Rolls Royce Plc, which fumed in 1991 when compatriot British Airways picked the U.S.-made GE90 engine to power its fleet of Boeing 777s jetliners, had the last laugh Monday when American Airlines selected Rolls' engines for its fleet of 777s.
Rolls, which also beat out United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney for the contract, said the initial order with American for Trent engines to power 11 Boeing 777s was valued at $290 million.
American, the nation's second-largest carrier behind United Airlines, is one of GEAE's largest customers.
''Obviously, we're disappointed,'' said Rick Kennedy, spokesman for GE Aircraft Engines. ''We offered a package to American which we felt was consistent with our goal of providing acceptable returns to our shareholders.''
In the face of brutal price war with Rolls and Pratt in the large-engine market, GEAE executives have said repeatedly that they wouldn't sell the GE90 at any price just to gain market share.
In the last year, GEAE, which launched the GE90 with fanfare in the early '90s, has de-emphasized the program.
In May, for example, GEAE put on hold its plans to develop a more powerful GE90 until airlines requested it.
Meanwhile, GE90 production at the company's Durham, N.C., plant is slated to increase to 72 engines next year from 45 assembled this year.
The GE90 has won firm and optional orders to power 123 of Boeing's wide-body 777 airliners.
Dallas-based American also Monday ordered four more Boeing 767s aircraft, all powered by GEAE's CF6-80C2 engines.
