Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) has exercised options for two additional 737-600s, in addition to placing an order for 12 Next-Generation 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft, bringing the airline's total Next-Generation 737 order to 55 firm aircraft plus 40 options. The firm engine order, which is valued at about $150 million, launches CFM's advanced double annular combustor (DAC) on the 737-700/-800 applications and brings the total number of DAC-equipped aircraft orders to 250.
CFM International (CFM) is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran Group) of France and General Electric of the United States.
SAS, which is a consortium formed by the national carriers of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, will take delivery of its first CFM56-7-powered Boeing Next-Generation 737-600 equipped with CFM's double annular combustor later this month and is scheduled to take delivery of 10 aircraft by year's end. SAS will begin taking delivery of its 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft in 2000. The airline selected the CFM56-7 after an exhaustive analysis of many aircraft/engine combinations. One of the strongest facts behind its decision was the DAC option; CFM is the only manufacturer in this thrust class to offer this technology.
"Environmental issues were amongst the top four criteria for selecting our new fleet of aircraft," said Niels Eirik Nertun, SAS director, Environmental Department. "The environment is of strategic importance to SAS...and we will endeavor to go for the best available environmental technology in our airline fleet planning."
At a recent ceremony in Seattle, SAS unveiled its first 737-600 in the new SAS colors, developed as part of SAS's 2000+ program, which incorporates an environmental logo on the engine nacelles to promote the CFM56-7's low emission characteristics.
"The selection of the DAC by SAS, and other airlines recently, is extremely significant in establishing the credibility of the DAC program," said David Cook, Vice President of International Sales for CFM. "We expect to have more than 200 DAC-powered aircraft in service by 2002 and, as interest in low emissions technology increases, the advantages of this type of equipment will become evident, not just in terms of environmental charges but also in terms of aircraft resale values."
In addition to SAS, Austrian Airlines, Edelweiss, Finnair, Sabena Belgian Airlines, and Swissair have also selected CFM56-5 and CFM56-7 engines equipped with the DAC.