CFM International has won a $112m order from Arkia Israeli Airlines (Arkia) to supply its advanced LEAP-1A engine.

The engines will be used to power Arkia’s four new A321neo aircraft, the order of which was announced in July 2012.

Arkia Israeli Airlines president and CEO Nir Dagan said: “We chose the LEAP engine after a very thorough evaluation.

“CFM has a good reputation for customer support, reliability and low cost of ownership; from everything we have seen, the engine is also delivering the promised fuel-efficiency. 

“All of these factors are very important to us and we expect this engine to deliver significant benefits to our A321neo fleet.”

Last August, CFM International’s LEAP-1A engine entered commercial service and has been offering 15% improvement in fuel-efficiency to its ten operators.

The engine also reduces 15% CO2 emissions and noise.

Virgin America recently took delivery of a new Airbus A321neo aircraft powered by the LEAP-1A engines.

“All of these factors are very important to us and we expect this engine to deliver significant benefits to our A321neo fleet.”

Virgin America’s current fleet of aircraft includes 63 Airbus A320 family aircraft comprised A319ceo and A320ceo aircraft powered by CFM’s CFM56-5B engines.

Set to enter service next month, the new A321neo will become the largest aircraft in Virgin America’s fleet.

The aircraft is equipped with 185 seats, which is 24% more than the airline’s current A320 aircraft.