Earlier today, The Boeing Company made the following announcement regarding Lion Air finalizing its order for 201 LEAP-1B-powered Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes and 29 CFM56-7B-powered Next-Generation 737-900ER aircraft.
"We are obviously honored by the continued confidence Lion Air has shown in CFM with this history order. We have a great long-standing relationship with this airline and look forward to further strengthening that bond as we introduce the LEAP-1B into their fleet," said CFM President and CEO Jean-Paul Ebanga.
"At the same time, our relationship with Boeinggoes back more than 30 years and the CFM-powered Boeing 737 program is the best-selling aircraft/engine combination in aviation history. The CFM-powered 737 aircraft being delivered today represents three decades of leading-edge technical innovation and we look forward to taking that technology to a whole new level with the LEAP-powered 737."
The LEAP-1B will be the exclusive powerplant for the new 737 variant, with the engine uniquely optimized for the airplane. CFM has been collaborating with Boeing on various engine options for either a new or re-engined 737 aircraft since 2005.
Since 1984, CFM has provided the sole powerplant for all Boeing 737 models from the Classic 737-300/-400/-500 to the Next-Generation 737-600/-700/-800/-900/-900ER and the BBJ.