TAM Brazilian Airlines has selected General Electric's GEnx engine to power its new order of 10 Airbus A350-900 aircraft. TAM is scheduled to begin taking delivery of the new A350s in late 2012.

"The advanced technology of the GEnx was a big factor in our decision," said Marco Bologna, president of TAM. "The low operating costs of the engine, coupled with the inherent GE reliability it will bring, made the GEnx the perfect choice to help us renew and expand our long-haul fleet."

To date, GE has signed agreements to power a total of 122 A350 aircraft with its fast-selling GEnx engine.

"We're pleased that TAM has made GE the engine supplier of choice for its wide-body fleet," said Scott Donnelly, president and CEO of GE Aviation. "The airline already operates CF6-80E-powered A330s. This order gives us the opportunity to broaden and strengthen the relationship we've already built with this great customer and to be a part of its growth."

Airbus has established an integrated certification schedule for the A350, which includes GEnx engine flight-testing in 2009, and aircraft/engine certification in 2010. GE has a full-time team of engineers at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, collaborating on the A350 program.

FMI: www.tamairlines.com, www.geae.com