But why did Boeing choose GE Aerospace (GE) to be the exclusive provider of 747-8 engines, when all prior 747 variants had been sold with a choice of engine options? While early production models were exclusive to Pratt & Whitney, by the time the updated Boeing 747-100B first flew with Northwest Airlines, Boeing had introduced engine options from GE and Rolls-Royce. Related The Top 10 Boeing 747 Airline Customers In History Only a few of the greatest purchasers of the Boeing 747 were US airlines, and some still have them in service. GE was up to the challenge, and in January 2006, Boeing announced GE as the sole engine provider for the 747-8. But despite the commercial disappointment, the GEnx-2B engine is considered a technical success, despite having to overcome some initial challenges.