Competing power plant manufacturers are hoping for a decision from Asiana Airlines in November on the selection of engines for its planned fleet of 20 Boeing 777-200/300 and 28 Airbus A330-200/300 wide-body aircraft.
According to local sources, General Electric, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce are now into the final round of a long drawn-out battle to win the Asiana competition. At stake are orders for up to 96 engines, plus spares.
The decision will be made on the basis of technical reliability, concession pricing and the wider strategic considerations of the airline's parent company, the Kumho Group, says Asiana senior executive Yong Tae Park. He adds that the company will probably opt for a single family of engines offering commonality, rather than divide the order between two suppliers.
Another major factor is Asiana's requirement for a 436kN (98,000lb)-thrust engine to power its eight stretched 777-300s, which only the PW4098 can meet at the moment. R-R is proposing the 423kN Trent 895, while GE has been pressing Asiana for more time to allow it to make a decision on launching the planned 445kN GE90-100B derivative.
Asiana has also been looking for potential partners to help support its fleet of new engines. It has already held co-operative talks with All Nippon Airways (on PW4000 support), Cathay Pacific Airways (about the Trent 700/800) and with China Southern, which is discussing a GE90 overhaul site.
Asiana is awaiting Government approval to proceed with the two deals. It has signed a preliminary contract with Airbus for ten A330-300s and eight 200s, with options on ten more. The 777 order will include seven 777-200IGWs, eight -300s and five options.
Source: Flight International
