WEST CHESTER, Ohio –29 August 2013 – CFM International is pleased that WestJet Airlines has elected to sign a letter of intent with Boeing and CFM to purchase 65 737 MAX airplanes powered by the advanced LEAP-1B engine. The pending engine order, which consists of 40 737 MAX 8s and 25 737 MAX 7s, is valued $1.7 billion U.S. at list price.
“We are thrilled that WestJet has chosen to make CFM and the advanced new LEAP engine an integral part of its fleet modernization plans,” said CFM President and CEO Jean-Paul Ebanga. "This airline first became a CFM customer in 2000. Since then, they have grown to be one of our bigger customers, operating more than 100 CFM56-7B-powered Next-Generation 737s. We have built a great relationship with WestJet over the years and are looking forward to expanding that well into the future as we introduce the LEAP engine to this fleet.”
The foundation of the LEAP engine is heavily rooted in advanced aerodynamics, environmental, and materials technology development programs. The LEAP-powered 737 MAX will provide 13 percent better fuel consumption and an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions compared to today’s most fuel-efficient single-aisle aircraft currently available, along with a 50 percent reduction in oxides of nitrogen emissions. All this technology brings with it CFM’s legendary reliability and low maintenance costs.
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. In 2011, the advanced LEAP-1B was chosen to continue the long relationship when Boeing selected the engine to power its new 737 MAX.