China Airlines defends choice of engine supplier after EU criticism

Airline Industry Information, August 22, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Taiwanese carrier China Airlines has defended its decision to order engines from US-based General Electric Co rather than those made by Britain's Rolls-Royce Plc.

On Thursday (21 August) the European Union questioned China Airlines' choice of engines for its Airbus aircraft and said that the airline had ignored a "superior" offer from Rolls Royce.

However, China Airlines has responded by saying that the purchase was made solely on commercial grounds and that the maintenance package offered by the British aero-engine manufacturer had not met the airline's needs.

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