EVENDALE, OHIO February 2, 2006 Interjet, Mexico's newest start-up airline, has selected CFM56-5B engines to power 10 firm, 10 option Airbus A320 aircraft scheduled to begin delivery in the first quarter of 2007. The firm engine order is valued at about $120 million at list price.
CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran Group) and General Electric Company. More than 15,550 CFM56 engines have been delivered to date to 452 operators around the globe, making CFM the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines.
Interjet began scheduled service on December 1, 2005 with three CFM-powered A320s and currently operates routes to Cancun, Monterrey, and Guadalajara from its base in Toluca, Mexico. The airline, which is owned by the Mexican conglomerate Alemn Group, plans to add up to 10 additional routes in the first quarter of 2006 and expects to operate a fleet of up to 30 aircraft within the next five years.
"The CFM56-5B engine is an ideal match for our A320 fleet," said Jos Luis Garza Alvarez, the airlines chief executive officer. "We launched revenue service with these engines and their performance to date has exceeded expectations. The outstanding quality, reliability, and support CFM provides is helping us achieve our goal of providing passengers with the highest quality, lowest cost service in the domestic Mexican region without any compromises. The engine's low cost of ownership will also be a strong contributor to our ability to implement our long-term growth strategy."
"We're excited to have the opportunity to grow along with Interjet," said Eric Bachelet president and CEO of CFM International. "This airline is off to a fantastic start and we're honored to be a part of it."
The CFM56-5B is the engine of choice for the Airbus A320 family and is popular with major airlines, low-cost carriers, and leasing companies alike. Nearly 2,100 CFM56-5B engines have been delivered to date to 94 operators. In 2006, the fleet will grow at a rate of about 30 engines per month. The engine has gained broad-based industry acceptance through outstanding reliability, durability, low cost of ownership, and world-class customer and product support. The CFM56-5B is the only engine that can power every model of the A320 family, from the small A318 up to the A321, with the same bill of materials, giving airlines a significant commonality advantage.