Dubai carrier Emirates said it has signed a $4.8 billion fleet management agreement with US-based Engine Alliance, a JV between General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Technologies Corporation.

As per the agreement, the Engine Alliance will supply its GP7200 engines to power the Emirates' 32 Airbus A380 aircraft ordered last month.

The deal also includes the maintenance, overhaul and repair of the engines, said a statement from Emirates.

The agreement was signed by Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group and Mary Ellen Jones, president of the Engine Alliance at the Farnborough Air Show.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, witnessed the signing.

“GP7200 engines are powering the 11 A380 aircraft currently operating in our fleet and the results have been very positive,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

“The engine's fuel efficiency, reliability and low noise output were decisive factors in our selection of the product for our additional 32 A380s,” he noted.

"We're very proud of the GP7200's performance in the Emirates fleet to date, and delighted to be part of Emirates' continued growth and success," said Jones.-TradeArabia News Service