Ryanair today announced its commitment to purchase 350 additional CFM56-7BE Engines in a contract valued at $3.7 billion at list prices , subject to Ryanair shareholder approval. Ryanair first became a CFM customer in 1998 with an order for 28 CFM56-7-powered 737s.
CFM President and CEO Jean-Paul Ebanga said “Ryanair is one of biggest customers and we are delighted to continue our relationship with one of Europe’s largest low-cost carriers.”
The Ryanair order, once approved will take the CFM56 engine backlog to more than 5,450 engines equivalent to about four years of production.
The CFM56-7BE engine is the exclusive power-plant for its Boeing 737-600/-700/-800/-900 family of aircraft and the engine provides operators with substantial benefits. The enhanced airplane/engine combination provides a 2% improvement in fuel consumption over the previous -7B production engine.
The improvement equates to a 2% percent reduction in carbon emissions. Additionally, the enhanced -7BE will provide up to 4% lower maintenance costs, depending on the thrust rating. These advantages make the CFM56-7-powered 737 ideally suited for low-cost operators such as Ryanair.
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 20th March 2013 All Rights Reserved.