AirAsia Orders 400 LEAP Engines to Power A320neos
June 23, 2011
- Largest order in aviation history
- Extends 10+-year relationship with an all-CFM fleet
LE BOURGET, France - 23 June 2011 - As part of the largest single firm aircraft order in aviation history, AirAsia today announced that it has selected CFM International's advanced LEAP engine to power 200 Airbus A320neo aircraft. The airline is scheduled to begin taking delivery in 2016.
To support the new LEAP-powered A320neo fleet, AirAsia has also signed a 20-year RPFH (Rate per Flight Hour) agreement with CFM to provide comprehensive engine maintenance service. Under the terms of this agreement, CFM will guarantee maintenance costs on a dollar per engine flight hour basis.
"LEAP is absolutely the right engine for our A320neo aircraft," said Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia. "We did an exhaustive evaluation before making our decision and the technical superiority of this engine speaks for itself. LEAP technology will enable us to realize double-digit improvements in fuel burn, emissions, and noise, which will have a huge impact our bottom line and fuel our future growth. When you add to that our decade of experience with CFM and the company's unrivaled reputation for delivering on it promises, the choice was an easy one to make."
"We are both honored and excited to launch this next phase of our relationship with AirAsia," said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM. "We believe that all of the benefits of LEAP technology, including better fuel burn and an improved environmental footprint with CFM's industry-leading reliability and low maintenance costs, will have a very positive impact on AirAsia's operational efficiency and help fuel their continued growth long-term."
"It's a great feeling when an airline that is already an excellent customer, but also a thought leader and innovator in the industry chooses to make you such an important part of its operations," said Kevin McAllister, vice president of sales for CFM International. "We are looking forward to a great future with AirAsia and to working hard each day to show that their trust is very well placed."
AirAsia, a pioneer in low-cost travel in Asia and the leading low fare no frills airline in the ASEAN region, has been a CFM customer for more than a decade. As the single largest Airbus A320 operator in the Asia-Pacific region, AirAsia operates a fleet of more than 100 CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320s with more than 120 still to be delivered. AirAsia began operations in 2001 and has continued to experience steady growth, today, the airline and its subsidiaries serve destinations in 20 countries throughout the region.
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 a 50 percent reduction in oxides of nitrogen emissions, and up to a 15 decibel reduction in noise. All this technology brings with it CFM's legendary reliability and low maintenance costs.
LEAP engines are a product of CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran group) and GE and the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines.
