Emirates signs $16-bn maintenance contract with GE

The airline said has also signed a 12-year contract worth $36m for the maintenance and support of the aircraft

DUBAI: Dubai-based carrier Emirates announced Monday at the city state's air show it has signed a $16-billion maintenance contract with GE Aviation of the United States for its fleet of 150 Boeing 777s.

The contract covers "the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of the GE9X engines that will power the airline's fleet... over a period of 12 years", it said in a statement, adding that it was Emirates' largest contract of its kind.

Emirates in 2013 signed a $76-billion contract for the 150 Boeing 777X twin-engine aircraft, powered by GE's new GE9X engine, in what was the single largest order by value in the history of US commercial aviation.

The airline said Monday it has also signed a second, 12-year contract with GE Aviation worth $36-million for maintenance and inventory support for various avionics, electrical power and mechanical systems on all its Boeing 777s in service and the 44 more on order.