Qantas Airways Limited has placed a $150 million order for CFM56-7 engines to power 15 new Boeing 737-800 aircraft as part of the airline's overall fleet enhancement program. Qantas has also taken options on 60 additional 737 aircraft.
CFM56-7 engines are produced by CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States. CFM is the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines.
The new aircraft complement the airline's existing fleet of 38 737-300 and -400 aircraft powered by CFM56-3 engines. The first 737-800 aircraft will be delivered in January 2002.
"We are very gratified with Qantas' continued confidence in the CFM56 family," said Pierre Fabre, president and chief executive officer of CFM International. "CFM has continued to make considerable technology investments in the CFM56 family to meet and exceed our customer's requirements."
CFM56-7-powered 737s have achieved an outstanding operational record since entering service in early 1998. The 1,000th aircraft was delivered earlier this month, and the fleet has logged nearly 10 million flight hours and five million flight cycles. In addition, the fleet has achieved a 99.96 percent dispatch reliability rate and a .002 in-flight shutdown rate.
Since the program was launched in mid-1993, 136 customers have ordered more than 1,875 firm CFM56-7-powered Boeing 737 aircraft, making it the fastest-selling engine/aircraft combination in history. Total CFM56-7 engine orders are valued at about $20 billion.