China's Spring Airlines has selected CFM56-5B engines to power four new Airbus A320 family aircraft in an engine order valued at $70 million U.S. at list price. The airline is scheduled to begin taking delivery in mid-2012.
Spring Airlines, the first low cost carrier in China, is headquartered in Shanghai. As a subsidiary of the Spring International Travel Service Ltd., one of the leading travel service providers in China, the airline began operation in 2005 and a total of 37 purchased and leased CFM56-5B-powered A320 aircraft, either in service or on order. The airline is currently operating 19 A320s.
"We're pleased to continue our relationship with CFM International and are very satisfied with the excellent performance of CFM56 engines," said Wang Zhenghua, Chairman of Spring Airlines. "The engine's low cost of ownership has been a strong contributor to our long-term growth strategy."
"We are obviously honored by Spring Airlines' continued confidence in the CFM56 product line," said Eric Bachelet, president and CEO of CFM International, "We look forward to growing and improving this relationship for many more years to come."
CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International (CFM), a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran group) and GE and the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines.