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NEW DELHI: Following the order for an additional 150 Boeing 737 Max placed last week, Akasa Air on Friday announced an agreement to purchase over 300 CFM LEAP-1B engines worth over $5 billion at list price to power those planes. This is the only engine option for the B737 MAX unlike Airbus A320 family of planes that have two engine options – Pratt & Whitney GTF and CFM’s LEAP-1A.
Akasa signed the agreement with CFM International, which is a 50:50 JV between France’s Safran Aircraft Engines and General Electric, during the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India. The agreement also includes spare engines and a services contract.
Akasa founder & CEO Vinay Dube said: “This long-term agreement is testament to the confidence that CFM International has in Akasa Air. Continuing to partner with CFM as our engine maintenance provider not only reaffirms our focus on operational reliability but equally underscores Akasa Air’s relentless pursuit of safety.” “With CFM as our long-term engine maintenance provider, we remain confident in our path to becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world by the turn of this decade,” Dube added. Before the 150-aircraft order, Akasa had ordered 76 B737 MAX of which 22 are currently in service.
The latest Akasa order grows CFM’s footprint in India, with more than 400 CFM-powered aircraft in service and 2,500 LEAP engines in the backlog. Both CFM’s parent companies GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines have invested in India to build art facilities dedicated to LEAP production and maintenance, while signing strategic partnerships with Indian aerospace companies as part of the “Make in India” policy.
Akasa signed the agreement with CFM International, which is a 50:50 JV between France’s Safran Aircraft Engines and General Electric, during the state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to India. The agreement also includes spare engines and a services contract.
Akasa founder & CEO Vinay Dube said: “This long-term agreement is testament to the confidence that CFM International has in Akasa Air. Continuing to partner with CFM as our engine maintenance provider not only reaffirms our focus on operational reliability but equally underscores Akasa Air’s relentless pursuit of safety.” “With CFM as our long-term engine maintenance provider, we remain confident in our path to becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world by the turn of this decade,” Dube added. Before the 150-aircraft order, Akasa had ordered 76 B737 MAX of which 22 are currently in service.
The latest Akasa order grows CFM’s footprint in India, with more than 400 CFM-powered aircraft in service and 2,500 LEAP engines in the backlog. Both CFM’s parent companies GE Aerospace and Safran Aircraft Engines have invested in India to build art facilities dedicated to LEAP production and maintenance, while signing strategic partnerships with Indian aerospace companies as part of the “Make in India” policy.
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