he adds.