TAM Brazilian Airlines Takes Delivery of First CFM56-5B-Powered A320

EVENDALE, Ohio -- TAM Brazilian Airlines has taken delivery of its first CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320 family aircraft. In addition, the airline placed an order for installed and spare engines to power 16 additional A320s. The order is valued at $245 million at list price. 

CFM56-5B engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture between Snecma and General Electric Company. More than 16,100 CFM56 engines have been delivered to date to more than 450 operators around the globe making CFM the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines. 

This newest order brings TAM's total CFM-powered A320 order to 41 firm aircraft. The airline, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in early 2006, is scheduled to take delivery of all of its aircraft by late 2010. The order is a continuation of TAM's fleet renewal and expansion program and will be used on the airline's domestic and South American routes. TAM is one of the top companies in Brazil and one of the most admired airlines in the world. 

"We are very pleased with the start of CFM-powered A320 operations in Brazil," said Doug Izarra, Latin America & Caribbean Regional Sales General Manager for CFM International. "This new order is a testament of TAM's confidence in CFM reliability and overall economics. CFM is proud to be the powerplant of choice for this next batch of A320s." 

The CFM56-5B is the engine of choice for the Airbus A320 family and is popular with major airlines, low-cost carriers, and leasing companies alike. More than 2,300 CFM56-5B engines have been delivered to date, and the fleet is growing at a rate of about 20 engines per month. Primary factors behind the engine's broad-based market acceptance include this industry's best reliability, durability, low cost of ownership, and world-class customer and product support. The CFM56-5B is the only engine that can power every model of the A320 family, from the small A318 up to the A321, with the same bill of materials, giving airlines a significant commonality advantage.