Air Canada

Air Canada has placed an order with CFM International to deliver 122 LEAP-1B engines worth $1.6bn, to power 61 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that were recently ordered to support the airline’s fleet renewal strategy.

The Canadian flag carrier has been using CFM engines since 1990, and currently operates a fleet of 89 CFM56-powered aircraft, with options and rights to purchase an additional 96 LEAP-1B engines.

CFM’s LEAP-1B engine is the sole powerplant for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that are scheduled to go into production in 2017.

Air Canada president and CEO Calin Rovinescu said that the airline’s investment in its narrowbody fleet renewal is an important element in its ongoing cost transformation programme.

"The introduction of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft powered by CFM LEAP engines is expected to yield significant cost savings and improvements in environmental impact," Rovinescu said.

"Our projected fuel and maintenance cost improvements of more than 20% per seat will generate an estimated CASM reduction of approximately 10% compared to Air Canada’s existing narrowbody fleet."

"Our projected fuel and maintenance cost improvements of more than 20% per seat will generate an estimated CASM reduction of approximately 10% compared to Air Canada’s existing narrowbody fleet."

Scheduled to begin ground testing in the third quarter of the year, the first LEAP-1B engine is part of an extensive ground and flight test certification programme, and will include 60 engine builds over the next three years.

CFM will accumulate about 40,000 cycles before entry into service.

The LEAP engine will provide 15% better fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, compared to the present CFM engines.

Image: Air Canada’s Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.

Defence Technology