• Expands CFM-powered 737 fleet to nearly 300 aircraft
LE BOURGET — 16 June 2015 —SMBC Aviation Capital, the world’s third largest aircraft lessors, today announced an order for CFM International’s LEAP-1B engines to power 10 additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, a purchase also announced today. This follows an order it placed in late 2014 for 160 LEAP-1B engines. This newest order is valued at $270 million U.S. at list price.
A long-time CFM customer, Dublin-based SMBC Aviation Capital currently has a fleet of nearly 300 Boeing 737 aircraft powered by CFM56 and LEAP engines in service or on order.
“We have had great success with our CFM-powered Boeing 737 aircraft and they have provided our customers with a highly efficient and reliable solution,” said Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital. “We look forward to the new LEAP-1B / 737 MAX combinations becoming an equally attractive asset to our customers.”
“SMBC Aviation Capital has a large portfolio of CFM-powered aircraft today and we are excited to continue growing together with one of the world’s largest leasing companies,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM International. “We appreciate the continued confidence this order shows in our products and the positive impact our engines have had on the long-term profitability of their airline customers.”
The LEAP-1B engine promises to be the most advanced, reliable, fuel-efficient powerplant for the new generation of single-aisle aircraft. The engine incorporates many industry firsts, including the 3-D woven carbon fiber composite fan blade and case; the one-of-a-kind debris rejection system; fourth-generation 3-D aerodynamics; the first commercial use of ceramic matrix composites (CMCs); the revolutionary combustor design featuring fuel nozzles grown using additive manufacturing; and light-weight Titanium Aluminide airfoils. The lower weight and higher durability these components provide will result in a 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, with an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions; a 50 percent margin to new emissions regulations; a dramatically lower noise signature; CFM’s industry-leading reliability and low overall operating costs.
About SMBC Aviation Capital
SMBC Aviation Capital has a modern fleet of more than 370 owned and managed aircraft valued at more than $10.5bn. The business’s strategy is to own and lease liquid, investor-friendly aircraft assets with continuous trading through the industry cycle to maximize profitability and manage risk. It has 95 airline customers and over 42 investors in more than 40 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Dublin and has offices in Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, Amsterdam, Toulouse and Seattle.
About CFM International
LEAP engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE and the world’s leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines, with more than 28,000 delivered to 550 operators around the globe. Through May 31, the company had received orders and commitments for a total of more than 8,900 LEAP engines. For more information, visit us at www.cfmaeroengines.com or follow us on Twitter @CFM_engines