EVENDALE, OHIO April 16, 2002 China Eastern Airlines today announced its selection of the CFM56-5B to power 20 new Airbus A320 family aircraft in an engine order valued at $200 million. The airline will take delivery of the first two in December of this year with the remaining deliveries scheduled to continue through late 2005.
CFM56-5B engines are produced by CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company of Snecma Moteurs (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States and the world's leading supplier of commercial transport aircraft engines. China Eastern became a CFM customer in 1994 with an order for five CFM56-5C-powered long-range, four-engine Airbus A340 aircraft. Today, the airline is CFM's largest customer in China, operating a fleet of 30 purchased and leased A319 and A320 aircraft powered by the CFM56-5B and six Boeing 737-300 aircraft powered by the CFM56-3, in addition to the A340s.
"We are honored by the continued confidence China Eastern has shown in our products," said Li Jing-Bing, CFM sales director for the China Region. "The decision to expand its short-range fleet with CFM56-5B engines is highly gratifying and we are committed to continue to earn China Eastern's trust for many years to come."
The CFM56-5 continues to be the engine of choice for the Airbus A320 family, having been selected to power 55 percent of all A318/A319/A320/A321 aircraft ordered to date.. Since entering service in 1996, the CFM56-5B has logged more than seven million flight hours with a 99.97 percent dispatch reliability rate.
CFM International is a joint company of Snecma, France and General Electric Company, U.S.A.