Skip to main content

Lufthansa, CFM Celebrate 10 Million Engine Flight Hours

October 24, 2002

FRANKFURT, Germany - Sixteen years after taking delivery of its first CFM56-powered airplane, Lufthansa German Airlines and CFM International (CFM) are today celebrating the achievement of 10 million flight hours on the airline's fleet of CFM-powered Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s and A340s. 

CFM International is a 50/50 joint company between Snecma Moteurs of France and General Electric Company and the world's leading supplier of commercial aircraft engines.. 

Lufthansa, the national carrier of Germany, is one of the world's most innovative and prestigious airlines. Since it's foundation in 1926, Lufthansa has been a driving force behind commercial aviation. For example, in the 1930s, the airline was already opening routes to Asia and South America. In recent years, Lufthansa has been one of the industry's strongest proponents of "green" technology that reduces the impact of aviation on the environment, particularly noise and emissions. 

Lufthansa took delivery of its first CFM56-3-powered Boeing 737 in September 1986. Three years later, it added CFM56-5A-powered Airbus A320s. In 1993, Lufthansa was one of the first operators of the long-haul, four-engine Airbus A340 powered by CFM56-5C engines. The combined fleet numbers more than 150 aircraft. 

"We are very happy to be sharing this milestone with Lufthansa," said Pierre Fabre, president and CEO of CFM International. "This airline has historically been know for the technical excellence of its fleet, and it is highly gratifying when an airline with such an exemplary reputation for quality puts its trust in your products. The entire CFM Team sends its warmest congratulations to Lufthansa." 

CFM56 engines have performed well in Lufthansa's fleet. The narrow-body fleet, the CFM56-3-powered 737 and Airbus A320, has logged a combined total of about 6.5 million flight hours and 4.5 million cycles. At the same time, the long-range A340 fleet has logged 3.5 million hours and 400,000 cycles. The entire fleet continues to maintain world-class reliability 

The CFM56 engine family includes six engine models that range from 18,500 to 34,000 pounds takeoff thrust and power 29 commercial and military applications. The first CFM56 engine was delivered in 1982. Today, there are nearly 13,500 CFM56 engines in service with more than 350 customers in 100 countries. This fleet has logged more than 205 million flight hours and 123 million flight cycles as the most reliable engines in the air. The commercial fleet overall maintains a 99.97 percent dispatch reliability rate, a 0.003 in-flight shutdown rate, and a 0.065 shop visit rate.