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Spring Airlines places $1.70 billion order for CFM LEAP-1A engines

June 19, 2017

LE BOURGET, France — China’s Spring Airlines has signed an agreement with CFM International for LEAP-1A engines to power 60 new Airbus A320neo/A321neo aircraft.  The order is valued at nearly $1.70 billion U.S.  The aircraft, which were announced in 2015, are scheduled for delivery between 2019 and 2023.

“I am so glad to select the LEAP engine for the coming A320neo fleet,” said Wang Zhijie, President of Spring Airlines. “I believe this is a correct selection and hope to get CFM team’s continuous support.“

Spring Airlines, the first low-cost private airline in China, has been a CFM customer since it launched operations in 2005 and operates a fleet of 71 CFM56-powered Airbus A320ceo aircraft.

“Spring Airlines is a great customer,” said Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM. “It is exciting to launch this next chapter in our relationship them.  The LEAP engine has been performing exceptionally well in commercial and I am confident that Spring Airlines will find it to be a great asset to support their continued growth and long-term success.”

Since the first LEAP-1A-powered A320neo aircraft entered service in August 2016, the engine has been delivered to 14 operators worldwide.  The fleet is delivering a 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, with an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions; and lower noise and NOx emissions.  To date, the fleet in service has logged more than 77,000 engine flight cycles and more than 145,000 engine flight hours while maintaining CFM’s industry-leading reliability.

About Spring Airlines

Spring Airlines, one of China’s earliest private airlines, began operation on July 18, 2005. Spring Airlines is the largest low-cost carrier in China, with a current fleet of 71 Airbus aircraft powered by CFM56 engines.  Based in Shanghai, the airline operates more than 70 domestic and tourist routes and more than 75 international and regional routes and is recognized as a very cost-effective airline

About CFM International

The LEAP engine is a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines.  This engine has experienced the fastest order ramp up in commercial aviation history and CFM has received orders and commitments for a total of more than 12,500 LEAP engines across all three models through May 2017.