MEXICO CITY, Mexico October 22, 2003 Aeromexico today become the newest CFM operator, taking delivery of its first CFM56-7-powered Boeing 737-700. The airline has ordered 11 new aircraft scheduled for delivery between 2003 and 2004. In addition, Aeromexico will be leasing four new B737-700s from ILFC for delivery by 2004.
CFM56-7 engines are produced by CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs (Safran Group) of France and General Electric Company and the world's leading aircraft engine supplier. Nearly 14,000 engines are currently in operation with 375 commercial and military customers worldwide.
Aeromexico was founded in 1934 and is one of the leading airlines in Latin America, serving 52 destinations within Mexico, the U.S., Canada, South America, and Europe. The new B737-700s will be operated primarily on routes to the U.S. and will eventually replace the current DC9/MD-80 fleet over time. Aeromexico is a founding member of SkyTeam and prides itself with a world class on-time performance.
The first CFM56-7-powered 737-700 was delivered in December 1997. Today, more than 1,350 aircraft are in service with about 140 operators worldwide. The fleet, which includes 737-600/-700/ -800/ -900 aircraft, has logged 22 million in flight hours and 11 million flight cycles, representing the fastest accumulatoin of hours and cycles in commercial aviation history. The fleet has also maintained exceptional reliability. For example, the aircraft's 99.96 percent dispatch reliability rate translates to fewer than one departure per 2,000 flights being delayed 15 minutes or more or canceled.