China's 9 Air has ordered CFM International's LEAP-1B engine to power 30
Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, in addition to CFM56-7B engines to power 20
Next-Generation 737s. CFM values the order at $3.7 billion U.S. at list
price, including spare engines and a long-term service agreement. The
airplane orders were previously announced.
Under the terms of the Rate per Flight Hour (RPFH) agreement, CFM will
guarantee maintenance costs for all 105 LEAP-1B and CFM56-7B engines on
a dollar per engine flight hour basis.
"We have had a great experience operating CFM engines in Juneyao
Airlines and we look forward to strengthening this great relationship as
we launch 9 Air,” said Wang Junjin, chairman of Juneyao Airlines. "We
are confident in the reliability and operating economics of the CFM
engines and look forward to introducing the LEAP engine into the mix.
The exceptional fuel efficiency and low maintenance costs these engines
bring will be critical our new low-cost operations."
“We are very pleased to welcome 9 Air to the family of CFM operators,"
said Allen Paxson, executive vice president of CFM International. "We
have had a great relationship with its parent company, Juneyao from the
very beginning and we look forward to building the same kind of great
relationship with 9 Air and it launches operations."
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high-resolution image. Photo caption: Junjin Wang chairman of
Juneyao Airlines, and Allen Paxson, CFM executive vice president, sign
the $3.7 billion agreement for LEAP-1B and CFM56-7B engines to power the
new low-cost carriers Boeing 737 fleet. Witnessing the signature from
left are: Jinq Ye, Han Wang, Jean-Paul Ebanga, and Weiming Xiang.
The LEAP-1B, which is the sole powerplant for the Boeing 737 MAX, began
ground testing in June 2014 three days ahead of schedule. The engine is
part of the most extensive ground and flight test certification program
in the company’s history and will encompass 60 engine builds over the
next three years and will accumulate approximately 40,000 cycles before
entry into service.
All of 9 Air's Next-Generation 737s will be powered by the CFM56-7BE
engine, the new production configuration introduced in mid-2011. CFM
used advanced computer codes and three-dimensional design techniques to
improve airfoils in the high- and low-pressure turbines for better
engine performance. In addition, the company improved engine durability
and reduced parts count to achieve lower maintenance costs. When
combined with airplane improvements, the engine provides two percent
better fuel efficiency and up to four percent lower maintenance costs.
The foundation of the LEAP engine is heavily rooted in advanced
aerodynamics, environmental, and materials technology development
programs. It will provide 15 percent better fuel consumption and an
equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to today’s best CFM
engine, along with dramatic reductions in engine noise and emissions.
All this technology brings with it CFM’s legendary reliability and low
maintenance costs.
About 9 Air
Based in Guangzhou, 9 Air is China’s newest low-cost airline and is also
a subsidiary of Juneyao Airlines. The new low-cost carrier plans to
launch domestic services to meet growing air traffic demand in China
About CFM International
LEAP engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company
between Snecma (Safran) and GE. CFM is the world's leading supplier of
commercial aircraft engines and has delivered more than 26,500 CFM56
engines to date. For more information, visit us at www.cfmaeroengines.com
or follow us on Twitter @CFM_engines.
Copyright Business Wire 2014