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Vistara signs LOI for additional CFM LEAP-1A engines

July 16, 2018

FARNBOROUGH, England — Delhi-based Vistara Airlines and CFM International today signed a Letter of Intent for the purchase of 26 LEAP-1A engines to power 13 additional Airbus A320neo aircraft announced July 11 that are part of the airlines ambitious expansion program. Once finalized, the engine order will be valued at $375 million U.S. at list price.  In addition, Vistara has secured agreements for 37 additional leased aircraft that will also be powered with the LEAP-1A engine. The leased aircraft orders were previously announced.

The airline, which took delivery of the first of seven LEAP-1A-powered Airbus A320neo aircraft leased from BOC Aviation in May 2017, currently operates a fleet of eight LEAP-1A-powered aircraft.

“We are delighted to further deepen our relationship with CFM as we continue to build our modern, fuel-efficient fleet to support our planned growth strategy," said Leslie Thng, CEO of Vistara.

“We continue to be very impressed by what Vistara has been able to accomplish in just three years of operation,” said Gaël Méheust, president and CEO of CFM International. “Over the past year, we have worked very closely with them to introduce the LEAP-1A engine into their fleet and are honored to play such a significant role in their long-term growth strategy.”

The LEAP engine family continues to perform exceptionally well in commercial service. There are 61 airlines currently operating more than 385 aircraft on five continents. Overall, the fleet has logged more than 700,000 flight cycles and 1.5 million engine flight hours while maintaining CFM’s industry-leading reliability and the highest utilization rate in this thrust class. The engine is delivering a 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency, with an equivalent reduction in CO2 emissions; and lower noise and NOx emissions.

About Vistara
Vistara, which began operations in 2015, has become the sixth largest domestic carrier in India and serves 22 domestic destinations throughout. The airline has been voted the ‘Best Domestic Airline’ and Runners Up in the ‘Favorite Domestic Airline’ category by the readers of Travel + Leisure India and Condé Nast Traveler India, respectively. In addition, Vistara was also tagged as the ‘Most Loved Airline’ by Skytrax and the ‘Best New Entrant (Domestic)’ by Air Passengers Association of India (APAI).

About CFM International
LEAP engines are a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint venture company between GE and Safran Aircraft Engines. CFM is the world’s leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines and the LEAP engine has become the preferred choice for next-generation single-aisle aircraft with more than 15,450 orders received through June 2018.