5B-powered Airbus A318 has had a very successful entry into service, with airplanes delivered to both Frontier Airlines and with Air France in 2003.
The Airbus A318 is powered by CFM56-5B engines produced by CFM International (CFM). CFM is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs (Safran Group) and General Electric Company and is the world's leading supplier of aircraft engines for commercial and military transport aircraft.
Frontier Airlines became the first airline to place the newest edition of the A320 family into revenue service last July. Air France, which launched the CFM56-powered version in 1999, began taking delivery of its new A318s in October.
Frontier Airlines is a long-time CFM customer, operating a fleet of 19 CFM56-5B-powered A319s, as well as 16 Boeing 737 aircraft powered by CFM56-3 engines. The airline has ordered five A318s and will lease two additional airplanes.
Air France has ordered 15 firm, 10 option aircraft and is scheduled to take delivery of five A318s this year, with the remaining firm deliveries scheduled before the end of 2006.
Air France is CFM's biggest European customer. Since Airbus launched the program, Air France has been the first airline to place the A319, A320, and A321 each into revenue service, and, with the A318, became the first airlne in the world to operate all models of the A320 family. The airline's entire A320 fleetone of the largest in service with nearly 120 airplanes flyingis powered by CFM56-5 engines.
Overall, the CFM56-5 engine has been chosen to power nearly 60 percent of the Airbus A318/A319/A320/A321 aircraft ordered to date. As the only engine that can power every model of the A320 Family with one bill of materials, the CFM56-5B provides airlines a distinct commonality advantage, in addition to the lowest cost of operation on this application.