Partnership expects decision from Malaysia Airlines and Korean Air later this year
General Electric/Pratt & Whitney Engine Alliance president Lloyd Thompson expects Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and Korean Air (KAL) to make powerplant selections later this year for the Airbus A380s they have on firm order.
Thompson said at Asian Aerospace that SkyTeam Alliance carrier KAL has already issued a request for proposals. However, MAS's holding company, Penerbangan Malaysia, which last year ordered A380s on the airline's behalf, has yet to follow suit.
Alliance is offering its GP7200 in competition with Rolls-Royce's Trent 900.
"I would expect that Malaysian and Korean will happen some time before the end of the year," says Thompson, adding that he expects both decisions "later" in the year. "We are at the proposal phase," he says.
The only other confirmed airline customer for the A380 that has yet to make an engine selection is Qatar Airways, but Thompson says that "Qatar will not happen this year".
Last year KAL placed a firm order with Airbus for five A380s while MAS firmed up an order for six of the type and Qatar confirmed a deal for two.
Thompson says the first GP7200 is due to run at P&W's Hartford, Connecticut engine test cell between 7 and 11 March.
Source: Flight International
