International Airlines Group (IAG) has selected General Electric CF6-80E1 engines to power the eight Airbus A330 aircraft it currently has on order.

According to carrier, the CF6-80E1 engines incorporate the latest technology with improved fuel efficiency, reduced emissions and a longer operating life.

Iberia has a further eight A330 options for additions to its long-haul fleet.

IAG – which is also home to British Airways - has also signed a 15-year OnPointSM solution agreement for the materials and services to be used in the maintenance, repair and overhaul of the CF6 engine.

Willie Walsh, IAG’s chief executive, said: “We selected these engines based on their reliability and proven operational performance.

“The engine’s recent reconfiguration includes many upgrades that provide greater cost efficiency and a longer lifespan.”

GE’s CF6 engine family has completed more than 360 million hours in service and has 200 customers worldwide.

The A330 aircraft and options will replace up to 16 Airbus A340 aircraft in Iberia’s fleet and will give IAG the flexibility to determine the overall size of Iberia’s long-haul fleet and capacity in future.

Deliveries will begin in 2013.

Iberia’s current long-haul fleet consists of 19 A340-300 and 17 A340-600 aircraft.

The list price for engines for the eight firm orders is more than US$200 million.