I have met the references before, for example:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-fo...d.main/120850/
but now I was checking, I could not find such references in the Honeywell´s own website.
4 engines cost more to maintain than 2 and would generally use more fuel.
Generally, yes. But if Pratt and Whitney geared turbofans use much less fuel than similar sized conventional turbofans would, then 4 geared turbofans could also beat a pair of big conventional turbofans. Seeing how the PW GTF has 30 000 pound thrust and the smallest A340-300 engines have 31 200 pounds, A340-300 might be reengined with GTF - slight loss of MTOW and fuel load would be compensated by lower cruise fuel burn...