In a special ceremony here today, TAP Portugal and CFM International celebrated the achievement of the one million engine flight hour milestone by the airline's fleet of CFM56-5C engines.
TAP took delivery of its first CFM56-5C-powered Airbus A340 in late 1994 and today operates a fleet of four of the long-range, four-engine aircraft. The airline also operates nearly 40 CFM56-5-powered single-aisle A320 family aircraft.
"The success of our relationship with CFM International is demonstrated by the length of our partnership," said Jorge Sobral,vice president of Maintenance and Engineering for TAP Portugal. "For more than 20 years, CFM has, provided high quality, reliable engines and good support for our fleet."
TAP Portugal, which celebrated its 66th anniversary early this year, operates routes to more than 75 destinations in 34 countries throughout Europe, Africa, North America, and South America. In 2010, the airline was awarded the "World's Best Airline Award" by British Cond Nast Travel magazine, after being rated for its excellence in previous years, and was rated as the "Best Airline to South America" by the World Travel Awards in 2009 and 2010.
"We are very pleased to celebrate this great milestones with TAP," said Jean-Paul Alary, vice president, Customer and Product Support for CFM International. "We have developed a marvelous relationship with TAP Portugal over the past 20 years and have worked through this industry's many ups and downs together and have come out even stronger. The years ahead will only continue to strengthen that bond."
CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran group) and General Electric Company, is the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines with more than 22,000 engines delivered to more than 500 operators worldwide.