easyJet, one of Europe's leading airlines, today announced an order with
CFM International for 270 engines, including 200 LEAP-1A engines to
power its Airbus A320neo family aircraft and 70 CFM56-5B engines to
power additional A320ceo aircraft. CFM values the firm engine order at
more than $3.3 billion U.S. at list price.
The airline also has purchase rights for an additional 100 A320neo
aircraft. The 100 A320neo and 35 A320ceo aircraft orders were originally
announced in July 2013.
easyJet has been a CFM customer since 1995 and its entire fleet is
powered by CFM56 engines, with the airline operating 225
CFM56-5B-powered A320-family aircraft.
“We are pleased to have signed a deal with CFM - a company with which we
have a long history and a great working relationship – and look forward
to introducing the new LEAP-1A engine into our fleet,” said Carolyn
McCall, easyJet Chief Executive. “The engines will help easyJet to
maintain its low cost base and the new generation A320neo is expected to
deliver a cost per seat saving of between 11% and 12% compared to the
current generation A319. They will also provide important environmental
benefits through a significant improvement in fuel efficiency and a
reduction in noise.”
“It is great to welcome easyJet to the growing list of LEAP engine
customers,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM. “We have
built a great relationship with this airline over the years and are
obviously honored by their continued confidence in CFM products.”
“All of the benefits we are building into the LEAP engine are designed
to have a positive impact on easyJet’s bottom line,” said Gael Meheust,
executive vice president, Sales & Marketing for CFM parent company
Snecma (Safran). “This engine will provide unprecedented levels of
efficiency and environmental responsibility while maintaining the legacy
of aviation's most reliable product line, the CFM56 family.”
The foundation of the LEAP engine is heavily rooted in advanced
aerodynamics, environmental, and materials technology development
programs. This revolutionary engine will provide up to a 15 percent
improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to today’s
best CFM engine, along with a dramatic reduction in engine noise. All
this technology brings with it CFM’s legendary reliability and low
maintenance costs.
The first full LEAP-1A engine began ground testing in September 2013,
two days ahead of schedule, launching the most extensive ground and
flight test certification program in CFM's history. The total program,
which encompasses all three LEAP engine variants, includes 28 ground and
CFM flight test engines, along with a total of 32 flight test engines
for Airbus, Boeing, and COMAC.
Over the next three years, these engines will accumulate approximately
40,000 engine cycles leading up to entry into service. By the time this
engine enters services, CFM will have simulated more than 15 years of
airline service with 60 different engine builds.
About easyJet
easyJet operates one of Europe's largest air transport network with a
leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe's 50 largest
airports. The airline flies more than 200 aircraft between 130 airports
in 30 countries, which means that more than 300 million Europeans live
within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.
The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the
latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats
which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less
than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on
the same route.
About CFM International
CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE,
is the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines, has
delivered more than 26,500 CFM56 engines to date. The LEAP engine has
experienced the fastest order ramp up in commercial aviation history,
with 6,770 orders on the books as of June 30, 2014. For more
information, visit us at www.cfmaeroengines.com
or follow us on Twitter @CFM_engines.
Copyright Business Wire 2014