WEST CHESTER, Ohio — easyJet, one of Europe's leading airlines, today announced it has exercised purchase rights for CFM International’s LEAP-1A engine to power 30 additional Airbus A320neo aircraft. The airline also ordered 12 CFM56-5B engines for six additional A320ceo aircraft. CFM values the firm engine order at more than $975 million U.S. at list price.
These aircraft are part of an A320neo purchase agreement announced in July 2013 and easyJet had already selected the LEAP-1A to power 100 firm aircraft. The engines for today’s order, which are scheduled for delivery between 2018 and 2020, are purchase rights from that agreement.
"Our mission is to make air travel easy and affordable and CFM is a key partner in helping us deliver that for our passengers,” said Carolyn McCall, CEO of easyJet. “The A320neo powered by CFM's LEAP 1A engines will be more fuel efficient - both reducing emissions and providing lower costs per seat, which will help keep fares low. In addition, these new engines and aircraft will be quieter than current generation planes, thus helping to reduce our impact on the communities who live near our airports. Our partnership with CFM has been built on the CFM56 engine and this will continue with the LEAP program.”
easyJet currently operates a fleet of 243 CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A319/A320 aircraft. The CFM56-5B has the distinction of being the only engine available on all models of the Airbus A320ceo family (A318/A319/A320/A321) and has been selected to power more than 55 percent of these aircraft currently in service or on order.
"This order is a testament to the success easyJet continues to achieve,” said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM. "We are thrilled to be a part of this great team. The CFM56-5B has been a solid performer for them and we know that the LEAP engine is going to deliver the kind of fuel efficiency, reliability, and durability that easyJet have come to expect from CFM.”
The LEAP-1A engine has completed all certification testing and is currently undergoing an extensive flight test program on the Airbus A320neo, paving the way for entry into service in 2016.
About easyJet
easyJet operates one of Europe's largest air transport network with a leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe's 50 largest airports. The airline flies more than 200 aircraft between 130 airports in 30 countries, which means that more than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport.
The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.
About CFM International
CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE, is the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines while the LEAP engine has experienced the fastest order ramp up in commercial aviation history. For more information, visit us at www.cfmaeroengines.com or follow us on Twitter @CFM_engines.