West Chester aviation company announces $44B+ in orders from Paris

Credit: Greg Lynch

Credit: Greg Lynch

West Chester-based CFM International continues to announce billions in new orders this week from the Paris Air Show.

On Tuesday, AirAsia and CFM finalized an agreement for the purchase of 200 LEAP-1A aircraft engines to power the airline’s 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft — a combined total value of $23.1 billion, CFM said.

CFM has said the LEAP engine is the fastest-selling engine in aviation history with more than 17,355 orders and commitments booked as of February 2019.

Local employers such as Beavercreek manufacturer Unison contribute to the LEAP engine’s construction.

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Also from the Paris Air Show Tuesday, CFM signed a LEAP-1A engine supply and maintenance agreement with India’s largest passenger airline IndiGo.

That order is valued at more than $20 billion at list price.

Again from Paris, CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited (“CDB Leasing”), announced a $1.3 billion order for LEAP-1A engines to power 45 Airbus A320neo aircraft.

“With our commitment to continue to deepen our working relationships as we serve our customers and their evolving needs, the LEAP-1A engine delivers a multitude of benefits and operating advantages,” Peter Chang, CDB Aviation chief executive, said in a CFM statement.

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Also from Paris, Aviation Lease and Finance Co., a Kuwait-based global aircraft leasing business, announced that it has selected LEAP-1A engines to power 30 firm, 20 option new Airbus A320neo airplanes.

Another regional company, GE Aviation, announced that United Airlines signed an agreement with Embraer to purchase 20 firm ERJ175 aircraft, with the option to buy 19 additional ERJ175 aircraft.

These aircraft will all be equipped with GE CF34-8E5 engines, an order valued at more than $250 million.

A 50/50 joint company, West Chester Twp.-based CFM is owned by GE and French company Safran Group.

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