easyJet places $3.3 billion order for nearly 300 CFM engines

• Selects LEAP-1A engine to power 100 A320neos
• Additional CFM56-5B engines for 35 A320ceos

easyJet, one of Europe's leading airlines, today announced an order with CFM International for 270 engines, including 200 LEAP-1A engines to power its Airbus A320neo family aircraft and 70 CFM56-5B engines to power additional A320ceo aircraft. CFM values the firm engine order at more than $3.3 billion U.S. at list price.

The airline also has purchase rights for an additional 100 A320neo aircraft. The 100 A320neo and 35 A320ceo aircraft orders were originally announced in July 2013.

easyJet has been a CFM customer since 1995 and its entire fleet is powered by CFM56 engines, with the airline operating 225 CFM56-5B-powered A320-family aircraft.

"We are pleased to have signed a deal with CFM - a company with which we have a long history and a great working relationship - and look forward to introducing the new LEAP-1A engine into our fleet," said Carolyn McCall, easyJet Chief Executive. "The engines will help easyJet to maintain its low cost base and the new generation A320neo is expected to deliver a cost per seat saving of between 11% and 12% compared to the current generation A319. They will also provide important environmental benefits through a significant improvement in fuel efficiency and a reduction in noise."

"It is great to welcome easyJet to the growing list of LEAP engine customers," said Jean-Paul Ebanga, president and CEO of CFM. "We have built a great relationship with this airline over the years and are obviously honored by their continued confidence in CFM products."

"All of the benefits we are building into the LEAP engine are designed to have a positive impact on easyJet's bottom line," said Gael Meheust, executive vice president, Sales & Marketing for CFM parent company Snecma (Safran). "This engine will provide unprecedented levels of efficiency and environmental responsibility while maintaining the legacy of aviation's most reliable product line, the CFM56 family."

The foundation of the LEAP engine is heavily rooted in advanced aerodynamics, environmental, and materials technology development programs. This revolutionary engine will provide up to a 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions compared to today's best CFM engine, along with a dramatic reduction in engine noise. All this technology brings with it CFM's legendary reliability and low maintenance costs.

The first full LEAP-1A engine began ground testing in September 2013, two days ahead of schedule, launching the most extensive ground and flight test certification program in CFM's history. The total program, which encompasses all three LEAP engine variants, includes 28 ground and CFM flight test engines, along with a total of 32 flight test engines for Airbus, Boeing, and COMAC.

Over the next three years, these engines will accumulate approximately 40,000 engine cycles leading up to entry into service. By the time this engine enters services, CFM will have simulated more than 15 years of airline service with 60 different engine builds.