The Emirati low-cost carrier Air Arabia marked a significant milestone in its dedication to fleet enhancement and operational excellence at the Dubai Air Show 2023.
In a signing ceremony attended by senior executives from CFM and Air Arabia, the airline announced the procurement of 240 CFM LEAP-1A engines to power its existing order of 120 Airbus A320neo family aircraft, including the cutting-edge A321XLR.
This agreement encompasses a multi-year services arrangement and spare engines.
The deal represents a pivotal move for Air Arabia, supporting its fleet growth and future expansion initiatives.
Airline Fleet
The state-of-the-art LEAP-1A engines will propel the airline’s existing order, which includes 73 A320neo, 27 A321neo, and 20 A321XLR airplanes scheduled for delivery in 2025.
Having been a CFM customer since 2003, Air Arabia initially commenced operations with a CFM56-5B-powered Airbus A320.
Currently boasting a fleet of 71 Airbus A320ceo, A321ceo and A321 neo-LR aircraft, Air Arabia’s continued partnership with CFM underscores its commitment to operational efficiency and environmental sustainability.
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Stakeholder Comments
Adel Al Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia, emphasized the significance of the engine order, stating, “The efficiency and performance of the CFM engine will play a crucial role in supporting our fleet expansion strategy, which includes the most efficient fuel consumption and minimizing the environmental footprint.”
“This investment underscores our unwavering commitment to achieving higher levels of operational efficiency, maintaining reliability, and actively contributing to a more sustainable aviation industry.”
Gaël Méheust, President & CEO of CFM International, expressed delight in expanding the partnership, stating, “We are honored to further expand our longstanding partnership with Air Arabia through today’s order of 240 engines.”
“This renewed trust is a valuable recognition of LEAP engine performance. We are looking forward to introducing the LEAP into their fleet and to supporting the region with our unmatched capability.”
LEAP Engine
The LEAP engine family boasts the fastest accumulations of flight hours in commercial aviation history, amassing over 40 million engine flight hours and 18 million flight cycles.
As Air Arabia celebrates 20 years of successful operations, this engine acquisition is a testament to the airline’s dedication to innovation and excellence in the low-cost industry.
The advanced CFM LEAP engine family provides 15 to 20 percent better fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions, along with a significant improvement in noise compared to previous generation engines.
Since entering service in 2016, the LEAP engine has allowed customers to save more than 28 million tons of CO2.
About Air Arabia
Air Arabia has seen significant growth in recent years. From 2017 to 2022 the airline’s profits have more than tripled from 365 (AED Millions) to 1,222 (AED Millions).
The airline also has three subsidiaries in Abu Dhabi, Egypt, and Morocco as well as joint ventures in the Armenian Fly Arna and Pakistani Fly Jinnah.
As Air Arabia continues to drive industry standards and maintain operational excellence and customer experience, this engine acquisition positions the airline as a leader in the pursuit of sustainable and efficient aviation practices.
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