Avolon Orders 100 CFM Leap Engines for A320neo Fleet

Leasing group Avalon has selected CFM International’s Leap-1A engines to power 50 new Airbus A320neo narrowbodies it is adding to its portfolio. The deal was signed on Monday at the Dubai Airshow, covering 100 of the turbofans.

Avolon has been a CFM customer since 2010 and currently manages a fleet of 99 A320neos powered with Leap-1A engines. It now holds firm orders for another 163 of the Leap-equipped twinjets.

“Our sustained partnership with CFM International underpins Avolon’s strategy to reduce emissions and support the demand we see from our airline customers’ growth and replacement needs through 2030 and beyond,” said Avolon CEO Andy Cronin.

CFM, which is a joint venture between France’s Safran and GE Aerospace in the U.S., has delivered engines for more than 4,000 airliners. According to the manufacturer, technology including composite fan blades and ceramic matrix composites has contributed to a 15% cut in fuel burn and carbon emissions compared with the earlier generation CFM56 engines.

In another contract signed on the first day of the Dubai show, low-cost carrier Flydubai agreed to buy 60 of GE’s GenX-1B engines for its fleet of Boeing 787-9 aircraft. The agreement also covers spares and long-term maintenance support.