CFM Intl bags contract from SpiceJet

Chennai, Mar 9 (UNI) CFM International, one of the world's leading suppliers of engines for single-aisle mainline jets, has won a contract from the new low-cost Indian Airline 'SpiceJet.' SpiceJet signed a firm order for ten Boeing 737-800 and 900 twinjets, along with ten options at the recently-concluded Singapore Airshow, a CFM release said here today.

Boeing 737s were powered exclusively by CFM56-7 engines, produced by CFM International, a 50/50 partnership of General Electric and Snecma - part of the SAFRAN group.

In addition, Indian (formerly known as Indian Airlines) announced its selection of the CFM56-5B engine to power its new fleet of 43 Airbus A320 family aircraft. The announcement was made during French President Jacques Chirac's recent visit to India.

This was not the first CFM engine order for the airline, since it recently began operating A319 twinjets powered by CFM56-5B engines.

The delivery of the CFM56-5B engines for the A320s would stretch from the end of this year to 2010. The contract was worth more than US Dollar 500 million at list price, the release added.

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