CFM International has received orders for CFM56-5 engines to power a total of 21 Airbus Industrie A320/A321 aircraft from Airtours International Aviation, Carlisle Aircraft Ltd., and GATX Capital Corporation. The combined value of these orders is more than $160 million.
CFM International is a 50/50 joint company of Snecma (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States.
Airtours International Aviation, the airline arm of Airtours, the second largest tour operator in the United Kingdom, has chosen to replace its fleet of McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft with seven CFM56-5A-powered Airbus A320 aircraft.
Carlisle Aircraft Ltd., an aircraft leasing company with Swedish and American interests, selected CFM56-5B engines to power three firm Airbus Industrie A320s in an engine order valued at $38 million. Deliveries are scheduled for 1998 and 1999.
GATX Capital Corporation placed a $125 million order for CFM56-5 engines to power nine Airbus A321-200 and two Airbus A320 aircraft.
GATX A321 Partners, a newly formed partnership managed by GATX Capital Corporation's Air Group, will begin taking delivery of the new, longer range, higher performance A321-200s in early 1997. GATX Air Group, which already owns a fleet of 16 CFM56-powered A320s, will take delivery of the two additional A320s in 1997. The A321 aircraft will be powered by the advanced CFM56-5B3 engine, while GATX has the option of selecting either the -5A or -5B to power its A320s.