GHANA — The Republic of Ghana has announced its intent to purchase GEnx-1B engines for its three Boeing 787 Dreamliners that will be used to re-launch its grounded national airline.
A statement from the aircraft engine supplier, General Electric revealed that engine order from Ghana is valued at more than $150 million list price.
While announcing the engine order receipt from Ghana, GEnx program General Manager Mahendra Nair said, “GE Aviation is honored to provide GEnx engines for the new 787 Dreamliners that Ghana will acquire to re-launch a national carrier.”
“The GEnx engine has proven itself with the highest reliability and utilization rates that benefit our customers, and we look forward to working with Ghana as the country progresses on its strategy to re-enter the aviation industry.”
Ghana’s national carrier was grounded in 2005 after the government failed to finalize a deal with Ethiopian Airlines which would have enabled the airline that was first launched into service in 1958 to continue operations.
The GEnx engines that Ghana is acquiring feature a highest-pressure ratio compressor enabling the best fuel efficiency in its thrust class and resulting in the enginees powering the longest B787 routes, such as Qantas’ 787-9 record-breaking non-stop flight from New York to Sydney last month.
The engine also features a carbon fiber composite front fan case and fan blades, making it to be lighter in weight, corrosion resistant with less line maintenance and improved reliability, and is the quietest engine GE produces.
A number of African countries are championing the idea of a national carrier and are either planning to resurrect their state airlines or pouring money into expanding their fleet and routes.
Uganda has for instance relaunched its airline which had been grounded for more than a decade.
Senegal on the other hand, commenced domestic flights with its newly revived national carrier, Air Senegal, in 2018 while Tanzania has announced plans to buy new Airbus jets to increase the routes of its state-owned national carrier.
Rwanda and Togo have also ramped up investment while Zambia has made clear its plans to relaunch its state carrier in late 2019 more than two decades after it was shut down.
