Air India has recently inked a significant agreement with CFM International, the joint venture of GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines, to acquire over 800 CFM LEAP engines to propel its upcoming narrow body aircraft fleet. The airline had earlier placed a substantial order for 470 planes from leading manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, with a predominant focus on the Airbus A320neo family and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.
[Press Release] @airindia and CFM International have finalized the order of #CFMLEAP engines that will power the airline’s new fleet of 210 @Airbus A320/A321neos and 190 @Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft, which was first announced in February.
Read more➡️ https://t.co/ulQoY4VI5s pic.twitter.com/cQWJViPI6c— CFM International (@CFM_engines) July 20, 2023
Modern engines for modern fleet of aircraft
Under this new deal, Air India has finalised an order for more than 800 CFM LEAP engines, intended to power a total of 400 aircraft—210 Airbus A320/A321neos and 190 Boeing 737 MAX family aircraft. Additionally, the agreement encompasses a multi-year services contract that will extend to cover the entire LEAP engine fleet of the airline. Campbell Wilson, Air India’s CEO and Managing Director, expressed his delight, stating that this significant deal would play a pivotal role in the airline’s future growth. He emphasised the positive impact of the widespread adoption of the LEAP engine and the associated services agreement in terms of environmental sustainability, operational efficiency, and customer benefits.
Gaël Méheust, President and CEO of CFM International, underscored the importance of this order, stating that it further solidifies their presence in India and commits CFM to continue supporting Air India’s progress with the highest CFM standards, encompassing reliability, efficiency, and customer support.
Why CFM LEAP engines?
CFM’s LEAP engines boast several advantages, including 15 to 20% improved fuel efficiency, reduced CO2 emissions, and substantially lower noise levels compared to previous-generation engines. Since its introduction in 2016, the LEAP engine has already contributed to saving more than 20 million tons of CO2 compared to flights operated using older engines.
The association between Air India and CFM dates back to 2002 when Air India commenced operations with Airbus A320ceo aircraft powered by CFM56-5B engines. Subsequently, in 2017, the airline became the first LEAP-1A-powered operator in India, introducing the Airbus A320neo aircraft. Currently, Air India operates a fleet of 27 LEAP-1A-powered A320neo family aircraft.
CFM proudly noted that the LEAP engine family has achieved one of the fastest accumulations of flight hours in commercial aviation history, surpassing 33 million engine flight hours and 15 million flight cycles. This highlights the engine’s reliability and successful performance in real-world flight operations.
