UAE-based low-cost carrier Air Arabia has placed an order for 240 CFM Leap-1A engines at the Dubai Airshow to power its existing mandate for 120 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including the A321XLR. The deal includes a multi-year services agreement and spare engines.
Air Arabia’s existing order for 120 Airbus A320neo family aircraft consists of 73 A320neo, 27 A321neo, and 20 A321XLR aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2025.
The Sharjah-based airline became a CFM customer in 2003 as the airline launched operations with a CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320. The company now operates a total fleet of 71 Airbus A320ceo and A321LR aircraft.
“We are delighted to expand our partnership with CFM International,” said Adel Al Ali, Air Arabia group CEO. “This engine order marks a significant milestone in Air Arabia’s journey of growth and advancement.
According to CFM, the Leap engine family boasts the fastest accumulation of flight hours in commercial aviation history, amassing more than 40 million engine flight hours and 18 million flight cycles.
CFM said the Leap engine family provided 15 to 20 percent better fuel consumption and lower emissions, as well as a significant improvement in noise compared with previous generation engines. “Since its entry into service in 2016, the Leap engine allowed our customers to save more than 28 million tons of CO2,” CFM said.
In another announcement on Tuesday, Air Cairo signed a multi-year service agreement covering show visits for 28 Leap engines that power 14 A320neos. Eight of these aircraft are already in the Egyptian carrier's fleet.
On the same day, CFM reached an agreement with Flydubai to provide support for 222 Leap-1B turbofans for its Boeing 737 fleet. The deal covers engines for 80 aircraft already in service and more that it has on order.