Etihad Airways stole the show in Paris recently when it announced a recordbreaking US$14 billion engine order from GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, Engine Alliance (a joint venture between GE and Pratt & Whitney) and International Aero Engines (IAE) to power the new Airbus and Boeing aircraft that it ordered at last year’s Farnborough International Airshow.

The Farnborough deal included 100 firm orders and options and purchase rights for a further 105 aircraft, which will be delivered between 2011 and 2020. Etihad CEO James Hogan said the engine deal included 78 engines from GE to power Boeing 787s and 45 engines to go on Airbus A380 superjumbos from the Engine Alliance.

The firm orders for 239 engines, which include 19 spares, is worth US$7 billion at list prices, including maintenance contracts. If all options and purchase rights are exercised, the total number of engines will be 469, at a list price value of US$14 billion, including maintenance contracts. This represents the largest engine order in commercial aviationhistory.