London: Budget carrier AirAsia has ordered 200 additional CFM LEAP-1A engines, valued at $2.7 billion at list price, to power its 100 new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
According to the announcement that was made on Wednesday, the order will expand the budget carrier’s LEAP engine number to nearly 730. “This engine has demonstrated the promised 15 per cent fuel efficiency and we are quite familiar with the reliability inherent in CFM products and the impact that this has on our operations,” said AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes. The LEAP-1A engine had powered the first flight of the Airbus A321neo aircraft in February, the airline said. Currently, AirAsia operates a fleet of 170 CFM-powered Airbus A320s with 304 still to be delivered.
